Fitz Hill facts for kids

Omon Fitzgerald Hill, born on March 28, 1964, is a well-known former American football player and coach. He also served as a college leader. Fitz Hill was the head football coach for San Jose State University from 2001 to 2004. Later, he became the president of Arkansas Baptist College, serving from 2006 to 2016.

Fitz Hill's Early Life and Education

Fitz Hill grew up in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, as the youngest of three brothers. His father worked long hours to support the family. His mother was a high school registrar and helped children at her church. Fitz was a good student and was even elected class president at Arkadelphia High School.

College Football Career

Fitz Hill earned a sports scholarship to Northeast Louisiana University. He played as a wide receiver for their football team. During his first year, his father passed away. Soon after, his mother became very ill. Fitz left college to return home and care for her.

He then transferred to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. To pay for school, he managed a shoe repair shop. He also joined the Army ROTC. In 1986, he started his own laundromat business. He continued playing football and was named an NAIA All-American in 1985 and 1986. He graduated in 1987 with degrees in communications and physical education.

Military Service During the Gulf War

Fitz Hill's coaching career was briefly paused when he served in the military. He was a transportation officer during the Gulf War. He helped make sure that food and supplies reached American troops. For his service, he was promoted to first lieutenant and received special awards like the Bronze Star.

Fitz Hill's Coaching Journey

Starting His Coaching Path (1987–1988)

After college, Fitz Hill began his coaching career at Arkadelphia High School in 1987. He worked as an assistant football coach. In 1988, he became a graduate assistant coach at Northwestern State University while studying for his master's degree.

Coaching at Arkansas (1989–2000)

In 1989, Hill moved to the University of Arkansas as a graduate assistant for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team. He also coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at Northwestern State for a short time. He continued to volunteer as an assistant coach for Arkansas in 1990 and 1991. He earned his master's degree in 1991.

In 1992, Hill became the wide receivers coach for Arkansas. The team faced a tough start that year. Despite changes in leadership, Hill stayed with the team. He continued as wide receivers coach until 2000. In 1998, he also took on the role of recruiting coordinator. By 2000, he was promoted to assistant head coach.

During his time at Arkansas, the team often ranked among the top college teams. They appeared in several important bowl games, including winning the 2000 Cotton Bowl Classic. In 1997, Fitz Hill earned his doctorate degree from Arkansas. His studies looked into why it was difficult for black coaches to find jobs.

Leading the San Jose State Spartans (2001–2004)

In December 2000, Fitz Hill was hired as the head coach for the San Jose State University football team. He was one of the few head coaches in Division I-A football with a doctorate. The San Jose State athletic department had money problems. This meant the team often played tough road games against top schools.

2001 Season Challenges

In his first year, San Jose State finished with 3 wins and 9 losses. The number of fans attending home games also dropped. This was a concern because the NCAA required teams to have at least 15,000 fans per game to keep their top-tier status.

2002 Season Improvements

The team improved in 2002, winning 6 games and losing 7. They started strong with a win over Arkansas State. They even beat Illinois, a strong team. However, they struggled in the last part of the season.

2003 Season and Community Impact

In 2003, Hill worked to schedule a special game against Grambling State, a historically black university. This game was called the Dr. Martin Luther King Literacy Classic. It aimed to raise money for reading programs. San Jose State won the game 29–0 in front of a sold-out crowd.

Despite this success, the team finished the season with 3 wins and 8 losses. One close game against Hawaii ended in a tough loss. The team was just one yard short of a game-winning touchdown.

Fitz Hill also focused on academics. The graduation rate for San Jose State football players improved during his time.

2004 Season and Resignation

In 2004, San Jose State faced financial challenges. There were discussions about whether the football program should stay in Division I-A. Hill organized another special game, the Read-2-Lead Classic. This game featured events with famous people like Bill Cosby and the group Boyz II Men. Although San Jose State won, fewer fans attended this game compared to the previous year.

The team finished the 2004 season with 2 wins and 9 losses. One exciting game was a 70–63 victory over Rice, which set an NCAA record for total points. On November 22, 2004, Fitz Hill announced he would step down as head coach. He finished his time at San Jose State with a record of 14 wins and 33 losses.

The NCAA later took away scholarships from San Jose State football. This was because some players recruited by Hill did not graduate or stay academically eligible.

Fitz Hill's Leadership Role

After coaching, Fitz Hill returned to Arkansas in 2004. He became a leader at Ouachita Baptist University. He also helped start a youth sports program. From 2004 to 2006, he was a visiting scholar at the University of Central Florida.

Hill also created the Delta Classic, a college football game for historically black colleges held in Little Rock, Arkansas. While working on this game, he learned that Arkansas Baptist College (ABC) needed a new president. On February 1, 2006, Fitz Hill became the 13th president of Arkansas Baptist College.

When Hill took over, the college was struggling. It had very few students and was at risk of losing its accreditation. Over five years, Hill helped the school grow. The number of students increased to 1,100, and the college's budget grew significantly. He successfully kept the college's accreditation.

Fitz Hill's Family Life

Fitz Hill is a devoted Christian. He is married to Cynthia Hill, whom he met in college. She also earned her doctorate degree and works in college leadership. They have three children named Destiny, Faith, and Justice.

Head Coaching Record