Justin Hill
Associate Head Baseball Coach
Phone: (985) 549-5130
Email:
justin.hill@selu.edu
Justin Hill begins his third season as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator on the Southeastern baseball staff and his first as the Lions’ Associate Head Coach.
In his five years as a college assistant, Hill’s teams have produced a record of 218-140, two NCAA Regional Appearances (2005, 2007), two conference championships, six All-Americans, 10 Major League draft picks, two free-agent signees and a conference pitcher and athlete of the year.
The 2009 staff saw the emergence of reliever Chris Franklin as one of the top closers in the country as the junior set a school-record with 12 saves and earned All-America honors.
Ryan Boudreaux finished among the top pitchers in the Southland Conference in innings pitched while Brandon Efferson finished among the league leaders in strikeouts and innings pitched.
The 2008 Lion pitching staff made tremendous strides in Hill’s first season in Hammond.
Under Hill’s guidance, Wade Miley became the highest drafted student-athlete in school history when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him with the 43rd overall pick in the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
The 2008 Lion pitching staff was one of the most formidable in theleague, leading the Southland Conference in team ERA (4.26) and strikeouts (481) while also taking the individual crowns in both categories.
Miley led the way for the Southland Conference, recording 119 strikeouts in his junior season and Brent Varnado claimed the SLC ERA title with a 3.33 mark.
Hill, a West Monroe native and former LSU pitcher, returned to Louisiana after spending a season at Sam Houston State where he served as an assistant for head coach Mark Johnson’s Bearkats. Hill helped oversee a team that went 40-24, won the Southland Conference Tournament, advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the first time in ten years, posted the most wins by the program in 20 years, broke or tied 16 all-time program records and produced nine All-Southland Conference selections and two first team All-Americans in Luke Prihoda and Bobby Verbick.
As the Bearkats’ pitching coach, Hill worked with professional prospects Luke Prihoda (selected in the 24th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks) and Tim Gray (signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers).
With Hill’s help Prihoda developed into the 2007 National Stopper and SLC Pitcher of the Year and SLC Student Athlete of the Year. Prihoda led the nation with 18 saves in 2007, was named a first team All-American.
Prior to joining Sam Houston State, Hill spent the 2006 season as an assistant coach at LSU. The Tigers finished 35-24 in Hill’s lone season in Baton Rouge, producing three Major League draft picks (Will Harris, Matt Liuzza, Edgar Ramirez), a free agent signee (Quinn Stewart) and a freshman All-American (J.T. Wise).
Hill spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons at Northwestern State, where he earned his Masters while serving as assistant coach. After a 33-23 finish in 2004, Hill helped the Demons to a 41-20 record, a Southland Conference Championship and a place in the 2005 NCAA Regionals. With Hill’s help, the 2005 Demons produced two freshmen All-Americans (Derrick Cloeren and Kyle Broughton) and two Major League draft picks (Daniel Lonsberry and Blake Jones).
Hill began his coaching career in 2003 as an assistant at his high school alma mater, West Monroe High, helping the Rebels to a district title.
As a player, Hill was a two-year letterwinner at LSU and was part of the the Tigers’ 2001 and 2002 NCAA Regional Champioship teams.
Hill appeared in 19 games in his final season at LSU, throwing 19 innings while compiling a 1-1 record with two saves and 27 strikeouts before a shoulder injury cut short his year.
Hill began his playing career at Mississippi Delta Community College before transferring to Bossier Parish Community College, where he played for Jay Artigues.
At BPCC, Hill recorded a 7-2 mark and a 3.74 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 77 innings, while limiting opponents to a .199 batting average. He was an All-Region 23 and All-conference performer and was also a member of the Dean’s List.
Hill’s wife Melissa teaches English at Holy Ghost Catholic School in Hammond. They are the parent of a daughter, Lily.
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