After a successful career at the high school level throughout the state of Alabama, Earnest Hill begins his first season as the University of South Alabama’s running backs coach.
Over the last four years, Hill has guided McGill-Toolen Catholic High in Mobile to a 40-8 overall record and a postseason appearance each fall. His first year in charge of the Yellow Jackets, he led the school to a 13-1 finish after reaching the championship game of the state 7A playoffs. Hill’s teams won their first-round state playoff contests each of the next two years — including posting an 11-1 mark in 2019 — and went 7-3 this season after qualifying for the state 6A playoffs. He was the program’s defensive coordinator during the 2015 and ‘16 campaigns as well, with the Yellow Jackets claiming the state title the first season before reaching the championship game the following fall.
Hill also has experience as a head coach at Greenville (Ala.) High, where in three years he led the Tigers to 19 victories highlighted by an 11-1 mark in 2011 as they advanced to the second round of the state 5A playoffs his first season in charge.
He also has served stints as defensive coordinator at Handley (Ala.) HS (2001-05), Greenville H.S. (2006), Spanish Fort (Ala.) High (2007-10) and Walker (Ala.) HS (2014). In those positions, Hill helped his teams advance to the state playoffs on nine occasions including assisting as SFHS went 35-7 his last three years on the staff while winning the state 5A championship his final season with the program; for his efforts, he was named the Alabama Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010.
Hill also served as head boy’s basketball coach during his time at Handley High — where he was chosen the Randolph County Coach of the Year in 2002 — Greenville HS and Spanish Fort High and had additional duties as athletic director his second stint at GHS.
He received his undergraduate degree from West Alabama in physical education (K-12) and his master’s degree in science in education from Jacksonville State. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Hill was a physical education teacher at Handley Middle School.
Hill and his wife Angela have two children, Alexis and Bryan (currently a junior running back for the Jaguars).
The Hill File
Born: Nov. 16, 1973, in Valley, Ala.
Education:
West Alabama ’97, bachelor’s degree in physical education (K-12)
Jacksonville State ’04, master’s degree in science in education
Collegiate Playing Experience:
Four years, tight end
Coaching Experience:
Handley (Ala.) High — assistant coach, 2001-05
Greenville (Ala.) High — assistant coach, 2006-07; head coach, 2011-13
Spanish Fort (Ala.) High — assistant coach, 2008-10
Walker (Ala.) High — assistant coach, 2014
McGill-Toolen Catholic (Ala.) High — assistant coach, 2015-16; head coach, 2017-20
South Alabama — assistant coach, 2021-
Family: Wife, Angela; One daughter, Alexis (23) and son, Bryan (21)
