Oct. 29, 2002
by Marianne Stoess * Host Communications
As Wildcat fans sit in the stands of Commonwealth Stadium admiring the speedand agility of Derek Abney, Dewayne Robertson’s quickness off the line ofscrimmage and Artose Pinner’s ability to dodge tackles and run the ball downthe field play after play, some of their applause should be directed to theman behind the scenes, strength and conditioning coach Marc Hill.
After all, it is Hill who has spent day after day with the football team,preparing them both physically and mentally for another season of collegefootball.
“I think the most important thing I can do to help the team is to help themdevelop a team attitude,” said Hill. “When I first started in this businessI always thought the key was to make the athletes stronger. But I am the onearound these guys the most. When January comes around and the coaches areout recruiting, I am here working with the players. I see them on aday-to-day basis from January on. So, much of the development of the teamattitude falls on me.”
It is the day-to-day interaction that drove Hill to become a strength andconditioning coach. Having the opportunity to spend time withstudent-athletes is what Hill looks forward to each season.
“I got in this business sort of by default,” said Hill. “I got my degree inphysical education. I just love athletics but wasn’t looking to coach orteach, so I decided to pursue the strength and conditioning side of things.
“The best part about this job is getting to be around the athletes,” saidHill. “Every day I come in and spend time with these kids and what I do hasan impact on their lives, not only on the football field, but in the peoplethat they become.”
Hill’s love for athletics developed at Mt. Pleasant High School in Mt.Pleasant, Iowa. He was an all-state honoree as a linebacker and anoutfielder on the baseball team. He then moved on to Iowa Wesleyan College,where he was a four-year starter at linebacker from 1990-93.
After graduation Hill began his coaching career at Arizona, where he earned amaster’s degree in exercise science. During his five years with Arizona, theWildcat football team went to three bowl games. In 1998 they finished 12-1,earning a No. 4 national ranking. Hill also spent time working with theArizona men’s basketball team, including the 1997 season when Arizonadefeated Kentucky in the national championship game.Prior to the 1999 football season, Kentucky was looking to fill its strengthand conditioning coach position and Hill was anxious about the opportunity.
“I was ready to move on,” said Hill. “I was ready to be in charge of my ownprogram and to get out on my own. I am from Iowa, so when the job opened atKentucky, I looked forward to coming here and getting back around some greengrass again.”
Now in his fourth season with the Wildcats, Hill has seen the ups and downsof the football program. He was there when Kentucky went to the Music Citybowl and has seen some success in the UK program. But the best may be yet tocome.
“I would say this team is in better overall shape than any other I have hadhere,” said Hill. “That is Coach Morriss’ doing. He has really put a focuson getting the team in great shape. And that has been achieved throughoff-season conditioning and hard work. The is the hardest working group ofkids that I have ever been involved with. These kids work so hard anddeserve all of the success they achieve. And this season they are gettingthe chance to see their hard work pay off.”
Hill knows he isn’t the only one interested in what is best for the Wildcats.He has a strong admiration for the UK coaching staff and their commitment tothe players.
“I have worked with three different coaching staffs in my career and each oneis very different and has their own heart beat, their own pulse,” said Hill.”This coaching staff is very blue-collar. They all work hard and are not inthis for themselves. This staff is truly looking out for the best interestof the players. The coaching staff isn’t interested in their ownachievements, their success comes when the team is successful. These guyshave been in the NFL and know what it takes to be successful. This coachingstaff isn’t about gratification for themselves, they are interested in whatis best for the team.”
Hill’s admiration doesn’t end with the coaching staff. He recognizes theeffort and enthusiasm of the players every day as he and the coaching staffchallenge them and help them develop their skills.
“This team has worked so hard and they have done everything that has beenasked of them,” said Hill. “They respond to every challenge that ispresented to them, they never complain, never doubt the coaching staff andthey believe in everything we are doing.”
And with the season just more than halfway over, Hill knows there are plentyof big wins and exciting games to come. But he also knows it will be hard totop the first game of the season when Kentucky defeated Louisville 22-17.
“When we went to the Music City Bowl and had some success there that wasexciting,” said HIll. “But probably the greatest moment for me was thisyear’s win over Louisville. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Just seeingthese kids work so hard every day and knowing all of the adversity they havebeen through, to see them get a win like that was really special. These guyswork as hard as anyone else and they deserve to win.”
