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With great vision, an unparalleled work ethic, and passion for the Valley, Pat Hill's stamp on the Fresno State football program is undeniable. After 11 years the Bulldog program is nationally recognized for its success in all areas: wins and bowl games appearances, academic achievement, and character of the young men who've come through the program.
 Pat Hill's 85 career wins rank fourth-best in WAC history.  |
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Hill's program has grown accustomed of being in the national spotlight. Never was it brighter than in 2001, when Hill guided the program to unprecedented heights - 11 wins, a bowl invitation, a top 10 ranking, wins over Wisconsin, Colorado and Oregon State, another record-setting attendance mark and a Sports Illustrated cover story. With nearly 50 national television appearances this decade, college football fans from around the country know about the Bulldog program.
Despite these lofty achievements, Hill is still adamant this is just an indication of greater things to come. His motto of "Building a New Tradition on a National Level" is stronger now than ever, especially after winning 10 games against BCS teams since 2000 - the highest of any non-BCS teams in the country. Among those victories are recent bowl wins against Georgia Tech, UCLA and No. 18 Virginia.
Hill has also taken the Bulldogs to new heights in the Western Athletic Conference and he is the dean of WAC football coaches.
Hill Among WAC's Finest
As Pat Hill coaches the final home game of his 11th season at Fresno State, here's a look at what's he's accomplished and how it compares to other WAC coaching legends.
Most Wins
1. LaVell Edwards, BYU (1972-98) 243
2. Frank Kush, Arizona State (1962-77) 133
3. Fisher DeBerry, Air Force (1984-98) 120
4. Pat Hill, Fresno State (1997-p) 85
Most Bowl Games
1. LaVell Edwards, BYU (1972-98) 21
2. Fisher DeBerry, Air Force (1984-98) 10
3. Pat Hill, Fresno State (1997-p) 8
4. Frank Kush, Arizona State (1962-77) 6
The 55-year-old Hill was the Bulldogs' recruiting coordinator from 1984-89, a six-year period in which Fresno State was 53-16-1, averaged nearly nine wins per season, captured three league titles and won three bowl games. During that six-year stint as the recruiting coordinator and line coach under former head coach Jim Sweeney, Hill contributed at a championship level. In addition to the conference crowns and bowl victories, the Bulldogs saw 14 players drafted by NFL teams, including the likes of J.D. Williams, Ron Cox, Michael Stewart and Aaron Craver.
 Pat Hill finished his 11th season as head coach of the Bulldogs. |
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Success continued for Hill when he moved on to the University of Arizona as Dick Tomey's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 1990 and '91. In just his first season, the Wildcats went 7-5 and played in the Aloha Bowl. Both seasons, the 'Cats finished in the top five of the Pac-10 in rushing offense, averaging nearly 200 yards per game on the ground. Four players earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in his two seasons, and offensive lineman John Fina was a first round NFL draft choice.
When he left Arizona, he did so to realize another career goal -- coaching in the National Football League. Hill joined the Cleveland Browns in 1992 and spent five seasons in the organization, coaching tight ends and offensive line in addition to working in the personnel department evaluating players. While there, he formed a life-lasting friendship with Bill Belichick, whom Hill credits for teaching him with a structure that has proven successful. Hill would have been happy to remain in the NFL had the Fresno State job not opened a possibility for him.
Hill began his coaching career as offensive line coach at Los Angeles Valley College from 1974-76, helping the Monarchs to a state junior college championship in 1975. He then served as offensive line coach at Utah from 1977-80 under Wayne Howard; was offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at UNLV from 1981-82 under Tony Knapp; and was offensive coordinator with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL in 1983 under Jack Gotta.
The list of players recruited and signed by Hill at the collegiate level is impressive. Under his leadership, such greats as David Carr, Richard Marshall, Logan Mankins, James Sanders, Alan Harper, Rodney Wright, Randall Cunningham, Tracy Rogers, Ron Cox, Aaron Craver, Marquez Pope, Lorenzo Neal, Jethro Franklin, Tony Brown, J.D. Williams, Mike Withycombe, Michael Stewart, John Fina and Tedy Bruschi all were inked to letters of intent.
A 1973 graduate of UC Riverside, Hill was a three-time all-conference center, earning All-America honors as a senior. He was inducted into the UC Riverside Hall of Fame in 1989. It was at UC Riverside where he crossed paths with Ron McBride, then a UCR assistant and formerly the Utah head coach, who helped steer Hill into a football coaching career.
Hill and his wife, Cathy, have three children. Their eldest, Michael, is a recent graduate of Fresno State. Matthew is sophomore at Fresno State and Zak is a freshman safety on the Bulldog squad. Hill was born Dec. 17, 1951, in Los Angeles.
The Pat Hill File
1997-present Fresno State
Head Coach
1996 Baltimore Ravens (NFL)
Asst. coach (tight ends/offensive line)
1992-95 Cleveland Browns (NFL)
Asst. coach (tight ends/offensive line)
1990-91 Arizona Wildcats (NCAA)
Asst. coach (offensive line/offensive coordinator)
1984-89 Fresno State Bulldogs (NCAA)
Asst. coach (offensive line/recruiting coordinator)
1983 Calgary Stampeders (CFL)
Asst. coach (offensive coord./running backs/offensive line)
1981-82 UNLV Rebels (NCAA)
Asst. coach (offensive, recruiting coordinator/offensive line)
1977-80 Utah Utes (NCAA)
Recruiting coordinator/offensive line
1974-76 LA Valley College (JC)
Offensive line coach
| Year | School | Record | WAC Record | Notes |
| 1997 | Fresno State | 6-6 | 5-3 | FS's First non-losing season since 1993 |
| 1998 | Fresno State | 5-6 | 5-3 | Bulldogs win four of last five games |
| 1999 | Fresno State | 8-5 | 5-2 | WAC title; EA Sports Las Vegas Bowl berth |
| 2000 | Fresno State | 7-5 | 6-2 | Silicon Valley Football Classic berth |
| 2001 | Fresno State | 11-3 | 6-2 | Silicon Valley Football Classic berth; No. 8 national ranking |
| 2002 | Fresno State | 9-5 | 6-2 | Defeated Georgia Tech in Silicon Valley Football Classic |
| 2003 | Fresno State | 9-5 | 6-2 | Defeated Georgia UCLA in Silicon Valley Football Classic |
| 2004 | Fresno State | 9-3 | 5-3 | Defeated Virginia in MPC Computers Bowl |
| 2005 | Fresno State | 8-5 | 6-2 | AutoZone Liberty bowl berth; No. 16 national ranking |
| 2006 | Fresno State | 4-8 | 4-4 | Six nationally televised games |
| 2007 | Fresno State | 9-4 | 6-2 | Defeated Georgia Tech in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl |
| 11 Years | 85-55 | 60-27 | Eight bowl invites; one WAC title; 51-12 home record |
Anybody, Anytime, Anywhere
Hill's accomplishments are remarkable, considering the rigorous non-conference schedule Fresno State has played since his arrival. In the last seven years, Fresno State has played 38 bowl opponents, including 17 the past three seasons. Of the team's 24 losses since 2002, 20 were to teams which played in a bowl game or were nationally ranked. But more important are the victories. Since 2000, the Bulldogs have defeated 12 BCS Conference opponents - California in 2000 and Colorado, Wisconsin and Oregon State in 2001 and 2003, Georgia Tech in 2002, UCLA in 2003 and Washington, Kansas State and Virginia in 2004, and Kansas State and Georgia Tech in 2007. In the case of the Buffaloes, Huskies, Wildcats and Badgers, Fresno State defeated them on the road. As for the victories over the Yellow Jackets, Bruins and Cavaliers, those wins came in bowl games. Fresno State's 12 wins over BCS schools in the last six years are more than any non-BCS school. The Bulldogs are also the only non-BCS school to own three consecutive bowl victories over BCS schools. "We could win a lot of games if we schedule ourselves that way," Hill says. "Our program has to play the best and beat the best to be considered the best. That's how we are building our entire program, to reach that level of respect and success."
Academic Success
Hill kept his promise when he was hired to shore up the team's academic woes. One of the first projects he brought to the table is well underway with positive results coming in droves. Academic Gameplan, the brainchild of John Baxter, Hill's associate head coach, was touted early in the building stages in the program, not as a quick fix-all to placate university professors, but instead to make sure academics are first priority. He has accomplished much in a short time. The team GPA has risen from a 2.21 to a 2.87. He produced the first Academic All-American in the program's history in 1999, senior cornerback Payton Williams. In 10 years, the program has produced 94 Academic All-WAC selections, most in the conference during that time. Prior to Hill's arrival, Fresno State had produced a total of nine Academic All-WAC selections. In three of the last four years, Fresno State has led the WAC in Academic All-WAC selections, producing an all-time high of 15 in 2005.
Building and Growing
Hill talks of adding seats to Bulldog Stadium and continuing to take on the toughest non-conference teams in the nation. By looking at what he has accomplished in 10 years, one has to believe he can achieve anything. Under Hill's guidance, the Duncan Building training room has been tripled in size with additional taping stations, rehabilitation pools and a private doctor's office. Also constructed were two lighted practice fields and an adjacent weight room, which provides the Bulldogs with a facility that rivals any NFL training facility. A tireless worker, Hill has been a productive fundraiser. He has spearheaded capital projects on campus, including the new Ricchiutti Academic Center, which benefits all student-athletes at Fresno State, and the Duncan Building expansion, which includes a new football locker room, coaching offices, team meeting rooms and an auditorium style theater. Hill has championed the Green V Society, a new fundraising level in the Bulldog Foundation designed to generate funds for the athletics department.
Taking it to Another Level
When Hill was hired, he promised to win games and championships. He has done that. After taking over a program that hadn't won more than five games the three previous seasons, Hill won six games his first season and won a share of the WAC Championship and received a berth in the EA Sports Las Vegas Bowl in year three. He has done this while playing some of the top programs in the nation. With perennial bowl teams UCLA, Colorado, Wisconsin, No. 1 Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ohio State, No. 1 USC, No. 3 LSU, Kansas State, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Colorado State, the Bulldogs have played as tough a schedule as anyone. Fresno State has played the most BCS opponents of any non-BCS school since the 2001.
Year-by-Year With Pat Hill
1997 (6-6, 5-3 WAC)
1998 (5-6, 5-3 WAC)
1999 (8-5, 6-2 WAC)
2000 (7-5, 6-2 WAC)
2001 (11-3, 6-2 WAC)
2002 (9-5, 6-2 WAC)
2003 (9-5, 6-2 WAC)
2004 (9-3, 5-3 WAC)
2005 (8-5, 6-2 WAC)
2006 (4-8, 4-4 WAC)
2007 (9-4, 6-2 WAC)
