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Doug Hill Named Men's Soccer Coach at Air Force
June 8, 2007 Doug Hill, who has spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach at Air Force, including last year as associate head coach, has been named head coach of the Falcon men's soccer program, according to Director of Athletics Dr. Hans Mueh. Hill replaces Lou Sagastume, who retired earlier this year after 28 seasons as head coach at Air Force. "We are extremely excited to announce Doug Hill as our new head men's soccer coach," stated Col. Billy Walker, Deputy Director of Athletics. "Doug, his wife Kathy, and their two young boys have been an integral part of the Falcon Family for a long time and this is a well-deserved promotion for Doug. He's an extremely knowledgeable and innovative coach who will be very creative on the pitch. More importantly, however, is as a USAFA graduate he understands the importance of his role in developing leaders of character." Hill, who holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" license, graduated from the Academy in 1983 and was a four-year varsity letterman playing for Sagastume. He was chosen as team captain both his junior and senior seasons. In all four years, Hill helped the Falcons win the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League championship. After graduation, he remained at the Academy as the assistant soccer coach and a physical education instructor for one year. "I feel very privileged to be the next men's soccer coach at such a prestigious university," said Hill. "I am truly honored that the senior staff has faith in my abilities to lead the team and excited about the opportunity. I've had the best mentor for the past 13 years of coaching college ball in Lou Sagastume and grew up in a soccer house where I learned the sport at a very young age with my father, Lee, who was a long time college coach. I look forward to helping our players reach their full potential on the field and in the cadet wing." Hill left the Academy in 1984 for Dyess AFB, Texas, where he was an instructor navigator in the C-130 aircraft. In addition, he assisted and filled in as the interim head soccer coach for the men's and women's soccer teams at Hardin Simmons University (Texas) from 1986-1988. In 1988, he led the women's team to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championship game and finished second in the nation. He also played on the all-Air Force soccer team in 1985 and 1987 and coached the 1986 team. After eight years away from the Academy, Hill returned as an assistant coach in 1992 and helped guide the Falcons to consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament in `92 and `93. In 1993, the Falcons advanced to the Final Eight. The 1996 team advanced to the WAC championships after going 14-3-3 during the regular season, while the '97 squad earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Hill, 47, moved on to McChord AFB, Wash., in 1997, holding positions of Director, Wing Weapons and Tactics for the 62nd Airlift Wing and Operations Officer for the 4th Airlift Squadron, a C-141 unit. He guided the all-Air Force soccer team as a player-coach in 1999 and 2000, winning the Armed Forces championship both years. He was named coach of the all-Armed Services team in 1999 and 2000. In 2001, Hill returned to the Academy and the sidelines. He was an assistant coach between 2001 and `05 before earning a promotion to associate head coach for the 2006 campaign. Hill, who has over 2,800 flying hours to his credit, holds a master's degree in sports administration from the University of Northern Colorado and retired from the Air Force in April of 2006 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. A native of Fleetwood, Pa., Hill lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Kathy, and their two sons, Luke (7) and Greg (5).
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