The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Meet The Staff: Stars/Nickels Coach Earnest Hill
1/17/2023 10:03:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – After helping UAB become one of the nation's top ranked pass defenses in 2022, Earnest Hill enters his second season as the Stars/Nickels coach for the Blazers.
"Coach Hill is another great keep on the staff," Head Coach Trent Dilfer said. "Earnest connects with his players and he has strong ties in the state of Alabama. His ability to be trusted by the players that were on the team previous to this staff is invaluable. We are looking forward to great things from him as he coaches our stars and safeties."
The Blazers had one of the top pass defenses in the country in 2022 as UAB finished 19th nationally in pass efficiency defense (117.65) and 21st overall in passing yards allowed (194.9).
The Blazers did not allow a 300-yard passer the entire 2022 season and held 11-of-13 teams under 215 passing yards. Along with working with stars and nickels, Hill was also very instrumental in the development of UAB's cornerbacks in 2022.
Two of Hill's standouts earned postseason accolades as CB Starling Thomas V was a First Team All-Conference USA selection and nickel Keondre Swoopes was Honorable Mention All-Conference USA.
Hill spent the 2021 season as the running backs coach at South Alabama after a successful career at the high school level throughout the state of Alabama.
From 2017-2020, Hill 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 in 2020 and qualified 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 was the 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 Spanish Fort 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 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.
205 Day:
Fans will be able to meet the entire UAB Football staff at 205 Day on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. For more information on 205 Day, click here.
2023 Season Tickets:
Season tickets for the 2023 UAB Football season are now available starting as low as $99. Season ticket packages will feature all six home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Protective Stadium. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here.
"Coach Hill is another great keep on the staff," Head Coach Trent Dilfer said. "Earnest connects with his players and he has strong ties in the state of Alabama. His ability to be trusted by the players that were on the team previous to this staff is invaluable. We are looking forward to great things from him as he coaches our stars and safeties."
The Blazers had one of the top pass defenses in the country in 2022 as UAB finished 19th nationally in pass efficiency defense (117.65) and 21st overall in passing yards allowed (194.9).
The Blazers did not allow a 300-yard passer the entire 2022 season and held 11-of-13 teams under 215 passing yards. Along with working with stars and nickels, Hill was also very instrumental in the development of UAB's cornerbacks in 2022.
Two of Hill's standouts earned postseason accolades as CB Starling Thomas V was a First Team All-Conference USA selection and nickel Keondre Swoopes was Honorable Mention All-Conference USA.
Hill spent the 2021 season as the running backs coach at South Alabama after a successful career at the high school level throughout the state of Alabama.
From 2017-2020, Hill 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 in 2020 and qualified 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 was the 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 Spanish Fort 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 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.
205 Day:
Fans will be able to meet the entire UAB Football staff at 205 Day on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. For more information on 205 Day, click here.
2023 Season Tickets:
Season tickets for the 2023 UAB Football season are now available starting as low as $99. Season ticket packages will feature all six home games during UAB's inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference and provide the most cost-effective way to attend games at Protective Stadium. For more information about season ticket pricing, call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. Fans may renew season tickets, purchase new season tickets or request more information on season ticket options here.
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