Doug Hill announces retirement
7/24/2024 9:03:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Air Force men's soccer coach Doug Hill announced his retirement today after 31 seasons with the program, including the last 17 as head coach.
Coach Hill Statement:
"I have been blessed and it's been an honor to lead and coach at my alma mater for so many years, which have flown by. It's been a wonderful journey to be able to coach so many great men that will be our nation's Air and Space Force officers and warfighters. I have seen so many classes throw their hats in the air on graduation day and it put a huge smile on my face every time. I know our graduates go on to do great things for our country, just like they did on the pitch. Whenever you have a job that you get to go to work instead of having to go to work, you have the right job and I was fortunate enough to have that my whole career."
"It's been an honor to serve this country for 41 years. I would be remise if I didn't take the time to thank and recognize so many important people that were instrumental in my journey. First and foremost, my mom and dad, who were both college coaches that I learned so much from in coaching and around the dinner table. My father was one of the first licensed United States Soccer Federation coaches in the United States. My high school soccer coach, Ray Buss, was a role model for me. I was fortunate to play under Lou Sagastume at the Academy. I learned the details of the game and was fortunate enough to not only play for him, but coach under him for 13 years. In my flying career, all the great aircrews I flew with and Gen. Jerry Martinez, the commander of the 4th Airlift Squadron. We got the job done right. A big thanks to all my assistant coaches and fellow physical education instructors that allowed me to continue my dream of coaching at what I believe is the best institution in the country. Coaching and teaching at the Academy was a wonderful part of that journey. The amazing people I got to follow, lead, mentor and work beside were the best part of the experience."
"I want to wish the current classes, team and staff all the best this season. Remember it's a privilege to play this beautiful game and always possess an attitude or gratitude. Put the work in every day and find time to put in the extra work. The opportunity is available to you every day in training, so work hard and keep that competitive edge as you maximize your effort, attitude and mentality while enjoying your journey."
"We are grateful to Coach Hill for his three-plus decades of leading Air Force Men's Soccer at his alma mater, Air Force Director of Athletics Nathan Pine said. "Coach Hill elevated the program to new heights, making us a consistent winner in the conference and on the national stage. He also helped to develop hundreds of Air Force and Space Force Officers over his career at the Academy. We wish him well in his retirement and know that he will continue to be close and support our program that he loves so much."
Hill was head coach for 17 season and spent 30 seasons overall at Air Force. The 2022 Western Athletic Conference coach of the year, Hill has led the Falcons to their seven WAC Tournament appearances since 2016, highlighted by the program's first-ever WAC Tournament Championship in 2020. Hill recorded a 142-145-32 at the helm of his alma mater.
In 2022, AF concluded the campaign as the Western Athletic Conference regular season champions, recording an 8-6-3 overall record with a 7-1-1 mark in the league. The feat marked the Falcons' third WAC regular season title since 2017. Air Force head coach Doug Hill and senior defender London Aghedo were tabbed the WAC Coach of the Year and WAC Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
In the 2020 WAC tournament, Hill's Falcons became the league's first-ever six-seed to win the tournament, upending the top-three seeds en route to the title. Hill then took his Falcons to the program's 12th NCAA Tournament appearance, third in the last five seasons. Hill and company's success on the pitch yielded a 2020 United Soccer Coaches Far West Regional Staff of the Year honor. It was the third Staff of the Year award in the last five seasons.
In 2018, Hill led the Air Force men's soccer program to its most successful season to date, notching a historic 17-win season and NCAA tournament Sweet 16 appearance. Doug Hill's Falcons shattered a number of Academy records in the campaign, setting the bar for the most wins by any soccer team in Academy history as well as a new record for the most home wins as Air Force concluded the season with a perfect 10-0 record on the home pitch. Coach Hill recorded his 100th win on September 22 while the senior class of 2019 amassed 52 wins in four years, setting a new bar for the most wins by a single class in program history.
The Falcons upended three nationally ranked opponents on the season, including a spectacular win against No. 9 University of Denver on the Pioneers' home pitch in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Air Force attained its highest ranking of the season at No. 7, the third-highest national ranking in the history of the program.
The Falcons' success on the pitch garnered a Western Athletic Conference regular-season title and the Far West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year accolade, marking Hill and company's second-straight year winning the regional honor. For the second season in a row, the Falcons produced two USCA All-Americans in first-teamer Tucker Bone and third-teamer Austin Dewing, both of which shared a team co-captaincy for the 2018 campaign. Tucker Bone, a 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy semi-finalist, and Andrea Seazzu were crowned the WAC's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, while the squad saw program-high 11 players added to All-WAC teams --three to the first-team, one to the second-team, six honorable mentions and one on the All-Freshmen team. In his time at the helm of the program, Hill coached 51 all-conference honorees.
Prior to the 2018 season, Hill's Falcons achieved great success in 2017, finishing with a 14-1-3 record and a program-first WAC regular season championship en route to the program's first visit to the NCAA tournament since 2012. The stellar 2017 season landed the Falcons two USCA All-Americans, five all-region selections and eight All-WAC nods. The All-America honors mark the first time that Falcons have been recognized as All-Americans in 20 years and the first of Hill's career as a head coach. The duo joined the elite ranks of six individuals (seven times) to earn All-America status with Air Force men's soccer. Hill earned the WAC's 2017 Coach of the Year honors while the entire coaching staff was dubbed the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year. The Falcons finished the season ranked 15th in the nation while boasting an undefeated home record (8-0-3).
In 2016, Hill led the Falcons to a second-place finish at the Western Athletic Conference Championship and concluded the season with the second-most program wins with an overall record of 14-7-1. Under his guidance, four Falcons earned spots on the leagues 2016 post-season All-WAC teams.
Hill, who spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach at Air Force before being promoted to head coach in June of 2007, took the Falcons to heights during the 2012 season. Hill guided the team to the 2012 MPSF Championship title and an NCAA tournament invite, a type of success that the program had not seen in nearly 15 years. On the way to the national tournament, Hill earned 2012 MPSF Coach of the Year honors and guided Kevin Durr to MVP honors of the MPSF Championships.
A 1983 graduate of the Academy, Hill guided his team to a spectacular run through the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships and AFA's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1997. Air Force finished the season with a 10-9-4 record, including three straight wins at the MPSF Championships for the school's first conference championship in program history. For his efforts, Hill was named the MPSF's Coach of the Year for 2012.
The Falcons, who lost to the University of Washington 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, defeated nationally-ranked New Mexico three times during the season (although a 5-3 shootout advantage in the MPSF championship game is technically considered a tie) and senior midfielder Kevin Durr was named the MVP of the MPSF Championships. Hill, who enters the 2016 campaign with a 64-87-19 career record, also guided the class of 2013 to the most victories by a class (36) since the class of `04 (37).
Hill, who holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" license, was a four-year varsity letterman at Air Force and played for his predecessor, Lou Sagastume. He was 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.
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 after beating undefeated and No. 1-ranked Creighton, 2-1, in four overtimes on the road in the first round. The 1996 team advanced to the WAC championships after going 14-3-3 during the regular season, while the 1997 squad earned a trip to the NCAA Tourney.
Hill 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 also coached the all-Armed Services team in 1999 and 2000.
In 2001, Hill returned to the sidelines at his alma mater. He was an assistant coach from 2001-05 before earning a promotion to associate head coach for the 2006 campaign. During that tenure at AFA, the Falcons were ranked as high as 19th in the country during the 2001 campaign and he helped Marcus Sagastume earn MPSF Co-Player of the Year honors in `03.
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 lieutenant colonel.
The Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, native currently lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Kathy, and their two sons, Luke and Greg.
Air Force Associate Head Coach Kevin Doyle will serve as interim coach for the 2024 season.
Coach Hill Statement:
"I have been blessed and it's been an honor to lead and coach at my alma mater for so many years, which have flown by. It's been a wonderful journey to be able to coach so many great men that will be our nation's Air and Space Force officers and warfighters. I have seen so many classes throw their hats in the air on graduation day and it put a huge smile on my face every time. I know our graduates go on to do great things for our country, just like they did on the pitch. Whenever you have a job that you get to go to work instead of having to go to work, you have the right job and I was fortunate enough to have that my whole career."
"It's been an honor to serve this country for 41 years. I would be remise if I didn't take the time to thank and recognize so many important people that were instrumental in my journey. First and foremost, my mom and dad, who were both college coaches that I learned so much from in coaching and around the dinner table. My father was one of the first licensed United States Soccer Federation coaches in the United States. My high school soccer coach, Ray Buss, was a role model for me. I was fortunate to play under Lou Sagastume at the Academy. I learned the details of the game and was fortunate enough to not only play for him, but coach under him for 13 years. In my flying career, all the great aircrews I flew with and Gen. Jerry Martinez, the commander of the 4th Airlift Squadron. We got the job done right. A big thanks to all my assistant coaches and fellow physical education instructors that allowed me to continue my dream of coaching at what I believe is the best institution in the country. Coaching and teaching at the Academy was a wonderful part of that journey. The amazing people I got to follow, lead, mentor and work beside were the best part of the experience."
"I want to wish the current classes, team and staff all the best this season. Remember it's a privilege to play this beautiful game and always possess an attitude or gratitude. Put the work in every day and find time to put in the extra work. The opportunity is available to you every day in training, so work hard and keep that competitive edge as you maximize your effort, attitude and mentality while enjoying your journey."
"We are grateful to Coach Hill for his three-plus decades of leading Air Force Men's Soccer at his alma mater, Air Force Director of Athletics Nathan Pine said. "Coach Hill elevated the program to new heights, making us a consistent winner in the conference and on the national stage. He also helped to develop hundreds of Air Force and Space Force Officers over his career at the Academy. We wish him well in his retirement and know that he will continue to be close and support our program that he loves so much."
Hill was head coach for 17 season and spent 30 seasons overall at Air Force. The 2022 Western Athletic Conference coach of the year, Hill has led the Falcons to their seven WAC Tournament appearances since 2016, highlighted by the program's first-ever WAC Tournament Championship in 2020. Hill recorded a 142-145-32 at the helm of his alma mater.
In 2022, AF concluded the campaign as the Western Athletic Conference regular season champions, recording an 8-6-3 overall record with a 7-1-1 mark in the league. The feat marked the Falcons' third WAC regular season title since 2017. Air Force head coach Doug Hill and senior defender London Aghedo were tabbed the WAC Coach of the Year and WAC Defensive Player of the Year, respectively.
In the 2020 WAC tournament, Hill's Falcons became the league's first-ever six-seed to win the tournament, upending the top-three seeds en route to the title. Hill then took his Falcons to the program's 12th NCAA Tournament appearance, third in the last five seasons. Hill and company's success on the pitch yielded a 2020 United Soccer Coaches Far West Regional Staff of the Year honor. It was the third Staff of the Year award in the last five seasons.
In 2018, Hill led the Air Force men's soccer program to its most successful season to date, notching a historic 17-win season and NCAA tournament Sweet 16 appearance. Doug Hill's Falcons shattered a number of Academy records in the campaign, setting the bar for the most wins by any soccer team in Academy history as well as a new record for the most home wins as Air Force concluded the season with a perfect 10-0 record on the home pitch. Coach Hill recorded his 100th win on September 22 while the senior class of 2019 amassed 52 wins in four years, setting a new bar for the most wins by a single class in program history.
The Falcons upended three nationally ranked opponents on the season, including a spectacular win against No. 9 University of Denver on the Pioneers' home pitch in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Air Force attained its highest ranking of the season at No. 7, the third-highest national ranking in the history of the program.
The Falcons' success on the pitch garnered a Western Athletic Conference regular-season title and the Far West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year accolade, marking Hill and company's second-straight year winning the regional honor. For the second season in a row, the Falcons produced two USCA All-Americans in first-teamer Tucker Bone and third-teamer Austin Dewing, both of which shared a team co-captaincy for the 2018 campaign. Tucker Bone, a 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy semi-finalist, and Andrea Seazzu were crowned the WAC's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, while the squad saw program-high 11 players added to All-WAC teams --three to the first-team, one to the second-team, six honorable mentions and one on the All-Freshmen team. In his time at the helm of the program, Hill coached 51 all-conference honorees.
Prior to the 2018 season, Hill's Falcons achieved great success in 2017, finishing with a 14-1-3 record and a program-first WAC regular season championship en route to the program's first visit to the NCAA tournament since 2012. The stellar 2017 season landed the Falcons two USCA All-Americans, five all-region selections and eight All-WAC nods. The All-America honors mark the first time that Falcons have been recognized as All-Americans in 20 years and the first of Hill's career as a head coach. The duo joined the elite ranks of six individuals (seven times) to earn All-America status with Air Force men's soccer. Hill earned the WAC's 2017 Coach of the Year honors while the entire coaching staff was dubbed the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year. The Falcons finished the season ranked 15th in the nation while boasting an undefeated home record (8-0-3).
In 2016, Hill led the Falcons to a second-place finish at the Western Athletic Conference Championship and concluded the season with the second-most program wins with an overall record of 14-7-1. Under his guidance, four Falcons earned spots on the leagues 2016 post-season All-WAC teams.
Hill, who spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach at Air Force before being promoted to head coach in June of 2007, took the Falcons to heights during the 2012 season. Hill guided the team to the 2012 MPSF Championship title and an NCAA tournament invite, a type of success that the program had not seen in nearly 15 years. On the way to the national tournament, Hill earned 2012 MPSF Coach of the Year honors and guided Kevin Durr to MVP honors of the MPSF Championships.
A 1983 graduate of the Academy, Hill guided his team to a spectacular run through the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships and AFA's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1997. Air Force finished the season with a 10-9-4 record, including three straight wins at the MPSF Championships for the school's first conference championship in program history. For his efforts, Hill was named the MPSF's Coach of the Year for 2012.
The Falcons, who lost to the University of Washington 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, defeated nationally-ranked New Mexico three times during the season (although a 5-3 shootout advantage in the MPSF championship game is technically considered a tie) and senior midfielder Kevin Durr was named the MVP of the MPSF Championships. Hill, who enters the 2016 campaign with a 64-87-19 career record, also guided the class of 2013 to the most victories by a class (36) since the class of `04 (37).
Hill, who holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" license, was a four-year varsity letterman at Air Force and played for his predecessor, Lou Sagastume. He was 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.
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 after beating undefeated and No. 1-ranked Creighton, 2-1, in four overtimes on the road in the first round. The 1996 team advanced to the WAC championships after going 14-3-3 during the regular season, while the 1997 squad earned a trip to the NCAA Tourney.
Hill 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 also coached the all-Armed Services team in 1999 and 2000.
In 2001, Hill returned to the sidelines at his alma mater. He was an assistant coach from 2001-05 before earning a promotion to associate head coach for the 2006 campaign. During that tenure at AFA, the Falcons were ranked as high as 19th in the country during the 2001 campaign and he helped Marcus Sagastume earn MPSF Co-Player of the Year honors in `03.
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 lieutenant colonel.
The Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, native currently lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Kathy, and their two sons, Luke and Greg.
Air Force Associate Head Coach Kevin Doyle will serve as interim coach for the 2024 season.
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