Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. - The man who will launch Northwest College's new soccer program is a familiar face in Big Horn Basin soccer. Rob Hill, coach of the Cody High School Boy's Soccer Team, will fill in his off-season this fall heading up the NWC Men's and Women's Trapper teams.
"We had to find somebody quickly to handle the logistics of launching a new soccer program as well as assume coaching duties," Dana Young, NWC vice president for student affairs, said. "The Region IX soccer schedule was already set by the time our program was approved, so we were behind the ball, so to speak, from the beginning. We're extremely fortunate to have a coach of Rob's caliber already working at Northwest and willing to help us out."
Hill will continue in his NWC role as coordinator of GEAR UP, a grant-funded program that helps middle and high school students project a path to college. He is considered an interim hire because the college didn't have time to conduct a full search to fill the position.
Hill officially began his coaching duties Tuesday, Jan. 19, although prior to that he did some advance work to help the college make up for the late start. The NWC Board of Trustees approved the new program at its Dec. 14 meeting.
Originally from England, Hill was brought to Cody in 2001 through Major League Soccer Camps to develop and implement a soccer program at both the youth and high school levels. It didn't take long for him to turn Cody into a soccer powerhouse in the state.
In the nine years he's been in Park County, Hill has fielded six state championship teams, four in the youth league and two at the high school level. Add to that four conference titles and one regional title. His 2008-09 high school team set the state record for 104 goals (while conceding only 9 the entire season). His Broncs surrendered only once during last two seasons to post a two-year cumulative 33-1-1 record. Bronc boosters need look no further than the CHS gym to see proof of Hill's coaching success - every soccer banner hanging there was won under his leadership.
The Wyoming High School Athletics Association named him Conference Coach of the Year four times and Regional Coach of the year twice. The Wyoming Coaches Association also gave him Coach of the Year honors twice. In United States Youth Soccer, he's earned State Coach of the year and a nomination as Region IV Coach of the Year. In 2009, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) named him the NSCAA/Adidas High School Coach of the Year for Region III.
Hill holds three NSCAA diplomas, including the NSCAA Premier Diploma, the highest license in the nation, along with the United States Soccer Federation's "A" License.
At Northwest, he will be head coach for both the men's and women's soccer programs, with help from two assistants yet to be hired. The men's and women's teams will travel together, playing back-to-back games.
Hill has already made progress fleshing out a schedule for his 2010 teams, starting with a preseason opener on Aug. 15 against the Rocky Mountain College varsity team from Billings.
Asked why he's first pitting his untried squads against a varsity force like Rocky, Hill responded, "I believe you can only get better by playing those better teams. I want us to get tested. I want the players to see what level they have to aspire to and give them something to work toward. I'm all about developing so we can compete at a high level. I want to create a winning team. I'm not here to just bring in bodies. In two or three years I want them to be competing to go to the national tournament. That's my ultimate goal."
Region IX soccer comprises five men's teams and four women's teams--Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs, Western Nebraska Community College (Scottsbluff) and Otero Junior College (La Junta, Colo).
Because the top four teams are guaranteed a place at the regional tournament, the Lady Trappers are guaranteed a spot their first year. The men's team will need to prove itself by outperforming at least one other team. The other schools in the region have fully developed programs, according to Hill, with the exception of Otero, which is also in its first year. Unlike other National Junior College Athletic Association sports, soccer regional winners must go on to compete at the district level before earning a berth at the national tournament.
Outside of Region IX, Hill plans to run with the big dogs. He's trying to set up games against varsity teams from four-year schools, like Division I Montana State University-Billings, and competitive two-year teams like North Idaho College. He's also negotiating for matches with National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) teams and already has one in the bag with the University of Great Falls.
In upcoming years, the Trapper Soccer teams can count on playing 22 games, but Hill says it will be difficult to get a full quota of games this first season because most teams have already established their schedules. To date, he's arranged 17 games for the men and 16 for the women. The teams will travel as far away as Salt Lake City, Utah, and Dodge City, Kan., where they'll play a Texas team while they're there.
When it comes to recruiting, Hill is already casting a wide net. He feels his experience and contacts on the national soccer scene will give him a healthy edge in enticing top-notch players to his unproven team.
"I've already started putting feelers out on the west coast, in Indiana and Colorado," Hill said. "I'm also in touch with soccer programs back in England, hoping to bring a couple of international players into the program. I'd like to hold a tryout this spring and plan to call every single Wyoming high school coach that I have a good connection with about their potential seniors who would normally look at teams like LCCC first. Then I'll branch out to every surrounding state."
He plans on getting a close look at some of the country's best high school players this spring as he travels to regional showcases with the Wyoming Olympic Development Program.
"By summer, I hope to have two full squads," Hill said. "I'm aiming for 20 players on each team this first year, then moving up to 24-25 players after that. I already have three males definitely coming here."
Because he's recruiting nationally, Hill is certain the students who'll be playing for him are students who otherwise wouldn't consider coming to Northwest.
"A lot of kids go to Montana or the Dakotas from Wyoming because they want to play soccer. I think we're going to see a shift in that. The first year, we'll give it a good go, but after the first year, when we're established and the word is out, I'm hoping our reputation will start drawing in players," Hill said.
"Getting technically good soccer players is important, but I also want winning attitudes," he added. "I'm going to pay close attention to their attitudes, how committed are they, what their work ethic is like, and whether or not they're going to be able to handle academics in addition to athletics. I'm going to look at their character as much as their soccer ability because, first and foremost, they're here for their education."
To get them here, Hill says, "I'll sell the Rocky Mountain area and all it has to offer, plus the unique community. I think the college will sell itself in terms of the quality and the campus. On top of that, I think the philosophy and the style of soccer that we're going to try to produce will pull players. I like to think of myself as someone who understands the modern game, and tactically, is very astute."
This is Hill's first stint as head coach of a college soccer team, but it's not his first time coaching college players. The University of Wyoming and other four-year schools have invited him to work with their players as a camp clinician.
During his playing days, Hill competed in two pro and two semi-pro clubs in England. He was a British Universities Finalist while at Manchester Metropolitan University, the equivalent of America's NCAA Division I finals.
Hill holds a bachelor's degree with dual majors in physical education and history.
The Athletics link on NWC's Web site already has basic Trapper Soccer information and online recruiting forms, according to Hill. He's hoping to have the site fully populated within the coming week.
High school players who are interested in the NWC soccer program are encouraged to e-mail Rob Hill, call 307-754-7822 or fill out the online recruiting questionnaire.