McNeese extends Hill’s contract by another three years
Published 4:30 pm Tuesday, July 18, 2023
- McNeese State head coach Justin Hill stands in the dugout during a nonconference game against Miami-Ohio at Joe Miller Ballpark. (American Press Archives)
Justin Hill won’t have to go into next season wondering about his future.
The all-time winningest baseball coach in McNeese State history agreed to a new three-year contract the school announced Tuesday.
The deal will keep Hill in the McNeese dugout through the 2026 season and is announced just as work is expected to start on the new baseball facility to be built just across from home plate.
“It is really nice to not go into next year with only one year remaining,” said Hill. “I’m very thankful to the administration and the players who have worked so hard here.”
Hill has posted 301-240 record with the Cowboys, winning 30 or more games eight times.
“Coach Hill has continued to win despite some tough times,” said McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer. “Coach Hill has been a consistent winner and built a program that excels on the field, in the classroom, and in our community”
Schroyer said that the way Hill led the baseball program through the hard times after Hurricane Laura has been especially impressive.
“Coach has taken us through some very hard times, really difficult ones that there was no real precedent for,” Schroyer said. “And he has continued to win and set high standards.”
Hill’s new deal is worth $330,000 over the three seasons.
“This shows the administration is behind us and is pleased with what we are doing,” said Hill. “It’s always good to be rewarded.
“I’m grateful to continue as the head baseball coach at McNeese. I appreciate Coach Schroyer, Dr. (Wade) Rousse, and Dr. (Daryl) Burckel’s belief in us by providing this opportunity. The best is yet to come.”
Hill helped keep the McNeese athletic program on the winning track despite losing his indoor facilities to the storm. He won back-to-back conference tournament titles in 2019 and 2021.
The 2020 college baseball season was canceled after 17 games due to COVID.
Hill has also kept McNeese winning despite the transfer portal. In fact, McNeese has become a place for several transfers to come and advance their careers over the last few years.
The latest to do so is pitcher Grant Rogers, who after a year in junior college became a Cowboy and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays just last week.
“We have had a lot of success here and this year was no different,” Hill said. “It may not have ended with a trophy but a lot of good things happened and we won a lot of games.”
McNeese finished the 2023 season 35-23, one win better than the year before when the Cowboys won the Southland Conference regular-season title and advanced to the championship series of the tournament.
