June 15, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Don Hill has been named South Carolina’s associate head golf coach, director of golf Puggy Blackmon announced Wednesday. Hill comes to South Carolina after an eight-year stint as assistant men’s coach at North Carolina.

“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to come work at the University of South Carolina and to be a Gamecock,” Hill said. “Puggy, (men’s head coach) Bill (McDonald) and (women’s head coach) Kalen (Anderson) have put together an outstanding golf program, and I’m very fortunate to be able to work with a great program and great people.”

Hill’s duties will include working with both the men’s and women’s teams as the Gamecock golf program will revert to the coaching staff structure that was in place from 2007-10. While Hill’s primary duties will be to assist McDonald and the men’s golf team, he will also be involved with the women’s program as needed. Blackmon has served as the women’s assistant coach for the majority of the last three years.

“I am very excited to have Don joining our staff,” McDonald said. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position. I look forward to working with him and pursing our goals for Carolina golf.”

Hill served as the assistant men’s coach at the University of North Carolina since 2004. His duties there included assisting the head coach in the day-to-day operations of the men’s golf program in addition to his on-course duties as coach and teacher. Hill joined the UNC coaching staff after working one year with UNC’s Rams Club as a graduate intern. Prior to that, he played on golf mini tours, 1999-2001.

“I am extremely excited to have Don on board,” Anderson said. “Don is passionate about coaching, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program.”

In his time as North Carolina’s assistant coach, the Tar Heels won 10 tournaments, including the ACC Championship in 2006 and the UNCG Bridgestone Golf Collegiate in the fall of 2010, and five Tar Heels captured seven individual championships. Hill has coached three All-Americans, Martin Ureta in 2005 and 2006, Dustin Bray in 2002-04 and Kevin O’Connell in 2008.

Hill was a member of the UNC men’s golf team (1995, 1997-99). He was a two-time All-ACC performer and two-time honorable mention All-American in 1998 and 1999. Hill helped lead North Carolina to 10th-place NCAA finishes in 1997 and 1999. He was the runner-up at the 1998 ACC Championship, one stroke behind Clemson’s Charles Warren, and finished 10th at the 1999 NCAA Championship. Hill posted 13 top-10 finishes during his four-year collegiate career and 23 top-25 finishes. He posted a 72.88 stroke average in 1997-98 and a 73.03 average in 1998-99.

Hill, a native of Mount Olive, N.C., and a four-year golf standout at Southern Wayne High School, graduated from North Carolina in 1999 with a degree in communications. He replaces former Gamecock assistant coach Michael Burcin, who was recently named head coach at the University of Wisconsin.