Andy Hill helps USU basketball climb

Newly promoted associate head coach Andy Hill had big career aspirations as a young boy. When people asked Hill what he wanted to be when he grew up, he gave them two responses: a basketball coach or a truck driver. Inspired by his father, who was also a basketball coach, Hill chose to pursue the same path, largely because of the human element of the profession. 

 “Ultimately, I chose coaching, and for me, it’s about seeing people be successful and seeing them be happy through success and hard work,” Hill said. “I never had any idea I’d be coaching at a level like this at such a good basketball school as Utah State, but here I am, and I feel very fortunate to be here.” 

Hill’s coaching career began at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, but he joined the coaching staff at the University of Montana prior to the 2005-06 season. He led the Grizzlies to three NCAA tournament appearances in seven years, including the first appearance for the program since 1975. 

While there, he developed a love for the state of Montana that led him to join head coach Danny Sprinkle’s staff at Montana State in 2022. When Hill took that job, he was ready to settle down.  

“I love the state of Montana. I have a lake home there, and that’s where I’ll be one day if you want to find me, on the dock and probably in a boat. I moved back to Montana because I knew Danny and I really liked him,” Hill said. “I was fully prepared to stay there forever because I loved it there, but like I say in coaching, sometimes you don’t get to determine everything that just happens.” 

Utah is not an unfamiliar environment for Hill after spending 10 seasons at the University of Utah as an assistant coach. Hill joined the Utes’ staff prior to the 2011-12 season following a disappointing 13-18 season by the “Runnin’ Utes.” Hill’s experiences helping to rebuild the program have helped him make the transition to Utah State easier. 

“Utah was unique because we took over the program at a time when things were a little bit in turmoil. It was also back in the old days when you had to sit out for a year if you were a transfer, so we couldn’t have the opportunity to get the talent that we needed in the Pac-12 than to be competitive right away,” Hill said. “I always tell people this: that was probably those years. I really learned how to coach because we had to do so much to be different to give ourselves a chance to be competitive.” 

Hill’s experience also helped Sprinkle and the rest of the coaching staff better prepare for a season in which the Aggies did not return a single point of production and only had two remaining scholarship players on the roster.  

“This was kind of crazy, honestly, signing 11 players in April and living in a new town and getting adjusted,” Hill said. “The good thing is I’ve been through it before, so I had some things that I thought we needed to lean on, or that I had seen be successful. Hopefully, I was able to help Danny with the team in some way, shape, or form. That’s really your job as an assistant, is to help how you can.” 

Hill’s connections he made while at the University of Utah certainly helped the Aggies land guard Ian Martinez in the transfer portal upon Sprinkle’s arrival in Logan. 

Martinez was first introduced to Hill during his initial recruitment out of high school before he committed to play at Utah under Hill and the rest of the staff. After turnover with the coaching staff at Utah following the 2020-21 season, Martinez transferred to the University of Maryland, but did not forget about the relationship he established with Hill.  

Hill’s promotion to associate head coach at USU came on Jan. 26. In a video on usubasketball’s Instagram account, Hill was informed of the promotion by graduate guard Darius Brown II during a team huddle following a meeting, after which Hill was showered by water bottles poured on him by the team in celebration. 

Hill is excited about the show of confidence from Sprinkle, but recognizes he could not have achieved the promotion without the help of everyone around him.  

“First off, I’m very appreciative. But second off, it’s not about me, you know, it’s about the players and the team,” Hill said. “It’s the same message I would tell them. I think as a coach, you have to practice what you preach. I’m super appreciative of Danny and his recognition, but for me, it’s all about the team and seeing the team do well.” 

It might not be as close to his lake house as he would like, but Hill has grown to love coaching the current team at Utah State because of the spirit and character his players have shown while also appreciating being uplifted by them sometimes. 

“Sometimes, you go through life and it’s hard being an adult some days, right? I mean, there’s stuff going on in the world. There’s stuff going on in your personal life. Different things, like—they’ll lift you up. That’s what’s fun about coaching,” Hill said. “As far as a group, they come pretty much every day, bring energy, bring some passion.They have character. It’s fun to be around them, and they lift you up and make it fun, so credit to them.” 

Hill and Sprinkle have exceeded outside expectations of the program in their first season leading the Aggies after being picked to finish 9th in the Mountain West preseason media poll. 

USU looks to improve their chances of winning a regular season Mountain West championship and NCAA tournament appearance this week. The Aggies take on San Diego State in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. before traveling to Fresno State to play the Bulldogs on Saturday evening.