Larry Hill

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One of the most successful and consistent coaches in volleyball, head coach Larry Hill begins his 28th season at the helm of the Fairmont State volleyball program. He ranks ninth in NCAA Division II for victories among active head coaches with a mark of 559-446 – more than any other coach in the WVIAC. The Falcons have had 18 winning times under Hill’s leadership.

Coach Hill has led the Fairmont State program since 1984, and has been named WVIAC “Coach of the Year” four times (1985, 1988, 1990 and 1998), and has led the Fighting Falcons to a winning season 17 times. Coach Hill has also directed Fairmont State to at least 20 victories in 15 seasons, including a record 42 wins in 1990. He has guided the Fighting Falcons to four WVIAC titles (1998, 1990, 1998 and 1999), and has produced three conference “Players of the Year” in Jackie Burks (1988), Tracey Rowe (1989) and Courtney Fochtman (1994). Fochtman and Theresa Haggerty are members of the Fairmont State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Last season, the Falcons notched their 16th, 20-win season under Hill after posting a 20-10 record and a runner-up finish in the WVIAC. The Falcons also had a pair of first team All-WVIAC honorees.

Two seasons ago, the Falcons fell just one victory short of a 20-win season finishing with a 19-16 mark. Hill coached second team selection Micah Bell, and helped develop Meagan Gibson into one of the more dominant players in the league as she led the WVIAC in kills and kills per game.

In 2008, the Falcons won 13 matches, and Micah Bell was named to the All-WVIAC second team. In 2007, Hill won his 500th career match on Sept. 26, 2007, against Ohio Valley. In 2005, Hill led Fairmont State to its 16th winning season with a 20-19 record and the team posted an impressive 14-4 record inside the WVIAC and advanced to the semifinals of the league tournament. He helped Skinner earn first team All-WVIAC honors.

In 1998, Hill was selected as the Atlantic Region NCAA II “Coach of the Year.” That season, the Falcons finished first in the region with a 23-1 record and hosted the regional tournament. Another career milestone came on Sept. 12, 2000, as he garnered his 400th career win against Glenville.

Prior to Hill’s becoming the volleyball coach at Fairmont, he was as assistant football coach for 13 seasons with the Falcons. Born in Weston, W.Va., Hill attended East Fairmont High School, where he participated in football and track and was named All-Big Ten and All-Marion County for his play.

Hill then took his athletic talents to Fairmont State, where he was a four-year letterman in football and was named All-WVIAC as a linebacker helping the Falcons to three, one-loss seasons during his career. He went on to serve on the coaching staff of the 1967 national championship team at Fairmont State. Hill received his master’s degree from West Virginia University in 1968. For the next two years Hill served in the United States Army.

He returned to Fairmont State in the fall of 1970, and has been a coach and professor in the Division of HHP since that time. Hill also served as the head baseball coach for four years (1980-1983) and enjoyed a tremendous season in 1982 directing a team that went 21-13 (15-3 WVIAC) and won the Northern Division Championship of the WVIAC.

Hill is married to the former Joyce Lynn Antolini.