Robert Hill Position: Director of Athletics Institution: Stephen F. Austin State University

Hill is in his fourth year as Director of Athletics and his 22nd year as a member of the SFA Athletic Department.

During his time as Director of Athletics, SFA teams have claimed nine Southland Conference titles and have made NCAA championship appearances in women's basketball, volleyball, soccer, softball and outdoor track and field.

Men's basketball claimed its first SLC championship in 2008 and participated in the NIT for the first time since 1987. Softball won its first ever Southland Conference tournament title in 2008 and earned a berth in the NCAA championships. SFA also captured SLC championships in soccer and volleyball during the 2007-08 season.

Facility improvements have been a priority since Hill became director. Newly remodeled dressing rooms for football and men's basketball, major renovations to the fieldhouse main meeting room, the varsity weight room and football offices have all been completed. A new $450,000 tennis pavilion, which houses the women's team opened in the spring of 2008. New construction for baseball seating will start this fall along with the start of a new softball facility.

Academic success is another point of emphasis for Hill. There were 198 SFA student-athletes who posted a 3.0 GPA or higher during the 2007-08 academic year with 48 receiving their degrees, including 13 with honors.

Hill is also active on the national scene having been selected to represent the SLC on the Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Director's Association committee. In 2007 he received the General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award from the All-American Football Foundation.

The Canadian, Texas, native began his SFA career as sports information director in 1987. Hill moved to assistant athletic director for business affairs in 1990 and became associate athletic director for internal affairs in 1998. Prior to joining SFA he spent 17 years in broadcasting.

Both he and his wife, Brenda, are SFA graduates. Their family includes daughter Alix and her husband Matt of Dallas; son Stuart and his wife Kathy and a grandson, Blake, all of Columbia, MD.