Cleo Hill Jr., who helped guide to Winston-Salem State to two CIAA championships in six seasons, has left to take the head coaching job at Division I Maryland Eastern-Shore.
Hill had an impressive 90-50 record in five seasons on the court. The 2020-21 season was not played because of COVID-19.
Coach Cleo Hill Jr. is a two-time coach of the year in the CIAA at Winston-Salem State.
During his time at WSSU the Rams won two CIAA titles and he was twice named CIAA coach of the year.
“I’m shocked by this,” said rising junior K.C. Shaw when reached by phone on Saturday afternoon. “But at the same time I’m proud of him for moving up to D-I and I’m proud to say that I played for him for two seasons.”
WSSU sent out a news release at noon on Saturday to say that Hill was leaving for Maryland Eastern-Shore.
Most of WSSU’s head coaches were at the news conference last week when Bonita Brown was introduced as the school’s next chancellor, but Hill was not in attendance.
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Shaw said on Saturday the team will meet via zoom on Sunday.
“We’ll find out more about what’s happening on Sunday in the zoom call,” said Shaw, whose younger brother is an incoming freshman committed to play for this coming season.
Coach Cleo Hill Jr. said he’ll spread the word about his star player, Jaylen Alston (4), at the NBA Draft Combine.
In a statement released by the school, athletics director Etienne Thomas thanked Hill for his time.
“Coach Hill and his staff ensured the men’s basketball student-athletes understood their place in this world and the expectations for achieving holistic success, the value of a college education, and cultivated respect for the brotherhood into each of his teams,” Thomas said in a statement.
Thomas said that on Saturday afternoon that Ricky Wilson, who was one of Hill’s assistant coaches, has agreed to be the interim head coach during the search process.
“We will open up a national search and this is a job of not rebuilding because we are set on winning more championships and I know what kind of coach we need here at Winston-Salem State,” Thomas said.
Winston-Salem State head coach Cleo Hill, Jr. directs his team in the second half of a men’s CIAA basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the Gaines Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Livingstone Bears defeated the Winston-Salem State Rams, 61-60.
Thomas said she hopes that Wilson will apply for the job because he’s been shown to know how to recruit.
“I’ve seen what Coach Wilson has done since he’s been here and see how he helped build the program up,” Thomas said.
Tara Owens, the vice president of athletics at Maryland Eastern-Shore, said in a statement the school is excited to hire such a proven winner. Owens said that Hill applied for the job and was among those who was given a chance to interview.
“During our national search, the hiring committee received an influx of interest from qualified candidates,” Owens said in a statement. “After a thorough and timely review of each candidate, Coach Hill stood out as the right person to lead our men’s basketball program. He has a tremendous reputation as a coach and has a great vision for Hawk basketball. Under his leadership, we will continue to reach new heights of success on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.”
One name that has already surfaced as a replacement is Wykevin Bazemore, a former All-CIAA player who is an assistant at Shaw. He’s helped Bobby Collins the last four seasons at Shaw.
“He’s ready for a head-coaching job if this is what he wants to do, and I think he’d be great for that job,” said Collins, who is also a former head coach of the Rams who won a CIAA title during his time in Winston-Salem.
Coach Cleo Hill Jr. has won two CIAA titles in his six seasons, but the Rams bowed out early in this year’s tournament losing to Bluefield State on Wednesday in the first round.
When Collins left WSSU in 2014 he went to Maryland Eastern-Shore where he coached for four seasons.
Hill, who did not return phone messages for further comment, said in a statement he’s looking forward to the challenge. The Hawks were just 9-20 and 4-10 in the MEAC last season.
“My past experiences and success as well as my passion for building programs have prepared me for this next step in my coaching career,” said Hill, who also spent seven seasons at Shaw as a head coach and before that at Cheyney State. “Our goal is to build Hawk basketball into a perennial championship contender while winning in the classroom and positively representing UMES in the community. I am enthusiastic about the future and look forward to developing a team that our alumni, student body and fans will be proud of.”
Hill, who signed a contract extension two years ago that was through 2026, was making around $130,000. Hill is a former player at N.C. Central and is father, Cleo Hill Sr., was one of the best players to ever play at WSSU. Hill Sr. is the second-leading scorer in school history behind Earl “The Pearl” Monroe.
Thomas said Hill wanted an opportunity to be a head coach for the first time at a Division I program.
Winston-Salem State associate head basketball coach Ricky Wilson has been named the interim head coach with Cleo Hill Jr. leaving for Maryland Eastern-Shore.
“He’s chasing his dream at the next level and I hope he is very successful up there at Maryland Eastern-Shore,” Thomas said. “I think what impressed me the most about my time getting to know Cleo is how his players responded to him and how much he built those relationships on and off the court.”
As for Hill’s new school possibly playing WSSU this next season, Thomas has already thought about it.
“Sure, that would be great for the Rams to play his new team,” Thomas said. “And I told Cleo that we need to make it happen.”
