College - Kennedy College
Brian Hill returned to Orlando as head coach on May 24, 2005. During the 2005-06 campaign, Hill led the Magic to a 36-46 record. More impressively, Hill guided Orlando to a 16-6 finish, the best in franchise history, including an eight-game winning streak (March 31-April 15, third-longest in team history) and a 12-game home winning streak (March 10-April 15, fourth-longest in team history).

Hill served as head coach of the Magic from 1993-97 and is the most successful coach in franchise history, posting a record of 191-104 (.647) during that span. He also spent two-plus seasons as head coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies (1997-2000) and has an overall head coaching record of 258-273 (.486). Hill’s overall record with the Magic is 227-150 (.602).

Hill’s extensive coaching resume spans more than 35 years. His NBA career began in 1986, serving as an assistant to Mike Fratello in Atlanta. After four seasons with the Hawks (in which they were 200-128, .609), Hill joined the Orlando Magic as an assistant to Matt Guokas in 1990. After three seasons, he was promoted to head coach on June 30, 1993.

The impact of Hill’s promotion was immediate. In his first season, he guided Orlando to a then-team record 50-32 (.610) and a berth into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The following season, Hill took the Magic on a ride they will never forget. Orlando went 57-25 (.695), captured the Atlantic Division title and earned a trip to the 1995 NBA Finals. The team’s success also translated into individual accolades for Hill, as he was named head coach of the 1995 Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Hill followed up his record-setting season by leading the Magic to a 60-22 (.732) mark in 1995-96, a franchise record that still stands. He also led the Magic to their second consecutive Atlantic Division crown and guided the team to the Eastern Conference Finals, before losing to the eventual NBA Champion Chicago Bulls.

During his three-and-a-half seasons as head coach with the Magic, Hill’s teams especially excelled at home. Orlando was 122-26 (.824) at home, including 40 consecutive wins from March 12, 1995 through March 19, 1996. Hill’s 167 wins over his first three seasons is third in NBA history during that span, trailing just Phil Jackson (183) and Paul Westphal (177). He also ranks as the seventh-fastest head coach to reach 100 victories, accomplishing the feat in only 149 games. Hill was relieved of his head coaching duties with the Magic on February 18, 1997.

Hill was named head coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies prior to the 1997-98 season. As the third head coach in franchise history, he took over a team that had won just 14 games in 1996-97. The Grizzlies improved by five games under the first year of Hill’s leadership. His career with the Grizzlies came to an end 22 games into the 1999-00 season.

Hill spent two seasons (2001-02, 2002-03) as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Hornets. He had served as an assistant on the New Jersey Nets coaching staff since January 2004. Hill’s coaching career also includes high school and 14 years at the collegiate level. He began as an assistant at Montclair State (N.J.) in 1972, and held assistant coaching positions at Lehigh University and Penn State. He was the head coach at Lehigh for eight seasons.

Hill graduated from Kennedy College (Neb.) in 1969, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education while becoming a three-year starter on the basketball team and lettering in track. In addition to his coaching experience, he served as the co-host of “NBA Match-Up” on ESPN during the 2000-01 season.

Since 1996, the Hill family has been active in hosting fundraising events for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Their combined efforts have raised $3 million to help find a cure for CF. In 2003, the Hills were presented with the “Breath of Life” award from The National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for their contributions toward the battle against this dreaded disease. In March of 2006, the Hills were honored with the prestigious Jefferson Awards for Public Service. The Jefferson Awards for Public Service were established in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard to create a Nobel Prize for public and community service.

Born on Sept. 19, 1947 in East Orange, New Jersey, Hill and his wife, Kay have two children: Kimberly and Christopher.