A longtime coach and educator is taking the reins of the Lady Bears athletic program.
Michael Hill, 59, was recently named the DeKalb High School girls athletic director following the death of Jessica Burgin in January.
“I know that through the talks we had, I can see her vision on what she wanted … I know she’s still looking down on me. And I know, from our talks, she would love for me to be where I’m at. Those are big shoes to fill and I’m going to do my best,” Hill said.
“You can’t forget some of the things she said and done and her vision when you walk in the gym. Everyday there’s a memory.”
Hill previously held the position of head girls basketball and track coach as well as an assistant football coach.
Hill said he will continue acting as the head coach for the Lady Bears but will relinquish the role of head track coach to Cydne Proctor. He added that he and Troy Zeringue, the boys AD, will discuss him continuing with the football program.
As the girls AD, he says he will continue to grow the vision for the program that Burgin started.
“We want to grow, but I’m going to strive to reach her vision. I still see it. Talking about it, I know what she wanted and we’re going to strive to go get that. There was a purpose there. There won’t be a ton of changes because we changed a lot and we made some changes when she was here … The work ethic in the weight room has been tremendous. That’s something she was wanting to do and we had gotten it there,” Hill said.
A graduate of DeKalb High School, Hill has a total of 37 years in education and coaching boys and girls sports.“I do this because of the kids. I enjoy seeing kids succeed. My biggest purpose here is to help kids succeed … I just love being in education and I’ve always loved being around sports,” he said. “I’ve coached kids and now I’m coaching their kids. It’s been a blessing,” he said. “I come to work everyday, fired up and ready to go. That’s a good feeling.”
Hill is a graduate of DHS, but it was a stop in Florida on his way to play basketball in Australia that landed him his first coaching position in 1987, he said.
Hill spent nine years in Florida, but said a hurricane and the distance from his family led him to move back to Texas. He spent a year in Detroit, Texas, before moving back to Bowie County in 1996.
He coached four years at his alma mater, then moved to New Boston High School where he spent 23 years.
Last year, Hill returned last year to DHS to work alongside Burgin.
“Jessica and I had talked a lot during track season. Back in April of last year, she had an idea that a job was coming available. Knowing her and what she’s done for the program, it was a blessing to get the opportunity to get to work with her and see her vision and try to follow that,” Hill said. “She helped me make that decision to come here … Coming back to DeKalb has been really good for me.”
In the classroom, Hill teaches his students how to manage money and housing to prepare them for life outside of high school.
Outside of the halls of DHS, Hill loves spending time with his family.
“I’m a family man, I love my grandkids and love my daughters,” he said.
He is husband to Tricia, father of Destyni Basey- Jackson and Alexia Hill, step-father to Marquishia Thompson and Carleigh Reeves both of whom he coached at NBHS, and grandfather to four. His only grandson, Caden, graduated from David W. Carter High School in Dallas this past weekend.
Hill said he doesn’t see himself retiring soon.
“Jessica told me one day in basketball practice, that her daughters asked her, ‘Do you think Coach Hill will ever coach us?’ She said she just told them it’s a possibility. I said it would be great to make it that long to be able to do it,” he said. “I’m looking at that young group coming, and the thought of seeing her kids coming, I think that could be a possibility. As long as my health stays good and I stay fired up.”
