James Hill, Jr. joined the Knights women’s basketball staff as assistant coach in October 2022. With more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience including 16 seasons as the head women’s basketball coach Virginia State University from 2006-2022.
Hill led VSU to four NCAA Division II Regional Tournament appearances, a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women’s Basketball Championship in 2015, five regular season division titles, and earned a top-20 ranking in USA Today/ESPN Women’s Basketball Poll during the 2009-10 season.
He was voted the CIAA Coach of the Year three times, twice named HBCU Mid-Major Coach of the Year, and in 2015 earned the Clearance “Big House” Gaines Coach of the Year Award. Hill holds the best overall record in school history (25-3, 2013-14), the longest winning streak in program history (15-0, 2017-18), and has coached nine All-CIAA performers. During his tenure Hill entered the 200 Wins Club and was voted into the VSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
From 2000-2006, Hill was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Shaw University where his duties included recruiting, scouting, and skill development. The Shaw Bears from 2003-2005 captured the CIAA and Black College Championships and earned a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2005. In addition, Hill was named Assistant Coach of the Year three times and was named to the Shaw University Hall of Fame in 2017.
A native of Macon, GA where he was a top player in the area as a member of the Northeast High School boy's varsity basketball teams. Hill earned his bachelor’s degree in Allied Health and Professional Recreation from Shaw University, where he was a standout guard for three seasons.
