Football
- Title:
- Running Backs Coach
- Email:
- justin-hill@utulsa.edu
- Phone:
- 2393
Justin Hill is in his sixth season at The University of Tulsa after joining the Golden Hurricane football coaching staff on January 9, 2014 as running backs coach.
During Hill’s tenure, Tulsa running backs have totaled 47 100-yard rushing games and has had five games surpassing 200 yards on the ground. As a team, the Hurricane has rushed for over 300 yards in 13 games over the past five seasons, while his running backs have earned four all-conference honors.
Tulsa’s run game ranked among the nation’s top-15 in 2016 and 2017. The Hurricane averaged 261.7 yards to rank eighth nationally in 2016 and was the NCAA’s 14th best running team in 2017 with 247.3 yards per game. Tulsa set a school record in 2016 with eight 300+ rushing games. In the 2018 season, Tulsa’s run game ranked 35th nationally.
Hill has tutored four players who have gained over 1,000 career rushing yards, while two of those players hold two of the top-5 spots on the schools’ career rushing chart, and also three of the top-5 single-season rushing outputs.
James Flanders (2016) and D’Angelo Brewer (2017), who led the American Athletic Conference for rushing in separate seasons, are two of those players. Current seniors Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II are the other two 1,000-yard career rushers under Hill’s tutelage.
In 2016, Flanders and Brewer each surpassed 1,000 yards for the season, becoming just the second pair of running backs in Tulsa history to reach 1,000 yards in a single-season and only the 72nd pair in NCAA DI/FBS history. A senior, Flanders became the school’s single season rushing leader with 1,629 yards in 2016.
A year later, Brewer became The American’s and Tulsa’s all-time rushing leader in 2017 when his career total reached 3,917 yards.
Brooks and Taylor enter their senior seasons in 2020 with a combined 4,190 career yards and 45 touchdowns.
Hill has been involved in seven bowl games as a player and coach, including helping Tulsa reach the 2015 Camping World Independence Bowl and 2016 Miami Beach Bowl.
Hill came to Tulsa from Baylor University, where he spent three seasons as the associate director of athletic performance for the football team. Before his stint at Baylor, Hill spent one season at Iowa State as a graduate assistant coach.
A 2011 graduate of Rice University, Hill began his collegiate career as a running back in 2007 and due to injuries at linebacker was asked to move to that position as a sophomore. As a running back, Hill started seven games and was Rice's leading rusher with 321 yards and three TDs as a true freshman. In three seasons on defense, Hill collected 97 tackles, six pass break-ups and forced three fumbles.
Hill was elected a Rice co-captain for his senior season (2010) and finished that year as the Jess Nealy Award winner, an honor given to the Owls' top linebacker.
Hill was selected to the AFCA Under-30 Coaches’ Leadership in 2017.
A native of Denton, Texas, Hill earned his bachelor's degree in 2011 from Rice in sociology. He also received his master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in 2015 from Iowa State.
Hill and his wife, Dana, have one daughter: Avery.
Alma Mater: Rice ‘11
Birthdate: September 9, 1988
Hometown: Denton, Texas
Playing Experience: Was a four-year letterman at Rice (2007-10) and was team co-captain his senior season.
Bowl Games as a Player
2008 Texas Bowl (Rice)
Bowl Games as a Coach
2011 Pinstripe Bowl (Iowa State)
2012 Holiday Bowl (Baylor)
2013 Fiesta Bowl (Baylor)
2014 Cotton Bowl (Baylor)
2015 Camping World Independence Bowl (Tulsa)
2016 Miami Beach Bowl (Tulsa)
