Despite stepping down, don't expect Hill to stray far from the court

GAINESVILLE -- In his first season as Gainesville girls basketball coach, Manson Hill's team won four games during the 1986-87 campaign. The next season the Lady Red Elephants claimed one victory.

"I don't know if I'd be able to keep my job in most places if I was just starting and had that record in today's atmosphere," Hill said, chuckling. "But my superintendent (Dr. Alan Zubay) and my athletic director (Bobby Gruhn) believed in me. They could see we were building something."

Were they ever. Twenty three seasons later, Hill is stepping down as Gainesville girls coach with four state titles, 10 region titles and 15 state playoff appearances to his name -- not to mention two state titles in girls golf, six top four finishes and nine region titles.

"He's a hall of famer," current Gainesville athletic director Wayne Vickery said on Friday after Hill announced his decision. "What he was able to do was unbelievable. Look at the state titles, teams and players he's coached. He's going to be hard to replace."

Hill says he actually timed his announcement with whoever replaces him in mind.

"We've got a ton of talent coming back and coming up next season," Hill said. "And I wanted to make sure I left the program on the best footing possible. I didn't want someone to have to struggle. Plus, I want them to be able to get a coach in here as quick as possible, which is why I announced when I did (one day after the season ended for Gainesville)."

That reason was one of many that Hill, 58, says factored into his decision to step away after 35 years of teaching and coaching around northeast Georgia (Hill's resume includes stints at Johnson and Habersham Central).

"Number one is that I want to have good health," Hill said. "I put on weight each season, and it's important for me to stay healthy. But when I'm coaching, I just can't find the time I need to get to the gym. My family's got a heart history, and I want to make sure I'm in the best shape possible."

Hill said he also wants to take time to enjoy travel and spend time with his wife, Mary.

"There's some things my wife and I want to do that I've never been able to do because of coaching," Hill said. "My wife wants to see the big waves in Hawaii, and the best time to see them is late December, early January. I can't do that when I'm coaching."

Don't get Hill wrong, the Gainesville icon is in no way tired of his profession and calling.

"If I could just take a sabbatical I would, but that wouldn't be fair to the girls or the program," Hill said. "It's just some of the stresses that come along with the job have made things hard."

So don't be surprised to see Hill watching and cheering from the stands next season or even taking a more involved role in the future.

"I'll still be up there supporting the girls," Hill said. "And it might be fun to come back to the game somewhere and be somebody's assistant, or it might be fun to come back and coach eighth grade -- that's a great level to watch develop."

After spending so many years teaching and watching youths excel, what else would you expect?

"I feel very blessed that I've been able to watch some of the greatest kids do amazing things," Hill said. "When coach Gruhn lured me down here from Habersham (Central), he told me that Gainesville kids do amazing things. And I've had a tremendous number of great players."

Hill coached seven all-state players and also has two former players who went on to play professionally, in Tasha Humphrey and Kita Waller.

"It was also just a great atmosphere to come and learn in," Hill noted about his introduction to Gainesville. "I had (former Gainesville boys basketball coach) Jerry Davis as a mentor. I learned so much from him. And I've had so many great assistants. I learned a lot here, and sometimes, especially early on, I learned by getting my butt kicked."

It took a few years for Hill's Lady Red Elephants to start putting up amazing records, but his 89-90 team showed everyone that things were changing at Gainesville, as they beat three top 10 teams that season, finishing at .500. Three years later, the Lady Red Elephants finished state runner up in Class AA and won their first state title the following season, going 30-0. Those Lady Red Elephants featured the first of two All-Americans under Hill's watch in guard Mahogany Hudson.

Yet the budding dynasty was put on hold when Hill left Gainesville after the season for family reasons, moving to take a teaching and coaching position at Central Cabarrus High in Concord, N.C. It was only a pause, however, and Hill returned to the position in 1997-98, picking right back up where he left off by leading the Lady Red Elephants to the Class AA quarterfinals.

Three seasons later, Gainesville elevated to one of the state's elite programs, regardless of classification, as Hill's second All-American, Humphrey, helped the Lady Red Elephants to three state titles in four seasons (2001, '03 and '04). Until this season, Gainesville had reached the state playoffs in 13 straight campaigns under Hill.

"I always felt that you could win here," Hill said. "If you didn't that was your fault, because you've got great kids, a great community and the support of the the administration."

Hill certainly wrapped up more than his share of wins at Gainesville -- on the hardwood, golf course and tennis court (he coached tennis in his first stint with the Red Elephants). And now he hopes he can watch his replacement continue that success.

"I think they'll get someone here that will be here 10-15 years," said Hill, who says he gave the Gainesville administration three recommendations for the job but declined to say who. "I'm looking forward to coming back here and watching the girls win championships."