It is often said those who cannot play, teach.
After elbow surgery, a shoulder injury and not starting on the LSU baseball team, Justin Hill has returned to Alex Box Stadium as the new volunteer coach for the Tigers.
Hill spent a year each at Mississippi Delta Community College and Bossier Parish Community College in Shreveport, sitting out a year in between for elbow surgery. After attending BPCC, Hill joined LSU for his junior and senior seasons.
In his junior year, Hill appeared in 19 games, recording a 1-1 record with two saves before suffering a shoulder injury that left him recovering for the rest of the season.
“I really can’t say I played here that much,” Hill said. “I pitched a few games my junior year, then I got hurt. I didn’t really pitch after my shoulder got hurt. I only really pitched one game my senior year. I wouldn’t change much. I wish I could have stayed healthy, but you really can’t change that.”
Hill started as an assistant coach for his alma mater West Monroe High School under his high school coach Jeff Schexnaider.
“Justin Hill was the perfect team player,” Schexnaider said. “He is a student of the game. You could never work him hard enough. I think he will take the same qualities with him as a coach. Whatever he chooses to do, he is the type of person who will be successful.”
After the 2003 season as a high school coach, Hill decided to pursue a master’s degree at Northwestern State University, where he was also a volunteer coach under coach Mitch Gaspard.
Hill spent two seasons with the Demons including the 2005 season where the team compiled a 40-win season, including a conference title and an advancement to the regionals.
“He was just a relentless worker,” Gaspard said. “He worked with various administrations and on the field with our pitchers. He was certainly a right- hand man to me. We certainly feel his loss.”
After the 2005 season, former LSU volunteer assistant coach Jody Autery resigned. Since leaving LSU, Hill remained in touch with the Tiger coaching staff made up mostly of the same coaches as when Hill was a player.
“I knew what the job took here,” Hill said. “It was easy for me to step back in because I knew everybody. It was just one of things where you’re at the right place at the right time.”
The volunteer coaching
position at LSU focuses mostly on running the annual baseball camp in December. Hill is affiliated with the team by stepping in when needed, but he is not employed by the University.
“I’ve tried to come in and help them with whatever they need,” Hill said. “I help out with stuff on the field and batting practice. If someone gets sick, I step in and take that role for the day. I’m like a roving coach. It’s good because I’m not locked into one thing and can learn a lot of things all at the same time.”
Contact Tabby Soignier at [email protected]