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New Leadership Making a Splash in Marlin Athletics
Meet Tina Hill who believes that the athletics classroom is a living laboratory
University News | November 8, 2018
Tina Hill is completing her first semester as Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at VWU. She joined Marlin Athletics in July, after serving as Athletic Director at Randolph College for the past 10 years. For 28 years, she’s devoted her career to the field of NCAA Division III athletics. In addition to Randolph, she has worked at Cornell College, California Lutheran University, and Elizabethtown College.
Hill received her B.S. in physical education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and her M.S. in sports management from the University of Richmond. As an undergraduate at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, she was a two-time, first-team, all-conference volleyball player and earned academic honors including the Chancellor's Leadership Award and the Outstanding Female Athlete Award.
She considers one of her greatest accomplishments to be a comment from a campus librarian she used to work with who said, “we’re going to need to build a bigger library—ours is filled with student-athletes.” That’s the kind of leader she is, focused on the successes of student-athletes, humble and hard-working, dedicated to improving the lives of those around her.
Growing up in Wisconsin, in a suburb of Milwaukee with an ice skating park right behind her house, Hill was an avid speed skater who easily garnered blue ribbons for her talents. She recalls a time when she coveted ribbons of other colors and figured out that if she held back during races, she could take home a wider variety of colors, instead of her usual blue. When she proudly showed her mother her new assortment of colored ribbons, Hill said her mother “wasn’t having it,” and an “always do your best, don’t hold back” lesson became engrained at an early age.
She now encourages the same from students, coaches and staff and supports them by putting people and their successes first. She believes this kind of philosophy best measures success and the wins naturally follow.
“When you put people first, a successful by-product just bubbles up,” says Hill.
In a recent interview with Hill, we learned much more about what makes her tick. Her leadership philosophies shine through all that she does to reflect the kind of self-aware, thoughtful, trustworthy and authentic leader she is.
What brought you to VWU?
The opportunity for me to consider VWU was quite an honor. I've admired the quality of the student-athletes, the dedication and professionalism of the coaching staff for quite some time. It's been amazing to see the growth of the institution under Dr. Miller's leadership and to be a part of a special community was very attractive. Throughout my career, I've gone coast to coast and contributed to the life of each campus, at an important time in their history where I could make a difference. I plan to do that here and will trust the process.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I grew up on the heels of the passing of Title IX, and was blessed with opportunities, although I didn't realize it at the time. I excelled at sports, including speed skating when I was young, and my middle school physical education instructor, was instrumental in my development. All I wanted to do was to teach physical education and coach.
What led you to this point in your career?
Going to college at UW-Stevens Point was my turning point, no pun intended. I was a four-year, two-time all conference volleyball player and also played basketball for two years. Despite finishing at the top my class, opportunities to teach were not as plentiful as the number graduates in the field, so I started my career as an assistant recreation director for a municipality in central Wisconsin, I coached high school basketball and officiated volleyball, while volunteering as a track coach for Special Olympics.
After my mother passed away, a good friend encouraged me to go to graduate school and that's where I fell in love with Virginia --when I attended the University of Richmond. I got excited when I learned about the opportunities that intercollegiate athletics had to offer, and a required internship landed me a position at Elizabethtown College, where the friend that nudged me to get my masters, was coaching. It was there that I became a jack of all trades, not only serving as an intern, then assistant AD, an instructor in physical education, assistant volleyball coach, but I was afforded the opportunity to direct intramurals, student activities and residence life. I stayed for 7 years and left having even had the opportunity to serve as interim athletic director.
I then realized that to advance my career, I needed experience with the sport of football. At the time, a former colleague at California Lutheran University (CLU), needed an associate athletic director that would serve as their primary business officer - and off I went. I spent five great years there, enjoyed my exposure to football and had the opportunity to plan for 200 acres of brand new athletic facilities. They were founded in 1959, so VWU often reminds me of the time of growth I experienced at CLU.
I then had the opportunity for my first director’s job at Cornell College in Iowa. It got me back to the midwest, which was important since my dad's health was declining and not only was Cornell my first director's job, but I was their first full time athletic director, so it gave me a chance to improve their operations and renovate some facilities.
After my father died, I got the itch to move again. There was an opening at Randolph and I returned to Virginia where I had the opportunity to add sports and finish the work on a $5M facility, something not many AD's have a chance to do, as we're often tasked with making cuts. And then, after 10 years at Randolph, the position at VWU arose and again, I couldn't resist such a great opportunity. A change of scenery, from the mountains to the beach and the rest, well ... is being written.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
It would be easy to point to certain championships over the years, but that would be too easy. I'm proud of the work I did while serving as chair of women's volleyball committee, the facilities improvements I had a hand in, but my greatest work was seen through the eyes of the many terrific coaches I hired that went on to make a great difference in the lives of the students they lead. Attending graduations in May never gets old, and it’s a great reminder that, in some small way, I too, made a positive difference in our students' lives. Hearing about their career successes and families created just warms my heart.
What do you think is most important about the role of an athletic director?
Doing the right thing, for the right reasons. Along with that is the leadership provided to our coaches, whether it is in the hiring or evaluation process or leading by example. I know my influence on them affects how they interact with our students that helps them be successful - and that is the key to achieving our overall goals. It is not lost on me, that the student-athlete experience is paramount to their success and it's important that I support our staff so they are free to invest their all, in the work they do with, and on behalf of, our greatest asset - our students.
What do you find most rewarding about being an athletic director?
The most rewarding aspects are watching our students experience success and being a part of the relationships that develop between students, their coaches, and their love for the institution. While it's easy to point to the game day wins, it is often the delayed lessons learned that bring even more joy. When students return and share their appreciation for what they learned and how they experienced their time on campus, it is very rewarding. The small notes of thanks from students mean so much. Without a doubt, it is the people that make the job very rewarding.
What are your thoughts about the role of athletics throughout a student's educational career?
I often wish every student could experience being involved in athletics and being a member of a team. It supplements and supports the institutional mission in multiple ways, that includes teamwork, dedication, passion and commitment for goals greater than themselves and those lessons learned, will help them in their lives forever. It requires them to think, to sacrifice, to persevere, to fail, to get back up and try again, to play by the rules, to be respectful, even when we disagree. The athletics classroom is a living laboratory.
Share your insights about the role of coaches.
It's important coaches understand the Division III philosophy and that their focus needs to be on their students' development. They need to be able to recruit graduates of the institution, with the right "type" of student that will be successful there. They need to be good role models with a good work ethic, strong integrity and healthy dose of humility and humor. If the right coach is in place, the goal is to get out of their way and let them get to work. It is also important to surround yourself with good people and those better than you are. The expectations placed on coaches today are much more complex and time-intensive than even 10 years ago. Sometimes my support is as simple as knowing when my door needs to be open and when it needs to be closed, and having the wisdom to know the difference. I strive to make time to get to them as people, and learn what makes them tick. It can often be quite the dance, knowing when to lead, stand beside or push from behind - overall, I have been very blessed with those I've had the honor to call "my coach."
What role do you believe parents play in DIII athletics?
Parents or guardians are such an important part of a student’s experience. Their role in the student’s life changes when they enter college as they begin to give more of the reins to their child. Their role now is to be supportive, taking more of a back seat, and allowing their children to figure some things out on their own and begin to advocate for themselves. It's beneficial for them to remind their child of how much they are loved, be their child's biggest fans as they watch them compete, and be proud that their child is part of a team. Of course, demonstrating good sportsmanship in the stands is vitally important for all of us...the students are watching.
What's your best advice for student athletes?
Be yourself, listen carefully, follow through, challenge yourself and make it happen.