Men’s basketball: Hill will not reapply

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College men’s basketball Coach Mark Hill

announced Tuesday he will not apply for the new full-time position,

because he doesn’t want to work for less money.

Hill, in his 13th year teaching at Esperanza High, said he would have

to take a sizable pay cut if he received the job at Coast.

The pay scale at OCC offers $54,710 for its most experienced

coach/teacher, which Hill would have received if given the job.

“I would be having to give up too many years,” said Hill, 29-31 in two

seasons at the Pirates’ helm. “There wasn’t any hard feelings at all.

I’ve enjoyed my four years there. This was a difficult decision for me to

make.”

There was no ill will between Hill and Coast and Interim Athletic

Director Fred Hokanson was “very surprised” by Hill’s decision.

Hill worked the last two seasons as an adjunct OCC faculty member. He

will work through April and continue to recruit. He said his biggest

concern is for the future of assistant coach Nate Harrison, who has done

much of the recruiting and defensive strategies throughout his three

years at OCC.

“It would be silly for (the new coach) not to keep Nate on,” Hill

said.

The OCC men’s head coaching job has not been a full-time position

since Tandy Gillis guided the Pirates from 1976-92. Applications for the

position will be accepted until Friday.