Hill's term over?

Shane Hill's tenure as the Jay County High School football coach may be coming to an end.

Multiple members of the Jay School Board confirmed Saturday they have been told the administration would recommend to them that Hill not return as coach of the Patriots next season. The school board must vote on such personnel decisions.

Hill, who has one year remaining on his coaching contract, told his staff and players of the situation last week. Hill, superintendent Tim Long, principal Phil Ford and athletics director Ted Habegger declined comment over the weekend and this morning.

Jay County is 2-7 this season and has dropped six straight games heading into Friday's sectional quarterfinal at New Haven.

One school official said the decision to recommend that Hill not return as coach is not based on the team's record this season.

In Hill's eight years he has had four winning seasons, which included three Olympic Athletic Conference titles and the school's first sectional championship, and four losing seasons for an overall record of 39-47.

After taking over as the Patriots' head coach late in the summer of 2002 following Brad Urban's resignation, Hill led the team to its first winning campaign since 1988. Jay County finished 6-5 that year - each of the losses came against state-ranked competition - and won its first OAC title.

He added winning seasons and OAC titles in 2005 and '06, and matched the 1981 team's single-season school record for wins at 9-4 in 2007 on the way to JCHS' first sectional championship. Hill teams finished with just three wins in 2003, '04 and '07.

Hill, who teaches mathematics at JCHS, was an assistant coach at Muncie Central prior to coming to Jay County.[[In-content Ad]]