Hill Credits Coaches For His Learning

With the first game of the season getting closer, Cookeville High’s interim boys basketball head coach Matt Hill said he’s looking forward to his first feel of being a head coach.

Hill has spent nearly 20 years at Cookeville High either as a player, assistant coach and now as interim head coach. When the opportunity arose to take over as head coach, Hill said he did not think twice about staying on and undertaking a larger role.

“The phrase ‘dream come true’ is cliche, but obviously it’s something that I’ve thought about for a long time,” Hill said. “And care deeply for this program and just these kids that grow up here and want to play basketball.”

Hill said it was a blessing to learn under head coaches Kevin Bray and Josh Heard and that those experiences will help him in his first year as head coach. Hill said he has a head start on most first year head coaches due to the strong bonds he has already formed with his roster as an assistant.

“It is nice, not having to take a whole lot of time setting standards and expectations,” Hill said. “Because we already have those in place, not to say some things won’t change here and there. But, they know who I am and what I’m about and vice versa.”

Hill said putting his coaching philosophy into words is challenging, but his program will revolve around effort. He said he considers himself an offensive minded coach, but noted that the success of this team will depend on their defensive prowess.

With the changing of coaches, there will be some changes to the program but Hill said the Cavaliers’ emphasis on effort will remain.

“We’re not always going to be the fastest or the strongest or the tallest or what have you,” Hill said. “But the one thing we can always control is effort. And I think that’s been the standard here that we will play as hard as we can.”