Keynote Speaker
Pat Hill

With great vision, an unparalleled work ethic, and passion for the Valley, Pat Hill's stamp on the Fresno State football program is undeniable. After 12 years, the Bulldog program is nationally recognized for its success in all areas: wins and bowl games appearances, academic achievement, and character of the young men who've come through the program.

Under Hill, the program has received national attention and is recognized as a premier program. He is recognized as an elite coach, having been selected to coach in college all-star games twice in the last five years. The success stories are many, but what's most impressive is the consistent and unwavering commitment to the principles he established over a decade ago. The Dogs continue to play a rigorous non-conference schedule, play a tough "hard nosed" brand of football on the field, recruit Valley high school players, and set an "Academic Gameplan" that sees student-athletes through to graduation.

Hill's program has grown accustomed of being in the national spotlight. Never was it brighter than in 2001, when Hill guided the program to unprecedented heights - 11 wins, a bowl invitation, a top 10 ranking, wins over Wisconsin, Colorado and Oregon State, another record-setting attendance mark and a Sports Illustrated cover story. With nearly 50 national television appearances this decade, college football fans from around the country know about the Bulldog program.

Despite these lofty achievements, Hill is still adamant this is just an indication of greater things to come. His motto of "Building a New Tradition on a National Level" is stronger now than ever, especially after winning 14 games against BCS teams since 2000 - the second highest of any non-BCS teams in the country. Among those victories are four recent bowl wins against Georgia Tech (twice), UCLA and No. 18 Virginia.

Hill has also taken the Bulldogs to new heights in the Western Athletic Conference. His overall league record of 67-28 is one of the best in the WAC as he is the dean of WAC football coaches.

The 57-year-old Hill was the Bulldogs' recruiting coordinator from 1984-89, a six-year period in which Fresno State was 53-16-1, averaged nearly nine wins per season, captured three league titles and won three bowl games. During that six-year stint as the recruiting coordinator and line coach under former head coach Jim Sweeney, Hill contributed at a championship level. In addition to the conference crowns and bowl victories, the Bulldogs saw 14 players drafted by NFL teams, including the likes of J.D. Williams, Ron Cox, Michael Stewart and Aaron Craver. Fresno State's 1985 team was the only unbeaten Division I-A squad in the country, finishing the season 16th in the polls. Hill's offensive line also provided the pass protection and run blocking for an offensive unit that averaged 32 points per game over those six seasons, including a nation-leading 41 points per game in '85.

Success continued for Hill when he moved on to the University of Arizona as Dick Tomey's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 1990 and '91. In just his first season, the Wildcats went 7-5 and played in the Aloha Bowl. Both seasons, the 'Cats finished in the top five of the Pac-10 in rushing offense, averaging nearly 200 yards per game on the ground. Four players earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in his two seasons, and offensive lineman John Fina was a first round NFL draft choice.

When he left Arizona, he did so to realize another career goal -- coaching in the National Football League. Hill joined the Cleveland Browns in 1992 and spent five seasons in the organization, coaching tight ends and offensive line in addition to working in the personnel department evaluating players. While there, he formed a life-lasting friendship with Bill Belichick, whom Hill credits for teaching him with a structure that has proven successful. Hill would have been happy to remain in the NFL had the Fresno State job not opened a possibility for him.

Hill began his coaching career as offensive line coach at Los Angeles Valley College from 1974-76, helping the Monarchs to a state junior college championship in 1975. He then served as offensive line coach at Utah from 1977-80 under Wayne Howard; was offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at UNLV from 1981-82 under Tony Knapp; and was offensive coordinator with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL in 1983 under Jack Gotta.

The list of players recruited and signed by Hill at the collegiate level is impressive. Under his leadership, such greats as David Carr, Richard Marshall, Logan Mankins, James Sanders, Alan Harper, Rodney Wright, Randall Cunningham, Tracy Rogers, Ron Cox, Aaron Craver, Marquez Pope, Lorenzo Neal, Jethro Franklin, Tony Brown, J.D. Williams, Mike Withycombe, Michael Stewart, John Fina and Tedy Bruschi all were inked to letters of intent.