Utah Athletic Director Chris Hill has done a lot of tough things in his life, but Monday morning might have been his toughest.
Fighting back tears, the 68-year old announced that he will be retire this spring. The end will mark 31 years of service to the University of Utah. Hill, who was 37 years old when he took the job in 1987, was the longest tenured FBS athletic director in the country.
“Chris Hill leaves a tremendous legacy at the University of Utah,” school president Ruth Watkins said in a statement.
It wasn’t known by many, but Hill turned down several offers to become the AD at several other Power 5 schools, but it wasn’t always about the money and fame.
“Happiness isn’t all about money and prestige,” Hill said. “All of us who have worked in Utah athletics knew this place was a sleeping giant and we never gave up hope that we could get it done here. My wife Kathy and I love living in Salt Lake City and raising our family here.”
Hill’s announcement made waves throughout the country as colleagues, media members and former University of Utah athletes praised him for his accomplishments over the past three decades.
"All of us who have worked in Utah athletics knew this place was a sleeping giant and we never gave up hope that we could get it done here."
Thank you Dr. Hill! #gouteshttps://t.co/SU4xLvTHRn— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) March 26, 2018
Whoever succeeds Dr. Chris Hill as @utahathletics AD will have huge shoes to fill. He is a great representative for Utah. Passionate about the school & doing his job. Was always welcoming to our broadcast crews, and always something nice to say. Wish Chris the best! https://t.co/WX1ImO3Vtx
— Roxy Bernstein (@roxybernstein) March 26, 2018
I'm happy for Chris Hill @utahAD. He has enjoyed a long and fruitful career. The two of us have shared a heated rivalry from a unique perspective of great respect. Congrats Chris on a job well done.
— Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) March 26, 2018
Kyle Whittingham after the Chris Hill retirement press conference. @ESPN700 https://t.co/OOwYyeh45u
— KYLE F GUNTHER (@GuntherESPN700) March 26, 2018
Congratulations to my dear friend, Dr. Chris Hill, on his retirement announcement! His impact on @utahathletics is immeasurable. @RollTideMamma and I will look forward to having you and Kathy out to Alabama for a game. ? https://t.co/iH3ttFiNGZ
— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) March 26, 2018
I'm watching the Chris Hill press conference and can't help but be emotional. I learned so much from him. So many of us learned from him. Thank you Chris. Go Utes! @utahathletics
— Doug Knuth (@DougKnuth) March 26, 2018
Dr. Hill appreciate it all! https://t.co/bbyEUPJdbe
— kuz (@kylekuzma) March 26, 2018
NIT: Utah Defeats Saint Mary’s In OT, Advances To Final Four
Utah athletics under Chris Hill:
1 Final Four
2 Elite Eights
2 BCS bowl wins
2 undefeated football seasons
15-4 bowl record
Stadium Expansion
11 national championships
38 conference championships
Pac-12 membership— ＡＮ ８０１ ＯＲＩＧＩＮＡＬ (@TheJazzyUte) March 26, 2018
Chris Hill was an absolutely fantastic AD for the University of Utah. Don’t get it twisted. It will be hard to find a replacement of his caliber.
— UteDaddy (@utedaddy) March 26, 2018
A very emotional Chris Hill: “I’ll be working for a couple more months”. Wants to raise 20 of the 25 million needed for stadium renovations before he steps down.
— Scott Garrard (@ScottyG1280) March 26, 2018
With Chris Hill retiring, the longest-active Power-5 AD-football coach combo — among those who were hired by their current AD — is Notre Dame's duo of Jack Swarbrick and Brian Kelly, who will enter their ninth season together in 2018-19.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) March 26, 2018
Top 3 of Dr. Chris Hill's Legacy…
1. Pac 12 Membership
2. Facilities–Rice Eccles/Football &Basketball Practice Facilities
3. Hires-Majerus/McBride/Meyer/Whittingham#Utes— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) March 26, 2018
Top 3 of Dr. Chris Hill's Legacy…
1. Pac 12 Membership
2. Facilities–Rice Eccles/Football &Basketball Practice Facilities
3. Hires-Majerus/McBride/Meyer/Whittingham#Utes— Bill Riley (@espn700bill) March 26, 2018
Twitter Reacts As Utah Beats LSU; Donovan Mitchell Makes Appearance
What Chris Hill did at the University of Utah is EXTREMELY rare. Turnarounds and that level of success in so many sports over so many years, reversing a rivalry and eventually arriving in a P5 conference is no easy task.
— Tony Parks (@tonyparkszone) March 26, 2018
Aside from Larry Miller, I can't think of a single individual that has had a bigger and more lasting impact on sports in the state of Utah than Chris Hill. What he accomplished in 31 years on the hill is quite astounding when you look at it.
— Dan Sorensen (@DSorensen) March 26, 2018
I love this story from @UtahGymnastics Coach Megan Marsden about retiring Ute AD Chris Hill & is "lack of love" for Gymnastics. Hill not only backed it up but added to it? Take a listen… #Utes pic.twitter.com/K2ebwxZxlF
— Dave Fox (@Davefox2) March 27, 2018
Love him or hate him Utah AD Chris Hill has left quite the legacy and seriously helped to blaze trails for University of Utah Athletics to be where it is today. Big shoes to fill. #GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@Bodkin247Sports) March 26, 2018
