Jay Hillock

Last updated
Jay Hillock
Biographical details
Bornc. 1949 (age 73–74)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Alma mater Gonzaga
Cal Poly
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1975–1979 Santa Barbara CC (assistant)
1979–1981 Gonzaga (assistant)
1981–1985Gonzaga
1985–1990 Loyola Marymount (assistant)
1990–1992Loyola Marymount
Head coaching record
Overall91–78

Jay Hillock (born c. 1949) is an American former college basketball coach. He was the head coach for six seasons in the West Coast Conference, four at Gonzaga in Spokane and two at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. Hillock was an assistant on staff at both programs before the respective promotions to head coach. His career record as a head coach was 91–78 (.538), and an even 39–39 in league play.

Contents

Gonzaga

A 1971 graduate of Gonzaga University, Hillock returned to his alma mater in 1979 as an assistant under second-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald. [1] It was GU's first season in the West Coast Athletic Conference, after sixteen years as a charter member of the Big Sky Conference.

When Fitzgerald decided to step down after a 19–8 season in 1981 and concentrate on his duties as athletic director, Hillock was promoted to head coach of the Bulldogs at age 32. [2] [3] [4] [5] His most notable player was guard John Stockton, a first round selection in the 1984 NBA draft and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Hillock's most lauded victory was a one-point upset at DePaul in January 1983, [6] [7] in coaching legend Ray Meyer's uncharacteristic penultimate season. Stockton's senior year in 1984 was Hillock's best in Spokane; the Zags were 17–11 (.607), but only tied for fourth in the conference at 6–6. Without Stockton in 1985, Gonzaga was 15–13 (.536) and fell to fifth place in the WCAC at 4–8.

Shortly after the 1985 season ended, Hillock voluntarily resigned and Fitzgerald returned as head coach. [8] [9] Hillock's overall record at Gonzaga was 60–50 (.545), but was 22–28 (.440) in conference and the Bulldogs' best finish was a tie for fourth. [10]

Loyola Marymount

Within three weeks of his resignation at Gonzaga, Hillock accepted an assistant's job at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, originally under newly-hired head coach Jim Lynam, [11] who soon left for an assistant's job in the NBA in June and never coached a game. Surprisingly, Hillock indicated he was interested in the open position, [12] but LMU hired former NBA head coach Paul Westhead, who retained him as an assistant. (Hillock had lost only once to LMU in eight meetings while head coach at Gonzaga.) [11]

Led by Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble in 1990, they went 13–1 (.929) in the WCC, but following Gathers' tragic death during the conference tournament, its remainder was canceled and LMU took the WCC champions' slot in the NCAA Tournament. Despite being seeded 11th in the West region, the inspired Lions won three games and advanced to the Elite Eight. [13] There they fell by thirty points to UNLV, the eventual national champion, and finished at 26–6 (.813). [14] Westhead left for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA that September, [15] and Hillock was promoted to head coach of the Lions. [16] He was 31–28 (.525) in two seasons, with a conference record of 17–11 (.607), but lost in the first round of the conference tournament in both seasons. [17] The following two years, the Lions finished in last place in the WCC.

After coaching

Hillock later worked for various teams in the NBA as a scout and in front office positions. [18]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Gonzaga Bulldogs (West Coast Athletic Conference)(1981–1985)
1981–82 Gonzaga 15–127–7T–4th
1982–83 Gonzaga 13–145–7T–4th
1983–84 Gonzaga 17–116–6T–4th
1984–85 Gonzaga 15–134–85th
Gonzaga:60–5022–28
Loyola Marymount Lions (West Coast Conference)(1990–1992)
1990–91 Loyola Marymount 16–159–52nd
1991–92 Loyola Marymount 15–138–63rd
Loyola Marymount:31–2817–11
Total:91–78

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The 1983–84 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington, in the 1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by third-year head coach Jay Hillock, the Bulldogs managed a 17–11 (.607) overall record (6–6 in WCAC, 4th), and played their home games on campus at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Pavilion.

The 1982–83 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) during the 1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by second-year head coach Jay Hillock, the Bulldogs were 13–14 (.481) overall (5–7 in WCAC, tied for fourth), and played their home games on campus at Kennedy Pavilion in Spokane, Washington.

The 1981–82 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) during the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by newly-promoted first-year head coach Jay Hillock, the Bulldogs were 15–12 (.556) overall, and played their home games on campus at Kennedy Pavilion in Spokane, Washington.

The 1980–81 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by 3rd season with head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 19–8 (.704) overall (9–5 in WCAC, 3rd), and played their home games on campus at Kennedy Pavilion in Spokane, Washington.

The 1984–85 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington, in the 1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by fourth-year head coach Jay Hillock, the Bulldogs were 15–13 (.536) overall (4–8 in WCAC, 5th), and played their home games on campus at Kennedy Pavilion.

The 1985–86 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University of Spokane, Washington, in the 1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by fourth-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 15–13 (.536) overall (4–8 in WCAC, 5th), and played their home games on campus at Kennedy Pavilion.

The 1986–87 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) during the 1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by fifth-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 18–9 (.667) overall in the regular season (9–5 in WCAC, 2nd), and played their home games on campus at the newly renamed Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington.

The 1987–88 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by sixth-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 16–11 (.593) overall in the regular season (7–7 in WCAC, 5th), and played their home games on campus at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington.

The 1988–89 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) during the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by seventh-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 14–13 (.519) overall in the regular season (5–9 in WCAC, sixth), and played their home games on campus at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington.

The 1989–90 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Conference (WCC) during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by eighth-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 8–19 (.296) overall in the regular season (3–11 in WCC, last), and played their home games on campus at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington.

The 1990–91 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Conference (WCC) during the 1990–91 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by ninth-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 14–13 (.519) overall in the regular season (5–9 in WCC, sixth), and played their home games on campus at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington.

The 1991–92 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Conference (WCC) during the 1991–92 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by tenth-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 18–9 (.667) overall in the regular season (8–6 in WCC, fourth), and played their home games on campus at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington.

The 1997–98 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Conference (WCC) during the 1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by newly-promoted head coach Dan Monson, the Bulldogs were 21–8 (.724) overall in the regular season (10–4 in WCC, first), and played their home games on campus at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington.

The 1996–97 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Conference (WCC) during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by fifteenth-year head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 15–11 (.577) overall in the regular season, and played their home games on campus at the Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in Spokane, Washington.

References

  1. ↑ Missildine, Harry (March 6, 1981). "Hillock up on long and short of coaching Zag hoops". Spokesman-Review. (column). p. 23.
  2. ↑ Jordan, Jeff (March 2, 1981). "Fitzgerald will resign Gonzaga post". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 21.
  3. ↑ "Hillock gets Gonzaga job". Spokane Daily Chronicle. March 4, 1981. p. 21.
  4. ↑ Blanchette, John (March 5, 1981). "Fitz hands over GU's reins". Spokesman-Review. p. 21.
  5. ↑ Blanchette, John (Feb 3, 1982). "He's Jay Hillock, and his trademarks are sound and fury". Spokane Chronicle. p. 39.
  6. ↑ "How about those Zags!". Spokane Chronicle. January 11, 1983. p. 17.
  7. ↑ "Bulldogs derail DePaul". Spokesman-Review. January 11, 1983. p. 17.
  8. ↑ Blanchette, John (April 4, 1985). "'I'm just looking for a change'". Spokesman-Review. p. C1.
  9. ↑ Blanchette, John (April 4, 1985). "Hillock didn't walk away, he drove himself to resign". Spokane Chronicle. p. D1.
  10. ↑ Gonzaga Basketball History - Page 51 of 62 [ permanent dead link ]
  11. 1 2 "Hillock takes position as assistant at Loyola". Spokesman-Review. April 22, 1985. p. C1.
  12. ↑ Blanchette, John (June 18, 1985). "Hillock interested in Marymount hoop job". Spokane Chronicle. p. B1.
  13. ↑ Smith, Shelley (March 26, 1990). "A team on a mission". Sports Illustrated. p. 24.
  14. ↑ Kirkpatrick, Curry (April 2, 1990). "The Rebels outran 'em". Sports Illustrated. p. 26.
  15. ↑ "Sports Digest: Nuggets replace Moe with Westhead". Spokesman-Review. wire services. September 8, 1990. p. B3.
  16. ↑ "Loyola names Hillock head basketball coach". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. September 11, 1990. p. C1.
  17. ↑ "Ex-Zags coach Hillock leaves Loyola by 'mutual consent'". Spokesman-Review. March 21, 1992. p. C1.
  18. ↑ "Bulls name Hillock director of pro personnel". Chicago Bulls. May 3, 2004. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
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