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SALT LAKE CITY â Former University of Utah athletics director Chris Hill will be honored at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in February for his 31 years of service at the university.
A banner inside the Huntsman Center will be revealed on Feb. 8 during a menâs basketball game between the Utes and the California Golden Bears. The game is set to tip off at 6 p.m.
Prior to his retirement in 2018, Hill was the longest active-tenured athletics director with the same school in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. His time at the University of Utah began in 1987, and arguably his greatest accomplishment while in the position was helping the Utes become a Power Five program by joining the Pac-12.
In college, Hill suited up for his hometown Rutgers University basketball team, and would make the trek to Salt Lake City in 1973 as a graduate assistant for the Utes menâs basketball team. He would continue his coaching career at Granger High School before making his way back to the University of Utah as an assistant in 1979.
Hill took another leave from the university to become the executive director at United Cerebral Palsy of Utah, but in 1985 he returned to the University of Utah as the director of the Crimson Club before his promotion to athletics director in 1987.
Three of Hillâs hires would become National Coaches of the Year, including Urban Meyer (2004), Kyle Whittingham (2008, 2019), and Rick Majerus (1998). During his tenure, Hill oversaw four Pac-12 championships and footballâs share of the South Division title in 2015. He was also a part of the gymnastics and ski teamâs combined 10 national championships as well as 14 runner-up finishes, and menâs basketballâs 1998 runner-up finish against Kentucky.
Womenâs soccer and lacrosse were added during his time on the hill, and 17 new intercollegiate athletics facilities opened their doors during his time, as well as plans to expand the south end zone of Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Hills accomplishments also include being inducted into the Jersey Shore Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. He was also a finalist for Athletic Director of the Year in 2011.
