AJ Hill joins the Saluki Football coaching staff as a volunteer assistant

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Football alum AJ Hill (2010-13), the younger brother of Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill, has joined the SIU coaching staff as a volunteer assistant.

The younger Hill, who played quarterback for the Salukis and has an extensive coaching background at the high school level, will work on the offensive side of the ball, Nick Hill said.

“We’ve talked about coaching together in the past, but you never know about God’s timing or if we’d ever get that opportunity,” said the elder Hill. “His family has moved back to the area, and his wife, Sasha, works for SIH. It’s developed into an awesome opportunity for AJ to spend a season on our staff.”

New NCAA rules allow an unlimited number of coaches on the field, and college staffs have correspondingly grown in size.

AJ Hill was a backup quarterback for SIU from 2010-13.

“You’ve seen how big staffs have gotten in recent years with more coaches and analysts, and we don’t have the resources to add more paid staff, so AJ will be a great help for us,” Nick said. “He’ll also be a great mentor for the guys. He’s a family-man. He’s played here and invested in Saluki Football. Whether he's my brother or not, you want those people to be a part of your program.”

AJ began working in the football office last week and has immersed himself in learning the program’s terminology and personnel.

“I’ll use this summer to figure out where I fit in and find a voice,” AJ said. “I’m doing a lot of learning as well. The game is obviously a little bit more complex at this level than it is in high school, and I'm looking forward to being a sponge.”

Following in his brother's footsteps as the star quarterback at Du Quoin High School, AJ Hill was named the Prep Football Player of the Year by The Southern in 2008 and an honorable mention all-state selection by the Chicago Tribune. He was recruited by SIU, but ultimately selected Northern Illinois to play for former Saluki head coach Jerry Kill.

After a redshirt season at NIU in 2009, Hill transferred to Southern and served as the backup QB behind Chris Dieker in 2010 and Kory Faulkner from 2011-13.

AJ Hill led Du Quoin High School to four-straight playoff appearances from 2015-18.

Two years after he graduated from Southern, Hill was named the head football coach at Du Quoin in 2015 when he was just 24 years old. In four seasons, Hill guided the Indians to a 27-15 record and four state playoff appearances.

Hill left Du Quoin in 2019 for a teaching and coaching position at Rochester High School near Springfield, Illinois, while his wife attended SIU’s medical school. Most recently, Hill’s been on the staff at Eureka High School (Mo.) and helped lead the program to a quarterfinal appearance in 2023.

Joining the staff at Southern brings AJ’s football career full-circle.

“Being an alumni at SIU, even if Nick weren't here, I would still watch every Saluki game,” Hill said. “I’ve seen what Nick has accomplished over the last 10 years, how much he means to the region and how people get behind him. Now, to be able to work for him is really a special opportunity.”