Nick Hill signs contract extension at SIU through 2029 season

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Athletics and Nick Hill have agreed on a contract extension that will keep the football head coach at Southern Illinois through the 2029 season.

After recently completing his 10th season at the helm of his alma mater, Hill had one year remaining on his existing contract, and the extension adds three years.

“I feel like God's always directed my road back here to southern Illinois," Hill said. "I love living here, and when you’re happy off the field, and your family's happy, that allows you to be a better coach. This is home to me.”

Hill is tied for most wins (55) in modern era.

The Du Quoin native is tied with Jerry Kill for the most wins (55) in the modern era of the program and has guided Southern to three playoff appearances in the last six seasons. With three playoff victories to his credit, he trails only Kill (4) for the most playoff wins in school history.

“I’ve tried to never lose sight on what I think is important about being a head football coach — representing the program the right way, being a great steward of the program, and impacting generations of young men,” he said. “I’m proud of the things that we've been able to accomplish, but then I think there's just a drive inside me that the work here isn't finished.”

As both a player and a coach, Hill has guided SIU to many of the biggest wins in school history. He quarterbacked the 2006 team to a victory at Indiana — the first win by a Gateway Conference program over a Big Ten opponent. Then he led the 2007 team to the Final Four of the I-AA Playoffs, setting school passing records for yards (3,175) and touchdowns (28) and posting a I-A upset over Northern Illinois.

Since returning as Southern’s head coach in 2016, Hill’s teams have beaten three FBS opponents (UMass, Northwestern and Northern Illinois) and won 16 games against nationally ranked FCS teams. The program has been ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 62 weeks, including the entire 2025 season, rising as high as No. 3 overall in 2021.

Hill set the school record for passing yards and touchdowns in 2007, leading the Salukis to a Final Four run of the I-AA Playoffs.

Hill has coached a dozen All-Americans and eight players who have gone on to play in the National Football League — linebacker Chase Allen, safety Jeremy Chinn, linebacker Branson Combs, cornerback Madre Harper, cornerback Craig James, safety PJ Jules, safety Ryan Neal and tight end MyCole Pruitt.

The Salukis are coming off a 7-5 season — their fifth winning campaign in the last seven seasons — and ranked among the nation’s leaders in offensive categories across the board. Hill served as SIU’s offensive coordinator and play-caller.

The 2026 team will return All-American quarterback DJ Williams, who set the school record with 40 touchdowns in 2025. Williams credited his close personal relationship with Hill as the primary reason he returned.

“I still have a passion for the job, and every day I'm so excited to come to work," Hill said. "I think that when you stay grounded and stay humble, you're able to have a job that still challenges you every day. We haven't accomplished what we've ultimately set out to do. You're working on yourself and you're able to grow in your profession. Are there challenges here that keep you up at night and keep you excited? This job creates that and I get to live in the place that I want to live.”