"My batteries have already been recharged...didn't take long. I feel a lot better today than I have for a long time. I feel very good about where I am in life. I feel like I gave it my best shot for 15 years." --Pat Hill (December 5th, 2011)
Pat Hill didn't want to leave Fresno State; he was forced out. The university fired him after the Bulldogs went 4-9 in 2011. But he has almost 40 years of coaching experience and now he has another job: Atlanta Falcons' offensive line coach.
The Falcons hired Hill on Saturday. He has NFL experience; before he became Fresno State's head coach in 1997, he was on the Cleveland Browns' staff from 1992 to 1995. And he spent one year with the Baltimore Ravens in 1996.
While in the NFL, Hill coached the offensive line and tight ends. And don't forget, he played offensive line in college. He was a center and he's in the UC Riverside Hall of Fame.
In Atlanta, Coach Hill will be reunited with two players he coached at Fresno State: lineman Andrew Jackson, who
didn't play this year (he was "practice squad-injured" after being drafted in the seventh round) and safety James Sanders.
Current Bulldog wide receiver Jalen Saunders reacted to the news about Coach Hill on Twitter (@jalen6saunders):S/o to coach hill I love that man to death he's taught me a lot since I been here at Fresno
