John Hill III
John Hill III
Title: Head Baseball Coach
Phone: 620-223-2700 x.7170
Email: johnh@fortscott.edu

The 2023-24 season will mark the sixteenth year for Head Coach John Hill III at Fort Scott Community College. In Coach Hill’s fifteen previous years at Fort Scott, the program has seen unprecedented heights both on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. 

On the field, the program has won thirty or more games for 12 consecutive years (withholding the Covid-19 shortened season of 2019-20 where the team finished 16-6), which eclipses the total number of thirty-win seasons in program history prior to Coach Hill’s arrival (34 years).

The four highest drafted players ever have occurred in:

  • Ka’ai Tom, Cleveland Indians – 5th Round of the 2015 MLB Draft.
  • John Means, Baltimore Orioles – 11th Round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
  • Boby Johnson, Colorado Rockies - 16th Round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
  • Sam Gilbert, Oakland Athletics – 19th Round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

Additionally, the program has seen its second and third players reach the Major Leagues in John Means with the Baltimore Orioles in 2018 and Ka’ai Tom with the Oakland A’s and Pittsburg Pirates in 2021.

In the classroom, the program has averaged a Team GPA of 3.50 and has finished with the highest Team GPA in the Conference & Region in 12 of his 15 years and has finished in the top eleven nationally out of almost 400 NJCAA Baseball Programs – including a 2nd in the nation finish for four consecutive school years – 2012-2016 as well consecutive 3rd place finishes in 2018-19 & 2020-21 (due to Covid, records weren’t taken for the 2019-2020 year).

In the community, the team has provided twenty to thirty hours of community service each year per player.

Lastly, Coach Hill was also selected by his peers to be the President of the Baseball Coaches Association for a 5-year span from 2011-2016.

Overall, the numbers in Coach Hill’s tenure are impressive:

  • Highest Team GPA in the Conference & Region in 12 of his 15 years w/ a top eleven finish nationally out of almost 400 NJCAA Baseball Programs every year
  • 151 Academic All-Americans w/ 74 being Distinguished Academic All-Americans (3.80-4.00)
  • 3.50 Team GPA
  • 36 wins per year
  • Winningest Coach in program History (498 wins)
  • 88 All-Conference players, 22 All-Region Players, 5 All-Americans
  • Every sophomore in Coach Hill’s tenure has been offered a baseball scholarship following their time at FSCC
  • Hill has had 44 former players reach the professional baseball ranks including 2019 All-Star John Means of the Baltimore Orioles

The 2022-23 team finished with a 38-23 record. Academically, the team earned a 3.55 Team GPA. In all, 25 players earned Academic All-American Status (GPA 3.60+) and 19 earned Distinguished Academic All-American (GPA 3.80+).  Eight players earned All-Conference with two earning All-Region, 1 All-American (Brody Szako) & 1 Gold Glove recipient (Evann Long-2B).

The 2021-22 team finished with a 32-26 record. Academically, the team earned a 3.54 Team GPA. In all, 19 players earned Academic All-American Status (GPA 3.60+). Eight players earned All-Conference with three earning All-Region.

The 2020-21 team finished its second consecutive Covid shortened season with a 30-24 record. Academically, the team finished with a 3.65 Team GPA, the third highest in program history. In total, 21 players earned Academic All-American Status (GPA 3.60+). Five players earned All-Conference Honors and two earned All-Region honors.

The 2019-20 team finished the Covid shortened season with a 16-6 record. Academically, through all the challenges the team earned a 3.42 Team GPA. In total, 14 players earned Academic All-American Status (GPA 3.60+).

The 2018-19 team finished with a record of 37-21 and continued to rewrite the offensive portion of the record book. Academically, the team earned a 3.50 Team GPA and finished 4th nationally. In total, twelve players earned Academic All-American Status (GPA 3.60+). Six players earned All-Conference Honors and one earned All-Region.

The 2017-18 team finished with a record of 41-15 (4th most in program history, 44 years) and reset a large number of statistical records within the program. Academically, the team earned a 3.33 Team GPA and finished 11th nationally for the second straight year. In total, ten players earned Academic All-American Status (GPA 3.60+). Ten players earned All-Conference Honors and three earned All-Region, including the Conference Player of the Year and All-American Andrew Morrow.

The 2016-17 team finished with a record of 38-24 (6th most wins in program history, 43 years) and advanced to the Region VI Championships, losing in the quarterfinals. Six players earned All-Conference Honors. Academically, the team earned a 3.34 Team GPA and finished 11th nationally. In total, nine players earned Academic All-American status (GPA 3.60+)

The 2015-16 team finished with a record of 37-21 (7th most wins in program history, 42 years) and lost in the first round of the Region VI playoffs. Six players earned All-Conference Honors one earned All-Region Honors. Academically, the team earned a 3.59 Team GPA and for the fourth consecutive year finished second in the nation in Team GPA. It was the ninth consecutive year the team had the highest Team GPA in the conference and region. Six players earned Academic All-American status (GPA 3.60+)

The 2014-15 team finished with a record of 32-29 and lost in the Regional Semi-Finals, just two games shy of the Junior College World Series. The postseason run was the furthest in program history (41 years). Three players earned All-Conference Honors and 1 earned All-Region Honors. Academically, the team earned a 3.68 GPA and for the third consecutive year finished second in the nation in Team GPA. It was the eighth consecutive year the team had the highest Team GPA in the conference and region. Six sophomores earned Academic All-American with a cumulative GPA of 3.60+.

The 2013-14 team finished with a record of 31-27 and lost in the first round of the Region VI playoffs. Six players earned All-Conference honors and One earned All-Region honors. Academically, the team earned a 3.72 GPA for the school year and for the second consecutive year finished with the second highest Team GPA in the nation as well as their sixth straight year in the top four in the nation out of 396 NJCAA Baseball programs. In addition, this will mark the seventh consecutive year the program has had the highest Team GPA in the conference and region. Seven sophomores earned Academic All-American with a cumulative GPA of 3.60+.

The 2012-13 team finished with a record of 40-17 and advanced to the Region VI Super Regional. The 40 wins were the third most in school history. Seven players earned All-Conference honors and two earned All-Region honors. Academically, the team earned a 3.37 GPA and finished with the highest Team GPA in the conference and region for the sixth consecutive year. Five sophomores earned Academic All-American with a cumulative GPA of 3.60+.

The 2011-12 team finished with a record of 30-26 and landed three players on the All-Conference team and one on the All-Region team. Academically, the team finished with the fourth highest Team GPA in the nation with a 3.31 GPA and had two sophomores earn Academic All-American with a cumulative GPA of 3.60+. This marked the fourth straight year the baseball program finished in the top six nationally in Team GPA and the third straight year the team finished in the top four out of 396 NJCAA Baseball programs.

Hill's 2010-11 team finished with a record of 42-18. In the postseason the team lost in the Sub-Regional Championship Game. The 42 wins were the second most in school history. The Baseball program also landed a school record eleven players on the All-Conference team and two on the All-Region team. Academically, the team finished with a 3.33 GPA the fourth highest Team GPA in the nation and had four sophomores achieve Academic All-American with a cumulative GPA of 3.60+. The program also had three Distinguished Academic All-Americans (GPA of 3.80+). This marked the third straight year the baseball program finished in the top six nationally in Team GPA and the second straight year the team finished in the top four.

In Hill's second year, the 2009-10 team finished 27-31 narrowly missing the NJCAA Region VI Championship and landed three players on the All-Conference team and one player on the All-Region team. In his second year, the team earned a 3.43 GPA and finished third in the nation in Team GPA and had six sophomores earn Academic All-American (cumulative GPA of 3.60+) with four of those being Distinguished Academic All-Americans (cumulative GPA of 3.80+).

The first year of Hill's tenure, 2008-09, the team finished 28-26 and landed six players on the All-Conference team and one player on the All-Region team. In the postseason the team finished fifth in the NJCAA Region VI tournament just three games shy of the NJCAA World Series. The team finished sixth in the nation in Team GPA with a 3.26 GPA and had four sophomores earn Academic All-American with a cumulative GPA of 3.60+ with two of those being Distinguished Academic All-Americans (cumulative GPA of 3.80+)

Prior to arriving at Fort Scott Community College, Hill spent two years as an assistant coach at Neosho County Community College, three years as an assistant at Pittsburg State University and one year as an assistant at Baker University. While at Pittsburg State and Neosho County, Hill served as the hitting and infield coach, as well as being the recruiting and strength and conditioning coordinator. As an assistant coach, Hill helped recruit and develop three Athletic All-Americans, five Academic All-Americans, and one National Gold Glove winner in his three years at Pittsburg State University. While at Neosho County, Hill recruited and developed two Athletic All-Americans and one Academic-American as well as another National Gold Glove winner.

Hill also serves as an associate scout for the Texas Rangers organization.

Hill has an Associate in Arts as well as an Associate of Science from Highland Community College. Hill also graduated Summa Cum Laude from Baker University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education. He graduated with Graduate Honors from Pittsburg State in 2005 with a Master of Science in Physical Education. Hill is currently pursuing another Master Degree in Educational Leadership from Pittsburg State University. In addition to coaching, Hill also serves as an instructor in the HPER Department at Fort Scott Community College.

Hill is a Lawrence, Kansas native and is the son of Lee and Dr. John Hill II. He has 4 sisters Angel, Alyssa, Micaela, Jillian and 1 brother Dane. His wife, Lindsay, is from Toronto, KS and recently retired after the becoming the most successful Head Volleyball Coach in the history of Fort Scott Community College. Lindsay retired from coaching on a high note leading her team to a 32-6 record and a 4th place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament in 2019. John & Lindsay are the proud parents of two sons, John IV (12) and Hudson (9). The Hills also own a Christian Based Preschool in Fort Scott called Sunbeam Christian School. The Hills reside in Fort Scott, KS.