Quentin Hillsman
{{short description|American women's college basketball coach}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Quentin Hillsman
| image = Quentin Hillsman Syracuse coach.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hillsman at the Big East tournament in 2012
| current_title = Assistant coach
| current_team = Ole Miss
| current_conference = SEC
| current_record =
| contract =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|10|16}}
| birth_place = Suitland, Maryland
| alma_mater = St. Mary's College (Maryland) (B.A.)
United States Sports Academy (M.A.)
| coach_years1 = 1995–1996
| coach_team1 = St. Mary's (assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1999
| coach_team2 = Newport School
| coach_years3 = 1999–2001
| coach_team3 = Siena (assistant)
| coach_years4 = 2001–2002
| coach_team4 = American University (assistant)
| coach_years5 = 2002–2003
| coach_team5 = Laurinburg Institute
| coach_years6 = 2003–2004
| coach_team6 = The Patterson School
| coach_years7 = 2004–2005
| coach_team7 = Alabama (assistant)
| coach_years8 = 2005–2006
| coach_team8 = Syracuse (assistant)
| coach_years9 = 2006–2021
| coach_team9 = Syracuse
| coach_years10 = 2024–present
| coach_team10 = Ole Miss (assistant)
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|319|169|record=y}}
}}
Quentin Jerome Hillsman (born October 16, 1970) is an American college basketball coach. He is currently an assistant coach at Ole Miss. He was previously the head women's basketball coach for the Syracuse Orange. He held that position from 2006 to 2021.
Early life
Hillsman was born in Suitland, Maryland. He is the only child of a computer business consultant, Horace Jerome Hillsman, and a music teacher, Joan Rucker Hillsman. After graduating from Forestville High School, Hillsman attended Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, before transferring to St. Mary's College of Maryland for his sophomore season. With the Seahawks, he ranked third in assists (330) and eighth in steals (130) and also set the school's single-game and season assist record. After St. Mary's, Hillsman attended the United States Sports Academy from 1994 to 1996 studying sports management. A back injury ended his playing career and he turned to coaching.{{cite web|url=http://dailyorange.com/2007/01/right-on-q-quentin-hillsman-fought-his-way-to-become-a-head-coach-at-age-35/|title=Right on 'Q': Quentin Hillsman fought his way to become a head coach at age 35|last=Schonbrun|first=Zach|date=2006|website=dailyorange.com|access-date=October 31, 2015}}
Coaching career
Hillsman returned to St. Mary's to be an assistant coach for the men's basketball team. In 1998, he was an associate head coach for the Newport School boys' team before becoming head coach in 1999. He was an assistant coach for both Siena (1999–2001) and American University (2001–02), then head coach for Laurinburg Institute (2002–03) and The Patterson School (2003–04). He was an assistant coach at Alabama (2004–05) before arriving at Syracuse in 2005. There, he was also an assistant coach for a year when he was asked to be a head coach by then director of athletics Daryl Gross.{{cite web|url=http://dailyorange.com/2015/01/quentin-hillsman-syracuse-head-coach-experience-early-career-shapes-style/|title=Pass it on: Point guard years, early coaching stops shape Hillsman's style of coaching|last=Hyber|first=Josh|date=January 2015|website=dailyorange.com|access-date=October 31, 2015}}
As the Syracuse head coach, Hillsman has led the Orange to eight consecutive postseason appearances, including four straight NCAA berths, 17 postseason victories and eight straight winning seasons, while winning 65 percent of his games. Hillsman was voted the Big East Conference Coach of the Year in 2008. In the 2015–16 season, his team finished in third place but made it to the ACC women's tournament finals before losing. They received an at-large bid for the NCAA women's tournament, where they advanced to the program's first-ever championship game to play Connecticut, losing 82–51.{{cite web|url=http://www.cuse.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1124|title=Quentin Hillsman|website=cuse.com|access-date=October 31, 2015}}[http://cuse.com/news/2016/4/5/womens-basketball-uconn-defeats-syracuse-in-the-ncaa-title-game.aspx UConn Defeats Syracuse in the NCAA Title Game]
In August 2021, Hillsman resigned from his position as the Syracuse University women's basketball head coach after allegations of misconduct.{{cite news |last1=Bonesteel |first1=Matt |title=Syracuse women's basketball coach resigns after players accuse him of improper behavior |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/08/02/syracuse-coach-quentin-hillsman-resigns/ |access-date=6 August 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2 August 2021}}
In September 2021, Hillsman was hired as the head coach by Club Baloncesto Leganés, a professional club in Madrid, Spain, of the Liga Endesa.{{cite press release |title=Quentin Hillsman será el nuevo entrenador del Leganés |url=https://www.cbleganes.es/web/noticia-4320/quentin-hillsman-sera-el-nuevo-entrenador-del-leganes |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=www.cbleganes.es |date=September 1, 2021 |language=es}}{{cite news |title=Quentin Hillsman: la historia del nuevo técnico del Baloncesto Leganés |url=https://www.gigantes.com/baloncesto-femenino/liga-femenina/quien-es-quentin-hillsman-la-convulsa-salida-de-syracuse-del-nuevo-entrenador-del-baloncesto-leganes/ |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=Gigantes del Basket |date=2 September 2021 |language=es}}{{cite news |last1=Alandt |first1=Anthony |title=Hillsman hired by professional women's team in Spain 1 month after resignation |url=http://dailyorange.com/2021/09/quentin-hillsman-hiring-spain/ |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=The Daily Orange |date=1 September 2021}} However, due to visa issues and backlash against his hiring, he ultimately did not go to Spain.{{cite news |title=Endesa Women's League: Leganés settle the 'Hillsman case' with the hiring of Ángel Fernández Julià as new coach |url=https://www.archysport.com/2021/09/endesa-womens-league-leganes-settle-the-hillsman-case-with-the-hiring-of-angel-fernandez-julia-as-new-coach-sports/ |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=Archysport |date=5 September 2021}}
Legal issues
On November 18, 2014, New York's state tax department issued a tax warrant against Hillsman and his wife, claiming they owed $10,865 in overdue personal income tax for 2012. A Syracuse University athletic department spokesman stated that "[t]here was a misunderstanding with a previous accountant... Coach Hillsman is taking the steps to rectify the problem." In 2011, the Hillsmans also owed $14,444 in back taxes, but that debt was later satisfied, according to the tax department.{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/12/su_womens_basketball_coach_quentin_hillsman_and_his_wife_face_10865_income_tax_w.html|title=State: SU women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman and his wife owe $10,865 in back income taxes|last=Dowty|first=Douglass|date=December 1, 2014|website=syracuse.com|access-date=October 31, 2015}}
In 2011, former Syracuse player Lynnae Lampkins accused Hillsman of inappropriate behavior, and her father filed a Title IX sexual harassment complaint against the university. Lampkins originally reported the incident to the university in 2010, stating he inappropriately touched and texted her. However, an independent counsel investigated her accusations and found no evidence of harassment.{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/SPORTS/usaedition/2011-01-28-colshort28_ST_U.htm|title=Syracuse women's coach accused of harassment|date=January 28, 2011|website=usatoday.com|first=Erik|last=Brady|access-date=October 31, 2015}}{{cite news |title=Ex-Orange player files complaint against coach |url=https://www.espn.com/ncw/news/story?id=6070009 |access-date=6 August 2021 |work=ESPN |agency=AP |date=28 January 2011 |language=en}}
In June 2021, an article published in The Athletic ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Neil|first=Chantel Jennings and Dana|title=Syracuse coach Quentin Hillsman accused of improper behavior, bullying: Sources|url=https://theathletic.com/news/syracuse-coach-quentin-hillsman-accused-of-improper-behavior-bullying-sources/MyKYogDUD3t7|access-date=2021-08-02|website=The Athletic|language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Carlson |first1=Chris |title=The Athletic: Syracuse missed warning signs within women's basketball program |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangewomen/2021/08/the-athletic-details-a-decade-of-missed-warning-signs-within-syracuse-womens-basketball-program.html |access-date=6 August 2021 |work=Syracuse Post-Standard |date=3 August 2021 |language=en}} On August 2, 2021, SU athletics director John Wildhack announced in a press release that Hillsman had resigned from his position.{{cite press release |title=Statement from Director of Athletics John Wildhack Regarding Women's Basketball Program |url=https://cuse.com/news/2021/8/2/statement-from-director-of-athletics-john-wildhack-regarding-womens-basketball-program.aspx |access-date=6 August 2021 |work=Syracuse University Athletics |date=2 August 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Central|first=C. N. Y.|date=2021-08-02|title=Coach Q resigns as Syracuse women's basketball head coach amid conduct investigation|url=https://cnycentral.com/sports/college/coach-q-resigns-as-syracuse-womens-basketball-head-coach-amid-conduct-investigation|access-date=2021-08-02|website=WSTM-TV}} The Daily Orange reported that two additional administrators were "no longer employed" by the athletic department.{{cite news |last1=Alandt |first1=Anthony |title=2 SU athletic administrators no longer employed as Hillsman investigation continues |url=http://dailyorange.com/2021/08/syracuse-athletic-administrators-no-longer-employed-amid-investigation/ |access-date=6 August 2021 |work=The Daily Orange |date=4 August 2021}}{{cite news |last1=O'Neil |first1=Dana |last2=Jennings |first2=Chantel |title=What did Syracuse officials know about coach's alleged misconduct? |url=https://theathletic.com/2747362/2021/08/03/what-did-syracuse-officials-know-about-coachs-alleged-misconduct/ |access-date=6 August 2021 |work=The Athletic |date=3 August 2021}}
University's external investigation into the program found that SU Athletics mishandled concerning behavior and complaints, and a number of players and managers described an unhealthy {{cite press release |title=Statement From Director of Athletics John Wildhack Regarding Women's Basketball Program |url=https://news.syr.edu/blog/2021/09/03/statement-from-director-of-athletics-john-wildhack-regarding-womens-basketball-program-2/ |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=SU News |date=3 September 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Rivera |first1=Skyler |title=Investigation report/ |work=The Daily Orange |date=3 September 2021}}
Head coaching record
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type=coach | conference= |postseason=}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=Syracuse
|startyear=2006
|conference=Big East Conference
|endyear=2013
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2006–07
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 5-24
| conference = 3–13
| confstanding = T-13th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2007–08
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 22–9
| conference = 10–6
| confstanding = T-5th
| postseason = NCAA First Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2008–09
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 17–15
| conference = 5–11
| confstanding = T-11th
| postseason = WNIT Second Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2009–10
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 25–11
| conference = 7–9
| confstanding = T-8th
| postseason = WNIT Regional Finals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2010–11
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 25–10
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = T-7th
| postseason = WNIT Regional Finals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2011–12
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 22–15
| conference = 6–10
| confstanding = T-10th
| postseason = WNIT Semifinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2012–13
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 24–8
| conference = 11–5
| confstanding = T-3rd
| postseason = NCAA First Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Big East
| overall = {{Winning percentage|144|88|record=y}}
| confrecord = {{Winning percentage|51|61|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=Syracuse
|startyear=2013
|conference=Atlantic Coast Conference
|endyear=2021
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2013–14
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 23–10
| conference = 10–6
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason = NCAA Second Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2014–15
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 22–10
| conference = 11–5
| confstanding = T-4th
| postseason = NCAA Second Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2015–16
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 30–8
| conference = 13–3
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = NCAA Tournament Runner-up
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2016–17
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 22–11
| conference = 11–5
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason = NCAA Second Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2017–18
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 22–9
| conference = 10–6
| confstanding = T–6th
| postseason = NCAA First Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2018–19
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 25–9
| conference = 11–5
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason = NCAA Second Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2019–20
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 16–15
| conference = 9–9
| confstanding = 8th
| postseason = Tournament not held
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2020–21
| name = Syracuse
| overall = 15–9
| conference = 9–7
| confstanding = T-4th
| postseason = NCAA Second Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = ACC
| overall = {{Winning percentage|175|81|record=y}}
| confrecord = {{Winning percentage|84|46|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
|overall= {{Winning percentage|319|169|record=y}}
|legend=no
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://cuse.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/quentin-hillsman/5171 Syracuse Athletics bio]
- [https://anchor.fm/cuseconversations/episodes/Quentin-Hillsman-Turning-Womens-Basketball-Into-a-Perennial-Power-eq7s8f Hillsman on 'Cuse Conversations Podcast in 2021]
{{Syracuse Orange women's basketball coach navbox}}{{Big East Conference Women's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hillsman, Quentin}}
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:American women's basketball coaches
Category:Basketball coaches from New York (state)
Category:Sportspeople from DeWitt, New York
Category:People from Prince George's County, Maryland
Category:St. Mary's Seahawks men's basketball players