Damien Hill

Damien Hill is a three-time Shute Shield winning coach, and was formerly the head coach of the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchise. Initially appointed as an assistant coach with the club in 2011, Hill was appointed head coach after the resignation of inaugural Rebels coach Rod Macqueen at the end of 2011. He is currently the head coach of Japanese side Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League.

Raised in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Hill was a successful player of Australian rules football at a junior level and played in the Teal Cup for NSW Country. Educated at Sacred Heart and St Michael's Primary Schools and Trinity Senior High School, Hill began studying law at Sydney University but completed a degree in sports science (coaching) at the University of Canberra.

Early years As a boy, Hill lived in the Riverina city of Wagga Wagga and watched his father coach Wagga City, a team in the Southern Inland Rugby Union.

Hill played Rugby Union for both the Wagga City and Rivcoll Red Devils clubs in Wagga Wagga. He also played Australian Football, Rugby League and Soccer,

In 2006, Hill became the director of coaching at Sydney University and then head coach. Under Hill's tenure Sydney University won three consecutive premierships. The high standard of Hill's coaching prompted Wallabies coach Robbie Deans to declare Sydney University as good as any side in the New Zealand ITM Cup. Hill's last game as Rebels coach was a home game against New Zealand franchise the Highlanders, a match that also turned out to be the last Rebels match for players James O'Connor, Gareth Delve, Cooper Vuna, Ged Robinson, Nick Phipps and Nic Henderson. In front of over 12,000 spectators, the Rebels overcame a 24-point half-time deficit to achieve a remarkable 38-37 come-from-behind victory over the Highlanders, ending Hill's tenure as Rebels coach on a winning note.

Influences Hill acknowledges the influence of his idol former Australian football coach Tom Hafey: "Tommy Hafey was exceptional … He was definitely a disciplined person. He doesn't have to be told what to do. He just does it because he believes in it. I remember some of the things he organised that were virtually unheard of elsewhere". Hill also cited the influence of former Sydney Swans coach Paul Kelly, saying "What he was able to achieve at the Swans was exceptional ... and it seems to be an ongoing legacy. He wasn't one of those coaches who gets in, does what's best for him at the time and then leaves - and leaves nothing."