Biography.guide
Home › People › Basketball coach › Frank Hill
Portrait of Frank Hill

Frank Hill

1879 – 1944

American basketball player and coach

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Frank Hill

Lived 1879 – 1944 (aged 64). Frank Hill was an American basketball coach.

Francis Joseph Hill (September 14, 1879 – August 22, 1944) was an American basketball player and coach who was the head men's basketball coach at Seton Hall College (1911–1930) and Rutgers University (1915–1943).

Playing Hill was a frail child and began competing in athletics on the advice of his family physician. He excelled in the 100-yard dash and long jump and was invited to join the Institute Club. He later joined their basketball team. In 1904, he was signed by the Paterson Crescents at the suggestion of captain Nick Kearney, who called Hill "the best man I ever played against". In 1912, Hill was described by The Paterson Press as "without a doubt one of the greatest pivot men ever developed in the great indoor game of basketball". He also played for the Harrison Entre Nous team when it did not conflict with the Crescents' schedule.

Coaching Hill began his coaching career in 1911 at St. Benedict's Preparatory School. That same year, he became the head coach of the Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball team. In 1915, he began coaching at Rutgers as well. His 1919–20 Rutgers team made it to the finals of the AAU men's basketball tournament, but lost to NYU. He gave up coaching at St. Benedict's in 1922 and Seton Hall in 1930, but continued to coach the Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team until 1943, when the program was suspended due to World War II.

Personal life Hill and his wife, the former Rose R. Welsh, had two sons and two daughters.

Hill died on August 22, 1944 at his home in Newark.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
Francis Joseph Hill

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Frank Hill's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Frank Hill?

American basketball player and coach (1879–1944)

When was Frank Hill born?

Frank Hill was born on 14 September 1879.

When did Frank Hill die?

Frank Hill died on 22 August 1944.

What was Frank Hill's occupation?

Frank Hill was a basketball coach.

What nationality was Frank Hill?

Frank Hill was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Frank Hill

· Wikidata: Q134396581

· DBpedia: Frank Hill (basketball)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Frank Hill. https://biography.guide/frank-hill-basketball-coach/

MLA: "Frank Hill." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/frank-hill-basketball-coach/.

Chicago: "Frank Hill." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/frank-hill-basketball-coach/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:20 UTC