The next Al Martin: Du Quoin school board hires A.J. Hill as teacher at DHS

"A.J. played under two great coaches, Jerry Kill at Northern Illinois University and Dale Lennon at SIU. He can't help but know the game," said Indian football head coach Al Martin Thursday after Hill was hired by the Du Quoin board of education to teach DHS academic success/social studies and is now heir-apparent to Martin's job as head coach.

"This lets me complete my plan to retire," said Martin, who stays as steward of one of Illinois's most historic football programs through the 2014 season after retiring from teaching in May.

Again, Hill was hired as a social studies teacher--not as a coach--but the coaching discussion is inescapable. "A.J. is a teacher and a young man who has turned down other offers to come to Du Quoin," said Martin. "You want to leave a program in good shape and I will leave happy that A.J. is taking over this program."

A.J. fills the teaching vacancy on the Du Quoin High School staff created by the sudden resignation of social studies teacher Jason Geis, who is taking a job in the Carbondale school district.

Hill has been teaching an upper level placement course in the Carbondale school district this summer and has been seen alongside coach Martin field-side at VanMetre Stadium

Hill walks VanMetre in the footsteps of older brother and SIU record-holding quarterback Nick Hill, whom the board tried to recruit for Martin's coaching job two years ago. Nick and Martin are close friends and Hill spent a lot of time helping call the plays alongside Martin.

But, Nick Hill instead accepted a position to coach the Carbondale Terriers football team and more recently signed on as an assistant to the Saluki program. Nick also works as a representative for Select Energy consultants, which identifies the most well-suited energy brokers for towns and counties.

Martin spoke Thursday not only about the possibilities for Hill in the Du Quoin football program, but he also spoke very highly about a man name Matt Blaise, who is the Elverado Falcons co-op representative coach this fall on the Du Quoin Indians. He had nothing but praise for Blaise and what he will bring to the Du Quoin program. The 20 Elverado football players who are now on the Indian roster are hard-working, committed and thankful to be part of the Indian football tradition.

Hill quarterbacked the Du Quoin Indians, went to Northern Illinois University, then transferred from Northern Illinois prior to the 2011 Saluki season, hoping for more playing time and to be closer to his hometown of Du Quoin.

He was beaten out for the starting job by Paul McIntosh the found playing time alongside starter Kory Faulkner.

The whole time, Hill decided one of his jobs was to make everyone around him better.

Hill led the team's independent workouts during the summer because Faulkner was sidelined with a knee injury.

He organized four passing sessions per week and even brought the entire team together twice weekly.

At the time, he had this to say: "I just knew it was something that had to be done," Hill said. "It was unfortunate that Kory got hurt, but I knew our team needed four days a week throwing to get that timing down. We had the whole team out there a couple days a week, going through a script of plays."

Having one of the all-time greatest Saluki quarterbacks in brother Nick in your corner is a valuable asset.

"Nick tells me to have a short memory and just control what I can control," Hill said. "Do what you do and it's going to take care of itself."

Hill believes the selfless approach the team is taking will pay dividends on the field.

Hill's father, Cha Hill, said he's glad to have his son back in Du Quoin. "He will live with us. We have plenty of room," he said.

Life is good.

Board Hires a Class Act in Webster McGuire

to Work in Martin's Special Education Program

In other staffing votes, the school board hired Du Quoin alum Webster McGuire--a member of the Clarry family--as an aide in the high school's special education department. Mandy Davis, another aide, was also hired.

Martin said McGuire will bring huge caring to the program he taught and could also work his way into being an asset to the school's basketball program.

The board also hired Leslie Hamburger as a middle school clerical aid for the coming year; transferred Lea Oestreicher to a K-8 custodial position for the 2014-2015 year and employed guidance department staff member Eric Kirkpatrick as a high school cross country coach.

The board also accepted the resignation of Gayla Creek as a high school vocational aide, effective now.