Feb. 28, 2008
THIBODAUX, La. -
Few universities are fortunate enough to have a former standout student-athlete like Nicholls' Dr. Cleveland Hill return as a coach, then a teacher, and now a dean at their beloved college. However, one of Hill's most notable accomplishments took place in 1968 when he became the first black athlete to wear a Colonel uniform.
"It was challenging, some trepidation, some excitement, and some fears - more imagined than real," said Hill. "To understand what it was like, you would have to be able to grasp the concept of the time."
It was forty-years ago when Hill, a young freshman from Moss Point, Mississippi, first enrolled at Nicholls State. America was divided over integration and racial tensions were high, even on the Nicholls campus.
Although he shies away from taking any credit, Cleveland Hill was able to ease racial tensions and break the color barrier that surrounded Colonel Athletics. He did so in his usual quiet, unassuming manner and with exceptional play on the basketball court.
"I have heard people call me a pioneer, but I don't consider myself one. A lot of credit has to go to Dr. Gailiano, coach Didier, and coach Landry for having a vision of what Nicholls could be as a university," said Hill.
The humble 6'8'' hard worker is hard to miss on campus, and was easy to find on the court as he finished his playing career in 1972 as the all-time leading scorer with 1,606 points and the all-time leader in rebounds with 1,174. Hill's all-time scoring record stood until Larry Wilson toppled it in 1977-78 season. Hill currently ranks seventh on the all-time scoring list.
His rebound record stood until 1995 when Reggie Jackson moved ahead of him leaving Hill in second place on the career boards list. His record of 26 rebounds in a game, a feat he accomplished twice in his career, still stands today as the most rebounds in a single contest.
As a sophomore, his teammates voted him team captain making him the first non-senior to serve in that capacity in school history. Under the direction of then head coach Don Landry, the Colonels finished 16-9 and went on to make it to the NAIA playoffs in 1972, Hill's senior season. The 1972 team was the first time a Colonel basketball team advanced to post-season play in school history.
"Coach Landry believed in total team effort, and getting 15 guys from different walks of life to come together is always a mystery for coaches and a credit to coach Landry," said Hill.
"Leaving home and experiencing life is always a great education. "Growing up, black people that I knew in Mississippi taught me that white people from the north are your friend, and white people from the south are your enemy. When I got here at Nicholls, one of the lessons I learned is that friendships can develop on an individual basis no matter where a person is from."
Upon his graduation, Hill was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics of the NBA and by the Kentucky Colonels of the now-defunct American Basketball Association. After an unsuccessful basketball camp with the Kentucky Colonels, Hill opted to join the military and serve his country. He worked in personnel administration, but still found time for basketball. Hill was selected to All-Army team in 1974 and 1975, the Armed Forces Basketball Team in 1975, and helped conduct basketball clinics for the State Department in Amman, Jordan in 1975.
Hill returned to his alma mater in 1975 as a student assistant coach while finishing up his teacher certification. Hill became one of the head basketball coaches and assistant football coach at East Thibodeaux Junior High School. Two years later, his former coach, Jerry Sanders, hired him on as an assistant coach at Nicholls.
"We were so fortunate to recruit Cleve and have him at Nicholls not only as a basketball player, but as a person," said former coach and athletic director Don Landry. "He was a leader that believed in team basketball, and is easily one of my top players, and perhaps the one I am most proud of."
Hill retired from the university in 2006 as the Dean of the College of Education where he served in that capacity for seven years. He was called out of retirement in July 2007 to serve as the interim Dean of Student Life, and currently resides in Thibodaux with his wife the former Lois Lorraine Charles of Houma, La.
