One of the most decorated women’s basketball players in NIU history is coming back to DeKalb as Northern Illinois University women’s basketball head coach Jacey Brooks announced on Tuesday that E.C. Hill will join the coaching staff as an assistant coach.

“I’m ecstatic to have one of the greatest players to wear an NIU uniform join our staff,” said Brooks. “E.C. has a proven track record as a player and coach and knows firsthand what it will take to have our program achieve our goals. She has a strong network and a highly regarded reputation for recruiting and developing talent. I’m fully confident she will continue to impact and shape these young women’s lives both on and off the court. I am so fortunate to be able to work with someone of her caliber each day. Welcome home, E.C.!”

A member of the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame, Hill led NIU to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1992 to 1994. She was twice named to the All-Mid-Continent Conference First Team. In 1994 Hill was named the Mid-Con Player of the Year, as well as a U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-American, after averaging 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. She then played professionally in both the American Basketball League and the WNBA as well as in Europe.

Hill comes back to DeKalb with more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience. She served as assistant coach and director of program management at Arizona State last season after three seasons as the head coach at Delaware State.

“I’m incredibly excited to return to Northern Illinois University and join Coach Jacey Brooks’ staff,” Hill said. “NIU holds a special place in my heart and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be back at a place where I had such a meaningful and positive experience.”

Hill started her coaching career at NIU in 2005 as a part of Huskie Hall of Famer Carol Owens’ staff. She was an assistant for the Huskies for six seasons, coaching guards like Stephanie Raymond who was drafted by the Chicago Sky in 2007 and is also an NIU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee. Hill moved on to join the coaching staff at Arizona in 2011 where she helped develop Davellyn Whyte, who was drafted 16th overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft.

In 2016 Hill was named the head girls basketball coach at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla. In her second year, Hill made history with 20 wins. In her final year the team earned it’s highest ranking in the USA Today poll at #15. Montverde defeated three nationally ranked teams that year with three future Division I players in future NIU Huskie A’Jah Davis as well as BriShonne Tollie who went to SMU and Ramani Parker who went to Louisville.

Hill then spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Towson from 2019-2021. In 2021 Tiger guard Kionna Jeter became the first Towson women’s basketball player selected in the WNBA Draft after being selected by the Las Vegas Aces in the third round. Jeter led the Coastal Athletic Association and was 10th in the nation in scoring that year at 21.0 points per game.  She finished her career with 1,582 points which put her third all-time at Towson in scoring. Hill also worked with Aleah Nelson, who was an All-CAA First Team selection in 2021 and was fifth in the country with 6.5 assists per game.

Hill earned her bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies from NIU in 1995. She attended Whitney Young High School in Chicago and was an accomplished and nationally recognized prep basketball player. Hill was a Parade Prep First Team All-American, a Naismith and Gatorade Circle of Champions Illinois State Player of the Year and a unanimous All-State selection. In 1991 Hill participated in the U.S. Olympic Festival and was named to the All-Tournament Team. She played for the United States in the 1993 World University Games where the US won a bronze medal.