WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Famer and former all-American standout Kathy Hill (May) '94 was named the head softball coach Jan. 14.

"We are thrilled to welcome home former all-American and hall of famer Kathy Hill as our next head softball coach," Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Kristen Foley said. "Kathy brings experience from the Division II, Division III and high school levels with a proven track record of success as both a head coach and WP student-athlete. Her leadership and passion for the game will undoubtedly inspire our student-athletes to reach their full potential on and off the field. We look forward to the exciting future ahead for our WP softball program."

Hill returns to WP for the third time in her career after serving two previous stints as an assistant coach (2000, 2010-15).

"It is an honor to be back as a member of the William Paterson family", Hill said. "I would like to thank Kristen Foley and the search committee for this incredible opportunity, for which I am very grateful. Being an alum of William Paterson and the softball program makes this position extremely special to me. I am excited to work with our student-athletes to help them achieve their goals while making a mark in the New Jersey Athletic Conference."

Hill arrives at WP with a wealth of coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels.

She spent the last nine years as the head softball coach at her alma mater, Passaic Valley High School, garnering two Big North Coach of the Year (2019, 2021) and Passaic County Coach of the Year (2018, 2021) accolades. At the helm of the Hornets, she compiled an overall record of 126-57 and a 58-24 mark in Big North - Independence action while coaching over 40 all-Passaic County and all-conference performers.

Before her time at Passaic Valley, Hill spent six seasons as an assistant coach at WP from 2010-15. As a member of the coaching staff, she helped guide the Pioneers to three 30-win seasons (2012, 2014, 2015) and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2014, 2015). The Pioneers qualified for the conference tournament in all six campaigns.

Prior to her second stint at WP, Hill served as the head coach at Felician University, totaling 149 wins across eight seasons (2002-09). In her first year at Felician in 2002, she was named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Coach of the Year after spearheading a 15-win turnaround to lead the Golden Falcons to a 26-12 overall mark and a third-place finish in the conference. Under her guidance, seven Golden Falcons received all-conference honors while nine were named to the academic all-conference and NFCA Scholar-Athlete teams.

Before becoming the head coach at Felician, Hill spent one season on the 2000 WP coaching staff.

As a student-athlete, Hill was a standout performer for the Pioneer softball program from 1989-92. She became the first all-American in program history in 1990 following a sophomore campaign that featured a single-season program record .455 batting average and 56 hits to go with 10 doubles, four triples, a home run, 33 runs scored and 36 RBI with nine stolen bases. Additionally, Hill was recognized as an all-region and all-conference honoree that season.

She played a pivotal role in helping WP make three straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1990-92.

For her outstanding accomplishments throughout her career on the field in a Pioneer uniform, Hill was inducted into the WP Athletics Hall of Fame on Nov. 8, 1999. She was later inducted into the Passaic Valley High School Hall of Fame in 2005.

Hill completed a bachelor's degree in exercise and movement science at William Paterson in 1994.