In early January, the University of Wyoming football team hired new full-time assistant coach Renaldo Hill. Head coach Dave Christensen made the decision after he was impressed by Hill’s skills when he came to UW to assist with coaching in the summer of 2012. He will kick off his official stint with UW during the 2013 season as the cornerbacks coach.
“When I heard Hill was coming to Wyoming to help as an assistant coach, I was excited to see what kind of improvements he’d make with the Cowboys,” communications major Nathan Griffin said. “I used to watch him play while he was still in the NFL and knowing he’s bringing that experience to UW makes me as well as other Poke fans excited.”
Hill followed a winding career path before coming to Wyoming. After an impressive college football career at Michigan State, he went on to play cornerback and safety in the NFL for 10 seasons, ending his professional career with the Denver Broncos in 2010.
Hill attended Michigan State from 1997-2000 where he was the starting cornerback from 1998 to 2000. He had many accomplishments during his playing time there and by his senior year was selected as a tri-captain, going on to earn First Team All-Big Ten honors.
Hill was drafted in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals as the No. 202 pick. He started in 32 of his 55 games. He recorded personal highs in interceptions and passes defended for the team.
In 2005, Hill was traded to the Oakland Raiders where he moved from playing cornerback to safety. From 2006-08, Hill played for the Miami Dolphins where he started in 38 of the 39 games he played. He was reported to have intercepted six passes, defended 13 other passes and had approximately 195 tackles during the three-year time span.
His last two seasons were spent with the Denver Broncos where he started in all 31 his games. During his time as a Bronco, Hill defended 10 passes and had 122 total tackles.
“It’s truly amazing that someone like Hill would come to coach at Wyoming, especially given the other opportunities he probably had to pass up for this one,” said Jonathan Gonder, a senior business major. “I guess he knew that Poke pride is stronger than any other and you can’t beat representing the brown and gold.”
After accepting his position as a defensive graduate assistant for the Cowboys team, Hill worked producing scouting reports on opponents, preparing for practices, coaching Cowboy defenders and also assisted in recruitment.
“It’s crazy how he’s bounced around from so many professional teams,” Tyler Reese, a UW engineering student, said. “I knew he was good, but I didn’t know about his successful history in the NFL. He sounds like the exact thing the Cowboys need to have a better season this upcoming year. Players can really learn a lot from him and will go far with him being a coach on their team.”
