Don Hill enters his 11th season at the helm of the Elon men's golf program in 2023-24. He served as Committee Chair of the Ben Hogan Award for 2021-22 and is the Committee Chairperson for the All-America Committee for 2022-23. He was previously on the East All-Region Committee from 2017-19 and has been the East Region Chairperson since 2020.
Since joining the Phoenix in May of 2013, Hill's teams have been named to the GCAA All-Academic Team for nine consecutive seasons, 13 players have earned GCAA All-America Scholar honors and have won individual championships, and 21 players have been named conference player of the week. In addition, Jonathan DiIanni was a two-time All-Conference and Academic All-America honoree and was named the 2016 CAA Men's Golfer Scholar Athlete of the year while William Harwood was selected CAA Men's Golfer of the Year in 2019. Quade Lukes set the program records as a freshman for stroke average (72.10) and score vs. par (0.81), helping him earn All-CAA First Team honors. Philip Loeb was also an All-CAA selection as a sophomore during the 2016-17 season. Garrett Risner earned All-CAA honors back-to-back years following the 2023-24 season.
Elon had a strong 2023-24 season that included eight Top-5 finishes and a runner-up finish at the CAA Championship. The Phoenix kicked off the season with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Allstate Streamsong Invitational on Sep. 11-13 and the JT Poston Invitational on Sep. 25-26. The team defended their Phoenix Invitational title tying their lowest ever score at the event with a 31-under par 821. Garrett Risner led the Phoenix finishing third with a 204 (-9) en route to CAA Golfer of the Week honors on Oct. 18. The team closed out its fall season with another runner-up finish at the Bryan National Collegiate with Risner and Jack Wieler both finishing in the Top-10. Elon started the spring with a fifth-place finish at the 36-hole Battle at Briar’s Creek event before tying for sixth at the Palmas Del Mar Collegiate on Feb. 11-13. The team had a strong performance at the Tiger Invitational tying for third out of 18 teams with a 38-over par 902. In the final regular season tournament, the Phoenix finished second of 15 teams at the Cutter Creek Invitational as Wieler led the team carding a season-low round of 66 to finish in third earning him CAA Golfer of the Week honors on Apr. 3. Elon finished runner-up for the second straight year at the CAA Championship, led by Risner had his best career finish carding a 204 (-12) to finish in third. Risner recorded the best score in tournament history by a non-medalist and was named to that CAA-All Tournament Team along with Wieler. Risner was named to the All-CAA First Team and Wieler to All-CAA Second Team on May 10.
In the 2022-23 season, the Phoenix competed in 12 tournaments during the regular season with ten Top-10 finishes and seven Top-5 finishes. The team won its Seventh Annual Phoenix Invitational with a 28-under-par 824 as Garrett Risner won the tournament with a 14-under 199 en route to Co-CAA Golfer of the Week honors on Oct. 12. Elon also finished second out of 16 teams at the Grandover Collegiate, was fifth out of 19 teams at the Advance Golf Partners Classic, and won the field out of nine teams at the Aggie Invitational. Matthew Doyle was the top finisher for the Phoenix at the 2023 CAA Championship, tying for third with a four-under par 212. Elon was runner up in the team standings and combined for a six-under par. Matthew Doyles was named to the All-CAA First Team and Garrett Risner to the All-CAA Second Team on May 11.
The 2021-22 year saw the Phoenix compete in nine tournaments during the regular season with eight Top-10 finishes and four Top-5 finishes. The team won its Sixth Annual Phoenix Invitational with a 31-under par 821 as Pedro Rabadan finished tied for first with a 10-under 203 en route to CAA Golfer of the Week honors on Oct. 13. Elon also finished fifth out of 15 teams at the Grandover Collegiate, was runner up in a field of 17 teams at the Donald Ross Collegiate, and came in fifth out of 11 teams at the Forest Creek Collegiate. Garrett Risner was the top finisher for the maroon and gold at the 2022 CAA Championship, placing sixth with a three-under par 213. The Phoenix combined for a four-over 868 to come in fourth in the team standings and Risner added a Second Team All-Conference nod on May 19.
While COVID-19 prevented the team from competing in the fall of 2020, the Phoenix returned to action with five tournaments in the spring of 2021. Josef Dransfeld and Max Ferrari led the maroon and gold at George Mason's Ross Collegiate Classic on March 8-9, tying for 16th to help Elon finish fourth in the field of 13 teams. Elon then took fifth out of 12 teams at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate as William Frodigh tied for fifth with a five-over par 218. At the 2021 CAA Championship, Elon placed fifth out of eight teams as Frodigh and freshman Pedro Rabadan tied for 17th with a 222 (+6).
In 2019-20, Elon placed fourth in a field of 16 teams at the Fifth Annual Phoenix Invitational. Quade Lukes was the team's top finisher as he turned in a four-over 75 in the final round to tie for 14th with a 209 (-4). The Phoenix then opened the spring season with a win at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate on March 6-8. The Phoenix combined for a three-round total of 878 (+26) to capture the team title while Graham Hutchinson shot an even 213 to win the individual trophy. There was little time to celebrate, however as the season was cut short due to COVID-19.
The 2018-19 season saw the Phoenix defend its team title as Elon won the Forth Annual Phoenix Invitational and William Harwood claimed the individual title. The team then opened its spring slate by finishing second at the Loyola Intercollegiate as Dawson Daniels hit a four-under par on the final day to finish tied for seventh with a 213 (-3). The following week saw the maroon and gold tie for second at the USF Invitational as Harwood carded a three-under 213 to tie for third. Elon finished fourth out of nine teams at the 2019 CAA Championship as Harwood and Graham Hutchinson were named to the All-Tournament Team. Harwood later added CAA Men's Golfer of the Year and First Team All-CAA honors.
During his third season in 2015-16, the team posted the second-best stroke average (293.11) in the program's Division I era and had six different players record top-10 finishes, the most in the Colonial Athletic Association. Also, the team tied for second in program history since 1993 with the most team rounds under par (9) for the second time in the last three seasons. In addition, the Phoenix squad had 24 top-25 individual finishes between seven different players and Jonathan DiIanni was named to the All-CAA team for the second consecutive year. DiIanni also set the best single season stroke average since 1993 at 72.41 and freshman Philip Loeb set the best freshman scoring record since 1993 with a 74.10 stroke average. For the third time under Hill's tenure, the Phoenix earned a spot on the GCAA All-Academic Team, posting a 3.30 team GPA. DiIanni was also named CAA Men's Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year, earned GCAA All-America and CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. Hill also orchestrated the revival of Elon's home tournament, the Elon Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club.
In Elon's inagural season in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2014-15, Hill's squad had four players earn top-10 finishes, 19 top-25 finishers, and a fifth place finish in the 2015 CAA Championships. Junior Jonathan DiIanni earned his first-career All-Conference team honor, won two individual titles, which tied a program record for the most individual titles in a season, and was named to both the CoSIDA and GCAA Academic All-America teams. For the second time during Hill's tenure, the Phoenix earned a spot on the GCAA All-Academic Team with a 3.2 cumulative team GPA.
In Hill's first season with the Phoenix in 2013-14, Elon earned two top-three and five top-five team finishes, had four top-10 finishing individuals and 18 top-25 individual finishers. The team posted the best stroke average in the program's Division I era (292.86). John Somers won the Wofford Invitational and tied two Elon scoring records and Jeff Krieger tied an Elon single-round record of 64 at the Donald Ross Intercollegiate. With a 3.2 team GPA, the Phoenix earned GCAA All-Academic Team honors and Will DiIanni earned GCAA and CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
Prior to Elon, Hill spent the previous two seasons as the associate head men’s golf coach at South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks to outstanding success both in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and nationally.
In 2012-13, Hill helped South Carolina lock up an NCAA postseason bid for the second straight year. South Carolina had one of its most successful seasons in recent history in 2013. The Gamecocks recorded five top-three finishes, including a win at the Wendy’s Kiawah Classic, as well as a pair of runner-up finishes. South Carolina finished two strokes back of second-ranked Alabama at the SEC Championship this year. Individually, Hill helped guide sophomore Caleb Sturgeon to a runner-up finish at the SEC Championship with a total score of 205 (-5), which is the second lowest 54-hole SEC Championship score in USC history.
Prior to joining head coach Bill McDonald's staff at USC, Hill spent eight years as assistant men's coach at North Carolina from 2004-2011.
Hill assisted the UNC men’s golf program in the day-to-day operations in addition to his on-course duties as coach and teacher. Hill joined the UNC coaching staff after working one year with UNC's Rams Club as a graduate intern. Prior to that, he played on golf mini tours from 1999-2001.
In his time as North Carolina's assistant coach, the Tar Heels won 10 tournaments, including the ACC Championship in 2006 and the UNCG Bridgestone Golf Collegiate in the fall of 2010. Five Tar Heels captured seven individual championships during Hill’s tenure as well. Hill has coached three All-Americans, including Martin Ureta in 2005 and 2006, Dustin Bray in 2002-04 and Kevin O'Connell in 2008.
Hill was a member of the UNC men's golf team (1995, 1997-99). He was a two-time All-ACC performer and two-time honorable mention All-American in 1998 and 1999. Hill helped lead North Carolina to 10th-place NCAA finishes in 1997 and 1999. He was the runner-up at the 1998 ACC Championship, one stroke behind Clemson's Charles Warren, and finished 10th at the 1999 NCAA Championship. Hill posted 13 top-10 finishes during his four-year collegiate career and 23 top-25 finishes. He posted a 72.88 stroke average in 1997-98 and a 73.03 average in 1998-99.
Hill, a native of Mount Olive, N.C., and a four-year golf standout at Southern Wayne High School, graduated from North Carolina in 1999 with a degree in communications.
What Others Are Saying About Coach Hill:
“Don Hill has emerged as one of the premier young coaches in the country. Having excelled at each level he has a unique ability to relate with his players both on and off the golf course. I have followed Don's growth and progress since his outstanding collegiate career at UNC and included him in our list of candidates in our coaching search in 2007. Since his arrival as associate head coach two years ago he has been a vital and integral part of our success. There is no doubt he will carry Elon golf to unprecedented heights and success.”
Puggy Blackmon
University of South Carolina, Director of Golf
“Coach Hill has done a tremendous job in helping build a national-caliber program here at the University of South Carolina. Elon has made a great choice in hiring him to lead their men's golf program. We wish him and his wife Lizzie the very best. They will be ambassadors and leaders in the Phoenix community."
Ray Tanner
University of South Carolina, Director of Athletics
"Coach Hill has been an invaluable asset to me for the past two years and he has done an incredible job of impacting our golf program here at South Carolina. His ability to relate to our players on all levels, recruit relentlessly, and his organizational abilities, have been crucial to our success as a golf program. Coach Hill's influence on our golf program has had a direct impact on our resurgence nationally and I have no doubt he will excel as a head coach. Coach Hill will be sorely missed here in Columbia and we all wish him great success at Elon. Go Phoenix!"
Bill McDonald
University of South Carolina, Head Men’s Golf Coach
“Having watched Don develop into an All-American as a player at UNC and watch him develop his coaching skills over the past decade at an ACC school and an SEC school, I know he is well prepared to take on the challenge of being a head coach. Elon has made a wonderful choice in Don Hill and the golf program will have much success under his leadership for years to come.”
Andrew Sapp
University of North Carolina, Head Men's Golf Coach
