Fort Scott CC's Hill earns 500th win
Special to Kansas Pregame
Earlier this season, John Hill, III reached a milestone as the baseball coach at Fort Scott Community College. He notched his 500th career win - but more impressively all the W’s have come at the same school in Bourbon County.
“It’s beyond rare to do this at the same school. People nowadays seem to ‘jump’ from place to place in an effort to chase what they think is bigger/better,” Hill said. “I never wanted to do that. I wanted to make an impact at the same school and community and that takes effort, patience, consistency and time.”
An impact he’s made indeed. The 16th year Greyhound skipper out of Lawrence High and Baker University has overseen a team grade point average of 3.5 as well as an average of 20-30 hours of community service each year per player.
Oh yeah, his record currently stands at 532-341 - and counting after Thursday’s 7-6 and 10-9 doubleheader sweep of Labette that left Fort Scott 34-7 on the season.
“Winning 500 was honestly no different than any other win until the day was over and I could take the time to reflect,” the former Lawrence High shortstop and son of a famous Lawrence chiropractor said. “The win was game 1 of a doubleheader and I wanted our team to remain focused and finish the day. I told them 500 wins was cool, but 501 sounds a lot better.”
The Hounds then proceeded to complete the sweep.
“After winning the second game of the doubleheader and taking pictures with my wife and sons, as well as my mom and dad who were there at the games, I had a chance to really reflect,” he said. “I was filled with a massive amount of appreciation and gratitude. Both in the direction of my family, players and assistant coaches. But more than anything, appreciation and gratitude to God for all He has given me.”
“His attention to detail and his genuine care for each of his players and the Fort Scott community,” former player and current assistant Andrew Morrow said on Hill’s biggest attributes of being successful.
“Having all 500 wins at the same school is pretty special because coach Hill built this program from the ground up, and has been extremely loyal to FSCC and the Fort Scott community,” former player and current assistant Dawson Cantwell said.
To be a coach at Fort Scott for 16 years is a remarkable achievement considering coaching wasn’t on his radar at one time.
“When I was in high school at Lawrence High, I planned on being a Chiropractor. Being a baseball coach wasn’t even a consideration,” Hill said.
But playing the game he loved as a kid was still alive and very well after leading the Lions to a state championship his junior year and a runnerup finish his senior campaign.
“I went to Highland CC and am still the all time single season runs scored leader. After that I went to Baker University and am the all time single season hit by pitch leader,” Hill said. “Lastly, I finished my playing career playing a season professionally in Germany for the Tuebingen Hawks.”
The talks with his dad about baseball and life allowed him to become the baseball coach at Fort Scott. With each victory, he now sets the record for coaching wins at FSCC, where his wife Lindsay is the school’s all-time winningest volleyball coach.
“Lindsay is the best coach I’ve known. She did more with less than any coach I’ve seen,” Hill said. “With that said, she understands my challenges my program faces and she recognizes what we overcome daily and annually. She supports me but also challenges me to see the bright side as the lack of funding/resources and support frequently darkens the experience but she shows me the light.”
He was asked to list the All-John Hill Team in his 16 years. He begrudgingly accepted the task. “That’s SO difficult but here’s my best shot:”
⚾️ Starting Pitcher John Means 2011-12
⚾️ Closer Kobie Schmidt 2016-18
⚾️ 1B Jaret Nelson 2021-23
⚾️ 2B Evann Long 2021-23
⚾️ SS Dylan Kurahashi Choy-Foo 2019-21
⚾️ 3B Brody Szako 2021-23
⚾️ C Brandon Krennrich 2016-17
⚾️ LF Hampton Hall 2017-19
⚾️ CF Jake Skaggs 2020-22
⚾️ RF Ka’ai Tom 2012-13
⚾️ DH Carter Dobrinski 2019-21
“We average 14 kids a year moving on so 16 x 14 = 224. That’s my best guess on how many players have moved on,” Hill proudly noted. “I’ve coached 44 players who’ve been drafted or signed professional contracts. I’ve coached two guys who’ve played Major League Baseball in John Means who’s currently with the Baltimore Orioles and Ka’ai Tom who played for the A’s & Pirates.”
He is now getting to coach his oldest son JJ along with two of JJ’s cousins.
“It’s a very special opportunity to coach my son JJ and his two cousins Sutton and Reid Nelson on the same youth team,” Hill said. “It gives JJ and me extra time spent with his cousins and our families extra time to be together and enjoy watching our sons grow together.”
What has baseball meant to the man who wins baseball games and makes good players great ones?
“Baseball has been my avenue as a man to mentor young men,” he said. “Coaching isn’t a job, it’s a calling from God and baseball is the conduit I am meant to use.”
That conduit which correlates the game of baseball with the game of Life.
“Baseball is life: it’s an unfair game at times but it’s also the most fair game at times,” the Greyhound field general noted. “Baseball rewards the same things that life rewards: overcoming failure, pushing past adversity, consistent persistence rewards you, development/improvement takes time, there’s no shortcuts.”
Hill’s story concludes with these comments and congratulations from former players.
“Congratulations Coach Hill on your 500th win! Thank you for all you have done for me both in my athletic career and now in the beginning of my coaching career. I could not have a better mentor to learn from. You have been a true role model for hundreds of young men that have been a Greyhound and called this place home! We would not be able to call it a HoundFam without you….
“….As one of your alum and on behalf of all of your players, past and present. We want to thank you for all the sacrifices you have made for the good of this program and the college. We are all extremely proud of you and we cannot think of anyone more deserving for this accomplishment and recognition,” Andrew Morrow (2018) and current assistant said.
“There is no one more deserving of this amazing milestone. Coach Hill does things the right way: he cares about people, he is true to his word, and he keeps striving to become a better coach, husband and father every day. This mindset of constant growth that Coach Hill has is passed down and taught to his players, which is what makes him such a great mentor to everyone that comes through the FSCC baseball program, including myself. I am proud to have played for him and now coach for him, congratulations to Coach Hill on 500 wins,” Dawson Cantwell (2020) and current assistant said.
“Nobody more deserving of 500 wins than Coach Hill! He is truly forming men and baseball players during his time at Fort Scott. Couldn’t have been more blessed to play and coach with him,” Ben Kiefer, now living in Dallas, said.
“I want to congratulate Coach Hill on 500, and counting, career wins. This is an amazing accomplishment and undoubtedly there will be many more milestones that he will surpass. Coach Hill has shown year in and year out what it means to be a great coach, leader and man,” former player and coach Sean Moore, now residing in Austin, Texas, said.