2011 Florida Gators Football: Hill Shows Being a Good Guy Isn't a Bad Thing

The old cliche is that "nice guys finish last."

Aubrey Hill proves that wrong every day.

Dating back to his days playing for the Florida Gators (1991-94), Hill has earned his reputation as one of football's truly good men.

That's one reason why I was so happy to see new coach Will Muschamp added Hill to his staff as the receivers coach/recruiting coordinator in early January.

And it's been a winding road back to Gainesville.

Always courteous and polite with friends and strangers alike, Hill, 39, began his coaching career in 1999 with Duke. He was an assistant with the Blue Devils through 2003, when the entire staff was let go.

Determined not to let that setback derail his dream, Hill spent a year coaching receivers at tiny Elon College before getting the call from then-University of Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt to be an offensive assistant with the Panthers.

Hill was at Pitt through the 2007 season, when he accepted the same job with his hometown Miami Hurricanes. He was at "The U" until getting the job offer from Muschamp.

Also a husband and a father, Hill always has been dedicated to his craft.

After all, how many coaches with full-time jobs do you know that accept NFL internships (with the Washington Redskins in 2001 and the Miami Dolphins in 2002) during their supposed summer "down time?"

While a Gator, Hill was never the biggest or fastest player, but he was perhaps the most sure-handed receiver on a roster that included Ike Hilliard, Reidel Anthony and Chris Doering. Hill hauled in 86 receptions and 18 touchdowns (a TD every 4.78 catches) as UF went 43-10-1 (.806) with three Southeastern Conference championships with him in uniform. He also was a team captain his senior year.

Back then, I remember longtime Gainesville Sun Florida football beat writer Robbie Andreu asking Hill something along the lines of "I know this is a weird question, but does anyone on the team ever give you grief for how nice you are?"

Hill responded with a laugh and said he wasn't really sure how to answer that before (of course) telling Robbie he appreciated the compliment.

Muschamp has told public gatherings that Hill called him, begging to get out of Miami. Whether completely true or just Muschamp's own way of adding a log to a simmering rivalry, Hill has told me he is very happy to be back at UF, where he served as a graduate assistant for the Gators' 1996 national champions.

I remember seeing Hill on Bourbon Street following Florida's title-winning 52-20 victory against archrival Florida State. I congratulated him on the win, and he gave a typical Aubrey Hill response.

He thanked me for covering the team.