GREEN BAY – After having a stellar career with the Green Bay Blizzard indoor football team, BJ Hill said he is excited for his next gig in Titletown.
Hill was recently named the Green Bay Southwest High School football coach after co-coaches Aaron Van Eperen and Chad Thiry stepped down last fall after four seasons.
The Trojans, members of the Fox River Classic Conference-North division, have won only a handful of games in the last four seasons and have not qualified for the WIAA playoffs since 2019 when they lost a Level 1 game.
Southwest’s only victory in 2024 came against Appleton West after it was determined the Terrors had to forfeit the game for using an illegible player.
“I’m super excited about this opportunity to lead this group of young men, and I’m going to give it everything I have and hopefully lead them in the right direction,” Hill said. “High school is something everyone remembers, so I want to make this a memorable year and future.”
Hill said first and foremost, it’s about changing the culture at Southwest.
“Obviously, most people simply see the wins and losses, but it’s much more than that,” he said. “It’s been a losing mentality over the last four years, but that hasn’t always been the case at Southwest. Coming in and changing the culture is going to be priority No. 1.”
Hill said it’s not impossible to see changes in a short time.
“When I was interviewing for the job, I noticed there was a lack of participation from last year,” he said. “With the record (the last four seasons), it’s tough for kids to be a part of that. One of the things I want to focus on is getting kids back out on the football field and taking that roster from 45 kids to at least 65.”
Hill said in walking the halls at Southwest, he’s gotten good vibes from the student-athletes.
“They’re all super excited about it,” he said. “I’ve already told them, ‘Every one of you guys has a clean slate. I don’t know any of you, so you all have to prove to me how much hard work you’re going to put in.’ I want the kids to put a little pressure on others they know who should be playing football.”
Being new, Hill said he doesn’t have any preconceived notions about anyone on the roster.
“That works out well for everyone,” he said. “It allows me to show no favoritism, but that’s not something I do anyway — I’m going to play the best players. From the players’ standpoint, it gives kids who may have felt slighted in the past a chance to prove themselves.”
Hill grew up in Maryland and then attended Ball State University in Indiana.
After his days at Ball State, Hill played for the Blizzard from 2010-13.
“After I retired in 2013, that fall, I got an opportunity to (become an assistant) coach at Southwest (under Chris Wallace and Tim Birr),” he said. “That was my first coaching opportunity, so it’s a full circle moment for me coming back to Southwest. I knew I wasn’t going to play forever, but I still wanted to be around the sport. Coaching comes naturally to me — being able to filter what I know to these kids so they understand exactly what I’m trying to get out of them. I think the timing (for me accepting the job) was perfect.”
Hill said it’s a bit too early to discuss Xs and Os with what he will run offensively and defensively at Southwest.
“I have an idea of what I want to do, but I won’t build that publicly for the time being,” he said. “But I definitely think it’s something the area isn’t used to in terms of style of play. I think fans will be excited about the way we play.”
Growing up where he did, Hill said Maryland will always “be my home,” but he loves the Green Bay area.
“I’ve been here for 15 years now,” he said. “My family and kids are here. The roots are back home, but Green Bay is my home away from home.”
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