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UTRGV head basketball coach Lew Hill passed away on Sunday morning, multiple sources told Stadium’s Jeff Goodman.
UTRGV head coach Lew Hill passed away this morning, multiple sources confirmed to @stadium. Hill coached last night against Texas Southern, and died this morning in his sleep.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 7, 2021
Awful, awful news.
Goodman also reported that Hill had battled COVID-19 and was going to step aside for the remainder of the season to tend to his health.
As of this post’s publishing, the school has not confirmed Hill’s passing, but tributes have begun pouring in from fellow WAC programs and coaches.
Can’t and don’t want to believe it. Rest In Peace Coach Hill. We all have guys that give you a hand up when you’re breaking into coaching...Lew was so good to me...prayers to his family and the UTRGV family. https://t.co/fDa0mETUf1
— Todd Simon (@CoachTsimon) February 7, 2021
Aggie Nation sends our deepest condolences to @GoUTRGV, its men’s basketball program and the friends and family of Coach Lew Hill.
— NM State Aggies (@NMStateAggies) February 7, 2021
Rest in peace, Coach Hill. #AggieUp | #RallyTheValley pic.twitter.com/v5TPx2ko2f
Our hearts break for Coach Hill's loved ones and our friends at @UTRGVmbb. pic.twitter.com/RWaTR3XAsz
— GCU Men's Basketball (@GCU_MBB) February 7, 2021
I’m very saddened with the news of Coach Lew Hill’s passing. He was a good man and a heckuva Coach. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lew’s family, and the @GoUTRGV team. I can’t believe it.
— Chris Jans (@coachchrisjans) February 7, 2021
Lew Hill was somebody I looked up to in the business. His advice about college coaching and life will be forever with me. Sad day https://t.co/pNGE41PSTH
— Jamall Walker (@jamallwalker) February 7, 2021
Today we join our #WACmbb family and all of College Basketball in mourning the passing of @GoUTRGV Head Coach Lew Hill. We send our sincere condolences and prayers to Coach Hill's family, friends and the @UTRGVmbb program. RIP Coach Hill. #DixieBlazers #RallyTheValley pic.twitter.com/jRuC40oJTt
— Dixie State Basketball (@DIXIESTATEBBALL) February 8, 2021
Hill, who coached his final game Saturday night, had the Vaqueros off to an 8-4 start in his fifth season at the helm. The team is coming off a year where earned the 2 seed in the WAC tournament — a program best. Before taking over in Edinburg, Hill spent 12 years alongside Lon Kruger, first at UNLV then Oklahoma. Hill helped guide the Sooners to the 2016 Final Four.
UTRGV is scheduled to play next on Friday at Cal Baptist. This story will be updated with more information as it is released.