UAM Names Baseball, Women’s Basketball Coaches

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UAM Names Baseball, Women’s Basketball Coaches

Courtesy of
Media Services

The University of Arkansas at Monticello has named new head coaches in baseball and women’s basketball.

Ron Hill, head baseball coach at East Central (Okla.) University for the past 17 years, has been named head baseball coach at UAM. Chris Ratcliff, assistant women’s basketball coach at Henderson State University for the last three years, is the new coach of the Cotton Blossoms basketball team.

Photo is Courtesy of Media Services

From left to right: Alvy Early, Ron Hill, Chris Ratcliff, Jack Lassiter

“We’re excited to have both Ron Hill and Chris Ratcliff join our coaching staff,” said Alvy Early, director of athletics. “Ron is a veteran coach who built a solid program at East Central against tough competition in both the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference and the Lone Star Conference. Chris Ratcliff has been part of a winning program at Henderson State and has the energy and drive to bring our women’s basketball program back to the level our fans have come to expect.”

Hill, who took over the East Central baseball program in 1989, was the OIC coach of the year in 1993 and the Lone Star Conference North Division coach of the year in 2004, when he led the Tigers to the LSC North championship.

Since East Central joined the Lone Star Conference in 1995, Hill has coached 30 All-LSC players, 15 LSC All-Academic selections, the 2004 LSC pitcher and player of the year, and the 2005 LSC All-Academic player of the year.

A native of Broken Arrow, Okla., Hill holds a bachelor’s degree as well as master’s degrees in secondary education and secondary administration from East Central.

During Ratcliff’s tenure at Henderson State, the Lady Reddies became the state’s dominant program in women’s basketball at the Division II level. HSU advanced to the 2006 NCAA Division II Elite Eight, the 2005 Sweet 16, and the 2004 Final Four while winning the 2004 GSC championship and posting three consecutive seasons of more than 20 wins

Ratcliff was HSU’s primary recruiter and helped assemble the talent that included two Division II All-Americans, one Academic All-American, and six All-GSC selections.

Prior to joining the Henderson State staff, Ratcliff was the recruiting coordinator and top assistant at San Jacinto Junior College. During his four-year stint at the Houston JUCO, San Jacinto advanced to the NJCAA Region 14 Tournament in 2003 and 2004.

Ratcliff holds a bachelor’s degree from Henderson State and will receive a master’s degree in sports administration from HSU in August.

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