Cleo Hill Jr. leaves Winston-Salem St. for Md. Eastern Shore

WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

Cleo Hill Jr., who won a pair of CIAA basketball titles over six seasons at Winston-Salem State, is the new coach at Maryland Eastern Shore of the MEAC.

Cleo Hill Jr., who rebuilt Winston-Salem State into one of the CIAA’s top basketball programs, is moving on.

Hill resigned Saturday to take the head coach job at Maryland Eastern Shore after six seasons with the Rams that included a pair of CIAA titles (2020, 2023) and conference coach of the year. Hill takes over a program that went 9-20, including 4-10 mark in the MEAC. The Hawks have managed just two winning seasons in the last 10 years, most recently in 2022-23 when they went 18-13.

“I am ready for the opportunity to lead our men’s basketball program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore,” Hill said in a statement. “I appreciate the campus community, President Heidi M. Anderson, Vice President Tara Owens and the search committee for their efforts throughout the hiring process. My past experiences and success as well as my passion for building programs have prepared me for this next step in my coaching career. Our goal is to build Hawk basketball into a perennial championship contender while winning in the classroom and positively representing UMES in the community.”

In his final season with WSSU, the Rams scored an average of 70.3 points per game, finished second in the CIAA in scoring defense at 63.3 points per game, and was first in scoring margin (7.5).

“I want to thank Coach Hill for returning to his roots from childhood to lead the WSSU Men’s Basketball Team and etching his place in the history books of WSSU men’s basketball while preserving the legacy, excellence, traditions, and championship success of those who came before him,” athletic director Etienne Thomas said in a statement.  “I am thankful to have had the opportunity to serve with someone who put the well-being of the student-athletes first, was coachable, and was willing to pivot.”

Associate head coach Eric Wilson will take over as WSSU acting head coach while the school beings the search for a permanent replacement.

Hill was a successful CIAA coach before WSSU, going 116-67 over seven seasons at Shaw (2008-15). His best season with the Bears was 2011-12 season when they went 27-4 overall, 16-0 record in conference games and an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II tournament. Shaw advanced to the Atlantic Regional final and finished the season ranked fifth in the country.

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