University of Delaware Athletics
Track & Field
Hill, Darrell
Darrell Hill
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- darrellh@udel.edu
Olympian Darrell Hill joined the track & field program serving as an assistant coach ahead of the 2023-24 season responsible for the oversight of throws event group with his appointment. On Oct. 3, 2024, Hill was promoted to associate head coach, continuing his work with the throws event group.
The 2025 season proved to be a big step in the right direction for Hill and the throws group. He helped Olamide Ayeni and Emarie Jackson qualify for the NCAA East Region First Round. Ayeni is the first CAA Champion under Hill, as she won the discus throw. Jackson broke the program record in the shot put and finished second overall in the event at the CAA Championships. Additionally, five throws athletes earned podium finishes at the outdoor CAA Championships.Â
In his first year with the Blue & Gold, Hill served as the assistant coach primarily working with the throws event group and multi student-athletes. During the outdoor season, he assisted in developing multi-event athlete Alicia Lehman-Woodyard, who earned the heptathlon bronze medal and All-CAA honors at the 2024 CAA Outdoor Championships. Lehman-Woodyard currently holds the school record in the heptathlon.
Hill also coached three student-athletes—Kosie Nkwonta, Mackenzie Stephens, and Sarah Sharp—who made significant marks in UD's history books. He helped guide the 2023-24 squad to a ninth-place finish at the CAA Outdoor Championships and saw two student-athletes, Halima Scott and Sarah Daniels, advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships First Rounds.
The Blue Hens have also enjoyed success in the classroom as a total of 71 cross country/track & field student-athletes have been named to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll since Hill's arrival to Newark.
Hill made his arrival to Newark after an illustrious career competing at the highest levels. Hill has been a dedicated professional athlete since 2016, representing the United States competing in the shot put and discus throw. Most recently, Hill saw action at the PA Powerfest 2023 in Fleetwood, Pa. on Aug. 11, where he threw the shot put for 21.28 meters. Hill also competed at the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., a stage he and alum javelin thrower Megan Albamonti shared, and he launched the shot put for 21.38 meters.Â
Hill’s crowning achievement was representing the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, solidifying his place as an Olympian finishing in 12th place. Hill achieved his personal-best mark of 22.44 meters in 2017 at Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme in Belgium to win the Diamond League Championship. This mark ranks him 15th all-time in the shot put. Hill is currently training for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hill's venture into NCAA Division I coaching began during the 2015-16 season, where he served as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Pennsylvania State University. This experience allowed him to refine his coaching skills while contributing to technical analysis, video review and team travel. Hill's dedication to the sport was further evident in his role as an ability athletics intern, where he worked closely with athletes with disabilities, offering coaching support and assisting with event coordination.
A standout in his collegiate days, Hill boasts an impressive record from his time competing for Penn State's track & field program. He currently holds the Penn State indoor and outdoor shot put school record with a best throw of 20.51 meters and 20.86 meters, respectively, along with a discus throw of 50.20 meters and a weight throw of 19.12 meters.
Hill, a proud native of Philadelphia, Pa., earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education, Rehabilitation & Human Services in 2015.
Hill’s accolades include:
The 2025 season proved to be a big step in the right direction for Hill and the throws group. He helped Olamide Ayeni and Emarie Jackson qualify for the NCAA East Region First Round. Ayeni is the first CAA Champion under Hill, as she won the discus throw. Jackson broke the program record in the shot put and finished second overall in the event at the CAA Championships. Additionally, five throws athletes earned podium finishes at the outdoor CAA Championships.Â
In his first year with the Blue & Gold, Hill served as the assistant coach primarily working with the throws event group and multi student-athletes. During the outdoor season, he assisted in developing multi-event athlete Alicia Lehman-Woodyard, who earned the heptathlon bronze medal and All-CAA honors at the 2024 CAA Outdoor Championships. Lehman-Woodyard currently holds the school record in the heptathlon.
Hill also coached three student-athletes—Kosie Nkwonta, Mackenzie Stephens, and Sarah Sharp—who made significant marks in UD's history books. He helped guide the 2023-24 squad to a ninth-place finish at the CAA Outdoor Championships and saw two student-athletes, Halima Scott and Sarah Daniels, advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships First Rounds.
The Blue Hens have also enjoyed success in the classroom as a total of 71 cross country/track & field student-athletes have been named to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll since Hill's arrival to Newark.
Hill made his arrival to Newark after an illustrious career competing at the highest levels. Hill has been a dedicated professional athlete since 2016, representing the United States competing in the shot put and discus throw. Most recently, Hill saw action at the PA Powerfest 2023 in Fleetwood, Pa. on Aug. 11, where he threw the shot put for 21.28 meters. Hill also competed at the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., a stage he and alum javelin thrower Megan Albamonti shared, and he launched the shot put for 21.38 meters.Â
Hill’s crowning achievement was representing the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, solidifying his place as an Olympian finishing in 12th place. Hill achieved his personal-best mark of 22.44 meters in 2017 at Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme in Belgium to win the Diamond League Championship. This mark ranks him 15th all-time in the shot put. Hill is currently training for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hill's venture into NCAA Division I coaching began during the 2015-16 season, where he served as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Pennsylvania State University. This experience allowed him to refine his coaching skills while contributing to technical analysis, video review and team travel. Hill's dedication to the sport was further evident in his role as an ability athletics intern, where he worked closely with athletes with disabilities, offering coaching support and assisting with event coordination.
A standout in his collegiate days, Hill boasts an impressive record from his time competing for Penn State's track & field program. He currently holds the Penn State indoor and outdoor shot put school record with a best throw of 20.51 meters and 20.86 meters, respectively, along with a discus throw of 50.20 meters and a weight throw of 19.12 meters.
Hill, a proud native of Philadelphia, Pa., earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education, Rehabilitation & Human Services in 2015.
Hill’s accolades include:
- United States Olympian 2016
- 3x World Championship Finalist
- USA Champion
- Diamond League Champion
- USATF Thrower of the Year 2018
- 3x NCAA All-American
- 15th ranked Shot Putter All-Time (22.44m)
- 3x Big Ten Conference Champion
- 2x Mid-Atlantic Field Athlete of the Year
- Big Ten Field Athlete of The Year
- Big Ten Sportsman of the Year
"Darrell Hill is a great hire for The University of Delaware Track and Field Program. He was a fantastic leader for our program, has competed at the highest level while in college and as a professional and I know he is eager to get into the coaching ranks. That eagerness will go a long way in recruiting as will his personality! He will help the program at Delaware continue to compete at the highest level." - John Gondak, Penn State Head Track & Field/Cross Country Coach
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