The American Football Coaches Association announced today that Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill was chosen to participate in the 2019 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. The prestigious program is aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession.

This year’s class of 35 head coaches was chosen from a field of hundreds of under-35-year-old head coach applicants from all levels of high school and college. Applicants were required to submit a resume, five references, and a 1,600-word article or five-minute live instructional video on an Offensive, Defensive, Special Teams, or position-specific topic of the applicant’s choosing.

Hill, age 33, recently completed his third season as head coach at his alma mater. The Salukis had one of the nation’s premier offenses in 2018, averaging 30 points per game and 431 yards per contest. Southern’s offense featured a 1,000-yard rusher in D.J. Davis and a pair of receivers — Raphael Leonard and Landon Lenoir — who combined for 105 catches and nine touchdowns.

Selected participants will attend a one-day institute that features a curriculum of interactive lectures focused on topics specifically tailored to emphasize leadership in the coaching profession, ethics, influential responsibilities, career progression, and family balance. The AFCA 2019 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute will take place on Sunday, January 6, at the AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.