James Hillis
Head Coach
Phone: (306) 585-4069
Email:
james.hillis@uregina.ca
The 2009-10 season will mark James Hillis’ 16th season as the University of Regina men’s basketball head coach. The Cougars have had some of their most successful seasons during Hillis’ time at the U of R, including a 16-win season during the 2005-06 campaign and three Canada West Final Four appearances in the past seven years.
The winningest coach in U of R history, Hillis has amassed 139 conference wins and 27 playoff victories over the first 15 seasons of his coaching career. He has coached three All-Canadians (Kevin Gilroy, Dale Holmes, and Brenan Schwartz), four conference rookies of the year (Alek Arsenic, Steve Kummerfield, Jeff Lukomski, and Chris Warnecke), four Canada West all-stars (Kris Heshka, Joel Hunter, Brenan Schwartz, and Tyler Wright), and 17 Great Plains Athletic Conference all-stars. Hillis was named GPAC Coach of the Year three times while with the U of R.
Before coaching at the U of R, Hillis served as the head coach of the Brandon Bobcats during the 1993-94 season, guiding the Bobcats to a 14-4 GPAC record and an appearance in the CIS Championship. He was also named the 1994 GPAC Coach of the Year. Hillis also served as an assistant coach at the University of Victoria under Guy Vetrie in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Hillis, an NCCP-certified Level 4 coach, served as an assistant coach under Jay Triano for the Canadian National Team in 1999. He was also the head coach for Team Saskatchewan's bronze medal-winning team at the Canada Summer Games in 2005.
Hillis is currently in his second year serving as the president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He is also a coach with the Regina Community Basketball Association.
Prior to his coaching career, Hillis was a high-scoring guard for the Cougars during the mid-1980s. He played for five seasons, scoring a total of 886 points and averaging 11.1 points per game over his career. Hillis’ best season came in 1986-87, when he scored 295 points and averaged 18.4 points per game.
Hillis and his wife Darlene have four children (Samuel, Benjamin, Gabrielle, and Zachary).
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