A Family Legacy Takes the Field
McDowell County Schools announced on June 16 that Bill Hillier has been hired as the new head baseball coach and director of baseball operations, succeeding Alex Smith, who retired after a 19‑year tenure.
Hillier arrives after a long stint at Asheville High, where he has served as head coach since 2008, compiling a career record of 331‑175‑1 and capturing two Mountain Athletic Conference titles.
Prior to his current role, he was part of the coaching staffs at Duke, Wake Forest and UNC Asheville, bringing a breadth of experience from three prominent collegiate programs.
The move also reconnects Hillier with his family’s baseball roots; his father, Bill Hillier Sr., coached at UNC Asheville in the late 1990s and at Duke in the early 2000s, while his son, Bill Hillier III, starred for Asheville High before embarking on a Division I career.
Superintendent Tracy Grit praised Hillier’s proven ability to develop student‑athletes and build competitive programs, noting that his appointment aligns with the district’s commitment to educational athletics.