A man emerges from the mist, tennis racket in hand and baseball cap on head. An air of mystery surrounds him, and passersby crane their necks to catch a second glance. This man is none other than Robert “Rob” Hill, a Franklin legend. Sure, this scene may be going for dramatic effect, but the scenario isn’t implausible. Hill has recently transitioned into a new role as the Franklin women’s tennis coach, so it’s easy enough to catch him strolling through Portland’s typical tendrils of mist, carrying rackets or buckets of tennis balls to prepare for practice after school. Yet, even before the new coaching gig, he’s been a vital part of the Franklin community, taking on many roles over the years. Hill’s a former Franklin women’s basketball coach and a current adapted physical education (PE) teacher.
The path to Franklin was serendipitous, beginning with his childhood in Maine, where his PE teacher was also his coach. This made a deep impression on Hill, who recalls thinking, “I want to be that kind of teacher.” He attended Eastern Nazarene College in Boston to become a teacher but says he got into teaching “for all the wrong reasons.” He originally wanted to become a coach and saw teaching as the first step on that path. However, it’s become difficult for him to see himself doing anything else over time.
Partway through college, Hill realized that he wasn’t ready to be a student. As he describes it, “After finals in the spring, I packed my car; I had $900 to my name.” With his life in his car and gas receipts stacked on the dashboard, he finally hung up his keys in San Diego, where he whiled away the hours surfing and working. But eventually, it became “like Groundhog Day;” the monotony had gotten to him.
He once again shoved his life into a suitcase, transplanting to New York. It was in the Empire State that he met his wife after a NASCAR racing event. Though ironic — his wife hates NASCAR — this would alter the course of his life. He explains, “[My wife] never changed the person I am; she just made me find the good in the person I was.” Hill believes the personal growth she invoked in him is the reason he completed his education. After he and his wife moved to Texas, his brother-in-law encouraged him to finish schooling. So “on a whim,” they packed up, moving to Corvallis so he could graduate from Oregon State University with his master’s.
After around 20 years of work as a general education PE teacher, Hill applied to teach in Portland Public Schools in 2017 but was rejected. Then, he recalls, “I was fishing in Central Oregon on a Sunday, and somebody called me and said, we saw that you applied for a job in PPS and you didn’t get the job, but you have [an adapted PE] credential. Would you be interested in possibly looking into that work for PPS?” Hill never looked back.
This opportunity revived not just his career but his passion for his work as he feels he now learns something new every day. According to Hill, adapted PE teachers “help kids living with disabilities access their general education curriculum and physical education.” He works at 11 different schools, including Franklin. What he loves about this is “working with kids who see the world differently and seeing them getting excited about their success.”
It’s a similar sort of care that brought him to coaching, where he finds “seeing how far [the athletes] get themselves” to be the most rewarding part of the season. Athletes highlight that he plays a large part in their ability to advance in their sport. More specifically, Charlotte Storrs, the women’s basketball and volleyball team captain, emphasizes that Hill is “very positive yet also expects a lot from you,” a combination that has made him an impactful coach for many. Grace Joy, a varsity women’s tennis player and former basketball player under Hill, explains, “He kind of grew to be a celebrity among all Franklin athletes.” She remarks, “[He] stays with us late after practice to work on whatever we want.”
It’s not just athletes who express a deep appreciation for Hill. Alan Boschma, Franklin’s athletic director, states, “Rob does so much for this department and has become one of my closest friends.”
Boschma also highlights Hill’s selflessness, especially regarding his new coaching role. He explains, “[Hill] stepped up and has made an instant impact on [the women’s tennis] program.” Tennis player Justine Altman agrees: “He pushes us to be our best selves.” In addition, he was instrumental in coordinating volunteers for the Shamrock Run, ultimately raising $10,000 for the women’s tennis program. Though humble as ever, he attributes this achievement entirely to the players. Prior to coaching women’s tennis, Hill aided the Franklin women’s basketball team. Former Head Coach David Jaynes invited him, and he helped out for around two years, but eventually he decided he wanted to pursue other things. Despite their coaching careers diverging, the friendship has continued. In fact, when I questioned Hill about his favorite memory, Jaynes chimed in, “Wasn’t it meeting me?” Hill gracefully stayed silent.
After he made the decision to step back from coaching, Hill’s wife told him, “You gotta find something to do,” so he began to assist Franklin athletics more generally, attending all kinds of games and supporting student-athletes. He helps with event management and even filled in for the men’s tennis team when they needed a coach. He plans to continue as the women’s tennis coach for as long as it benefits the program.
When he’s not trekking around the Franklin premises, snacks in hand and a friendly smile on his face, you can find him — or rather, you probably can’t — in the wilderness. He’s an avid hiker and has been spending his free time on different parts of the Pacific Crest Trail. Last summer, he was only home for 72 hours. Hill’s main goal for the future is to continue this exploration. He states, “People have these visions of traveling all over the world; I’ve already done that. I just want to travel the [Pacific] Northwest.” He tends to travel with his dog, Bear, who gained 166 trail miles accompanying Hill last summer.
This love for the outdoors goes hand in hand with a love for all the time he’s spent outside with his family. His devotion to his wife and five kids is evident upon meeting him. He jumps at any opportunity to compliment them and states his favorite memory is “not a signature one moment, it’s a whole bunch of them you spend together as a family.”
In a wonderful parallel, Hill has spent many moments making Franklin feel more like a family. Boschma says, “He is selfless in how he treats people.” Yet, it’s not just his presence that’s a positive influence; his actions are also intentional. Hill states, “I hope Franklin finds its sense of community again,” and it’s clear he’s playing a large part in making that happen. Boschma sums Hill up perfectly: “He is a great coach and an even better person.”
