Rich Hills Volunteer Assistant       OU Coaching Staff

Rich Hills, a four-year starter for the Sooners in the early 1990s and a key member of Oklahoma's National Championship team in 1994, has returned to the Sooner program for a second stint as a volunteer assistant coach.

Hills, a shortstop, originally played at OU from 1992 to 1995 and made three appearances in the College World Series (1992, 1994 and 1995) while current head coach Sunny Golloway was an assistant for the team.

Hills also played on the 1994 National Title team with Aric Thomas, who was named the Sooners assistant coach in July. Hills first worked on OU's staff during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, working with the hitters and infielders. He will assist in those same areas in the 2012 campaign.

The former Sooner was a three-time second team All-American as well as a three-time first team All-Big Eight and All-Region honoree. In 1993, he was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team.

He also played professional baseball for six years for the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres. In both stints, Hills was honored for his involvement in the community while with the Minor League Community Service Award.

Since 2001 Hills has provided private lessons in both baseball and softball for kids of all ages and in all areas of the game.

Born in Garden Grove, Calif., Hills graduated from OU with a bachelor's in sociology. He now resides in Oklahoma City with his wife, Tara, and two kids, Graysen and Dakota.