Hill leaving Arkansas for San Jose

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) _ Arkansas assistant head coach Fitz Hill will become the head coach at San Jose State University, Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said Monday. <br><br>Hill was not at the Razorbacks'

Tuesday, December 12th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) _ Arkansas assistant head coach Fitz Hill will become the head coach at San Jose State University, Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said Monday.

Hill was not at the Razorbacks' practice and Nutt said Hill would be officially named a news conference on Tuesday.

``I'm sorry to say and yet I'm happy for him to say that Fitz Hill is leaving us to take the job at San Jose State,'' Nutt said. ``We are very proud of him. We are going to miss him.

``Because of these players and this program, he is able to take a head (coaching) job. He has been here the longest of any of our assistants and has done a great job.''

Hill joined the Arkansas staff as a full-time assistant in 1992. He was a volunteer assistant coach at Arkansas in 1990 and 1991. He has been recruiting coordinator for three years and has coached wide receivers for the past eight years.

Nutt said Hill landing the job was a slight surprise.

``We talked earlier last week about that job,'' Nutt said. ``That was his goal. He didn't think it would happen this quick. He had in mind he would be here for two more years. They pursued him pretty hard and offered him a good package and he was ready to go. We will miss him.''

Nutt said Hill would be on the Arkansas sidelines when the Razorbacks play Nevada-Las Vegas in the Las Vegal Bowl on Dec. 21. Nutt said he would work with the receivers until the bowl game.

Hill will succeed Dave Baldwin, who had an 18-27 record in four seasons with the Spartans. More than a week ago, Baldwin turned down a three-year contract extension offer and said he wouldn't return to San Jose State's football program.

After three losing seasons from 1997-99, Baldwin led the Spartans to a 7-5 record in 2000, the school's first winning year since 1992. During his tenure, he openly clashed with athletic director Chuck Bell, who took over the department months after Baldwin was hired.

This year, San Jose State upset Stanford and ruined No. 9 Texas Christian's unbeaten season. The Spartans finished fourth in the Western Athletic Conference with a 5-3 record.

But the Spartans lost their final two games, including a 37-6 home defeat to Fresno State in their season finale that cost them a chance to play in the Silicon Valley Classic on New Year's Eve. San Jose State hasn't been to a bowl game since 1990.

After San Jose State upset TCU, Baldwin expressed displeasure that he hadn't been offered a new contract. He said he wanted a new four-year deal that would include financial compensation nearly double the $134,000 he made this season, as well as more money for his assistant coaches.

The school said it offered Baldwin a three-year contract with performance clauses that could have extended the deal to five years. It included a 20 percent increase in Baldwin's base salary, as well as a substantial bonus package and an increase in the funds available for assistants.

San Jose State vice president for administration and finance Don Kassing said the school's offer to Baldwin would have been worth $200,000 to $250,000 if certain performance incentives were reached.