Brian Hills
Brian Hills was an outstanding high school and college athlete, winning numerous honors including a state runner-up medal in wrestling at Reynolds. But it was in coaching where he leaves a special Hall of Fame mark on Mercer County.
In 25 years as head wrestling coach at his alma mater, Reynolds — before his retirement after the 2010-11 season — his teams posted 8 state team championships, as well as numerous other titles at section, district and region levels. He coached 17 individual state champions. His teams posted a sensational 370-39-1 record. He was honored as state coach of the year 3 times.
He graduated from Reynolds in 1975. He lettered in football 3 times and was team captain his senior year. He was All-Northwest Conference and All-Mercer County his junior and senior years as running back and linebacker. He led the team to the Northwest Conference championship. He was an Honorable Mention Big 33 nominee.
He was a 4-year letterman in wrestling and team captain in 1975. His high school record was 81-9-2. He was a two-time Section 3 and District 10 champion and Northwest Region champ his senior year after being runner-up as a junior. He lost in the state finals at 167 his senior year and was named Honorable Mention High School All-American.
He lettered 4 times in football and wrestling at Thiel College. He served as team captain of both squads. In wrestling he was a PAC champion in 1978, after runner-up finishes the previous two years. He was a two-time NCAA Division III Qualifier.
He coached the Reynolds varsity teams from 1987-2011. His teams won 23 section titles, 16 district crowns and 15 region championships. His squads won 10 District Dual Meet titles. They won 15 Mercer County Athletic Conference and 7 District 10 Region 1 crowns. His Raiders won 5 PIAA state titles and 3 dual meet state crowns. They totaled 6 runner-up finishes.
Hills was honored as National Wrestling Coaches Association Region 2 Coach of the Year and NWCA State Coach of the Year in 2006. He was section coach of the year 11 times and district coach of the year 7 times. He was inducted into the Thiel College Hall of Fame in 1998.