Talmadge Hill


Talmadge Layman "Marse" Hill was the head basketball coach and an assistant football coach at Morgan [State University football|Morgan State College], from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Early life

Hill was born in East Orange, New Jersey. He graduated from Morgan State College—now known as Morgan State University in 1928. Hill played college football for the Morgan State Bears. In a game versus Lincoln, he was tackled by a player from Lincoln's bench as he was streaking down the sideline for the apparent winning touchdown. Morgan eventually was awarded the touchdown and won the game. After his career at Morgan, Hill earned a master's degree at Columbia University and then returned to Morgan as a teacher and assistant coach in 1930. Hill was hired as a professor and taught biology.

Coaching career

Early in his coaching career at Morgan, Hill was the assistant to Edward P. Hurt in football, basketball and track. He took over head coaching responsibilities for the basketball team in 1948 and served as the head coach until 1960. Hill was described as a conservative coach and one who did not like "fancy" ball handlers playing for him.

Late life and death

Hill retired from coaching in 1964 and was named professor emeritus of health and physical education in 1972. He died on March 8, 1982, at Provident Hospital in Baltimore, after suffering a series of strokes.

Awards and honors

Image:Hill Field House.jpg|thumb|300px|The Talmadge L. Hill Fieldhouse on the campus of Morgan State University