Mike Hill ’97 To Succeed Bob DeFelice as Baseball Coach

With the start of his 54th season days away, Bentley University baseball Coach Bob DeFelice announced today that this will be his final spring leading the Falcons.

Vaughn Williams, who followed DeFelice as Bentley’s director of Athletics in September 2020, announced that Mike Hill ’97, a former Falcon All-America and longtime assistant to DeFelice, will succeed him. DeFelice is the longest tenured college baseball coach in the country.

“It’s been a privilege to be the head baseball coach here at Bentley for more than 50 years,” said DeFelice, 79. “I’ve been able to coach many outstanding young men and am proud to witness the success they’ve had in their careers and lives.”

“We are indebted to Coach DeFelice for his tireless service,” said Williams. “The profound impact he has had on Bentley athletics, along with being the only head coach of our baseball program for more than a half-century, is an amazing accomplishment. No words can express how grateful we are for his leadership, commitment and loyalty to impacting the lives of those who have played baseball at Bentley.

“There is no better choice to succeed Coach DeFelice than Mike Hill,” continued Williams. “I have the utmost confidence that Coach Hill is ready to lead the program into the future. I‘m truly excited for our players, alums and Bentley athletics.”

“It’s an honor to be named the next head coach of Bentley University baseball,” said Hill. “This program is like no other. We’ve had one legendary leader in the 54-year history of the program, Coach DeFelice. I would not be where I am today without him, both personally and professionally. He has been a great mentor for me as both a player and coach.”

DeFelice, who doubled as director of Athletics from 1991-2020, has guided the baseball program since its inaugural season in 1969. With his final season to go, Coach DeFelice has amassed 831 career wins, a total that ranks third in New England Division II history and 14th nationally among active Division II head coaches, and has had the honor of coaching more than 500 student-athletes.

Hill, a Bentley assistant baseball coach since 2001, was a standout player for the Falcons from 1994-97 and is considered by many to be the greatest player in program history. The East Bridgewater native and Mansfield resident is the program's all-time leader in home runs (43), total bases (387), RBI (191) and slugging percentage (.763), and his .379 career batting average ranks second in school history.

“I am so proud to be able to lead this program that has meant so much to me,” said Hill. “I played here, earned my degree here, and grew up here.  For my entire adult life, Bentley baseball has been a constant for me. I plan to continue the great legacy Coach DeFelice built, while ushering in a new era of Bentley baseball that can build on the foundation that has been created here.”

When he officially takes the helm, Hill will become the sixth current Falcon head coach who is a Bentley graduate, following Taylor Bastien ’13 (women’s lacrosse), Bill Kavanaugh ’04 (football), Ryan Soderquist ’00 (hockey), Jessica Spencer ’97 (field hockey) and C White ’01 (women’s basketball).