Softball Coaching Staff
Tim Hill
Head
Softball Coach
hill3383@pacificu.edu
Now in his seventh season leading the Pacific softball program, Tim Hill has succeeded in re-building the Boxers into a power at the conference, regional and national levels.
In 2008, Hill led a talented blend of veterans and newcomers into one of the most successful teams in the history of the program. The Boxers finished with a 31-9, coming one short of the school record for victories. Pacific finished second in the conference to then-defending national champion Linfield with a 20-8 mark, the best finish for a Boxers' softball squad since 1998, and remained in contention for a NCAA Division III playoff berth until the season's final weekend.
Hill saw 10 of his players named to the All-Northwest Conference Team, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the entire roster. The list was led by a third first team selection for Caitlin Mastenbroek as well as first team selections for pitcher Miranda McNealy, outfielder Kristen Croxford and utility player Carrie Maerz. In addition, McNealy, Mastenbroek and Croxford was selected to NCFA All-West Region teams and Mastenbroek and Whittaker were selected to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.
A year earlier, Hill led the 2007 Boxers through a season of adversity to their best campaign in a decade. Despite not playing a home game due to construction of their new facility at Lincoln Park, Pacific posted a 25-13 record, which included a 14-game win streak and a run of 24 wins in 26 games. The Boxers' 25 wins and their third place Northwest Conference finish were the best for the team since joining NCAA Division III in the 1999 season. The campaign also yielded seven All-NWC selections, including first team pitcher Miranda McNealy and all but one member of the Boxers' infield.
During his six-year tenure with Pacific, Hill has had over 30 players named to All-Northwest Conference teams, including 10 first team picks. Since arriving at Pacific, Hill has seen the Boxers improve by 21 wins over 2002. His teams have won 20 more games four of his six seasons and finished with 15 or more conference victories three times.
The 2001 Northwest Conference Coach of the Year and national champion club coach is excited to be a part of Pacific's strong softball tradition. "While we've been successful in re-establishing a winning program at Pacific, our goal is to elevate the program to where we will annually compete for conference championships, as was Pacific's tradition in the past," Hill said.
Hill came to Pacific in the summer of 2002 after two seasons at rival George Fox University. He is credited with turning around the Bruin softball program despite a limited number of players. Hill amassed a 25-31-2 record in his two seasons, including a 16-14-2 record and a fourth place NWC finish in 2001. The improvement netted Hill the conference's Coach of the Year honor.
In addition to Hill's nine years of college coaching experience, he has over 25 years of success as a coach at the club level. Hill coached seven of his Amateur Softball Association (ASA) teams to Oregon state championships and guided 14 teams to the ASA National Tournament.
Hill retired in 2004 as the head coach of the highly successful Oregon Sun Supply ASA team. In his 25 years with the program, Hill led Sun Supply to a 1029-326 record. In 2002, Sun Supply captured the U-16 national championship with an 8-0 record at the ASA National Tournament. Sun Supply also garnered a fifth place national finish in 1995 and third place finishes in 1997 and 2001.
In 2005, Hill and Pacific softball assistant coach Paul Sabah were inducted into the Oregon Chapter of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame in recognition of their work with the Sun Supply program.
Prior to his stint at George Fox, Hill served one season as an assistant softball coach at Beaverton High School. He is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association and the Oregon State Softball Association.
Hill is a 1968 graduate of Portland State with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting. He retired in 2000 after a 30-year career with Willamette Industries. He lives in Beaverton with his wife of 36 years, Elaine, and has two grown children and two grandchildren.
Dennis Keller
Assistant
Softball Coach
Assistant coach Dennis Keller is in his seventh season at Pacific and his ninth season as a collegiate coach, all of them with Head Coach Tim Hill. During the season, Keller's offensive focus is with the Boxer hitters and he handles the outfielders on defense.
Keller is an accomplished softball coach in his own right. He joined Hill in the college ranks after a successful six year run as the head softball coach at Beaverton High School. Keller compiled a 116-56 record, winning two Metro League championships and the Oregon 4A state championship in 1997.
Keller was honored during the Beavers' championship season as the Metro League Coach of the Year and the Oregon High School Coaches Association's Coach of the Year.
A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Keller earned six letters as a member of his high school's basketball and baseball teams. He earned his associate's degree from Portland Community College. Keller is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the Oregon High School Coaches Association.
Keller lives in Beaverton with his wife, Nancy. They are the parents of three children, Kelsey, 27, Traci, 26, and David, 23.
Paul Sabah
Assistant
Softball Coach
Paul Sabah is in his seventh season as an assistant coach at Pacific, and his ninth as an assistant coach in a Tim Hill coached college program. In addition, Sabah assisted for 25 years with Oregon Sun Supply ASA program before retiring in 2004.
In 2005, Sabah and fellow Pacific Head Softball Coach Tim Hill were inducted into the Oregon Chapter of the American Softball Association Hall of Fame in recognition of their work with the Sun Supply program.
Sabah, who lettered in baseball during his high school athletic career, followed Hill to Forest Grove following two seasons as an assistant coach at George Fox University in Newberg. He also has 15 years of experience as a fastpitch softball player himself, participating with various club teams.
Sabah is married and lives in Milwaukie. He is the father of two children, and enjoys spending time with his two grandchildren.