Women's Basketball
Hillsman, Quentin
Quentin Hillsman
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- qjhillsm@syr.edu
- Phone:
- 3761
Quentin Hillsman has transformed the Orange women’s basketball program into a national championship contender. Hillsman took over a program that went 28-55 in the three seasons prior to his appointment and has since guided the Orange to unprecedented heights.
In his 15 seasons at the helm, Syracuse boasts an impressive résumé, which includes 13 consecutive postseason appearances, eight trips to the NCAA Tournament, 19 all-conference selections, five All-Americans, and four WNBA Draft picks. Under Hillsman, the Orange own a 319-169 overall record, averaging nearly 20 victories per season. Hillsman is the all-time winningest coach in school history.
Hillsman won his 300th game as Syracuse's head coach on Feb. 9 in an upset win over No. 6 Louisville at the Carrier Dome. The Orange posted a 16-15 overall record before the season ended prior to the postseaosn due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kiara Lewis was named All-ACC First Team and led the Orange with 17.6 points per game. The Orange earned bacl-to-back overtime wins to start the home ACC slate defeating No. 8 Florida State and Notre Dame on Jan. 2 and 5, respectively. The win over the Irish was the first in over 20 years and Hillsman's first victory over Irish head coach Muffett McGraw.
The Orange put together one of the most successful regular seasons in program history in Hillsman's 13th year on The Hill. He led Syracuse to the NCAA Tournament Second Round and best tournament seed (No. 3) in program history. Syracuse was ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Top-25 all season long peaking as high as No. 12. The Orange collected five wins over nationally-ranked opponents, had the No. 3 strength of schedule in the country and was top-10 in the RPI. Mangakahia earned AP and WBCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades while being named the ECAC Player of the Year, All-ACC First Team for a second-straight season and was a Nancy Lieberman Finalist.
In 2017-18, Hillsman guided Syracuse to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth-straight season. The Orange finished 22-9 overall and held a 10-6 record in the nation's best conference, the Atlantic Coast. Tiana Mangakahia led the nation in assists and assists per game en route to earning All-ACC First Team honors while two freshman, Digna Strautmane and Amaya Finklea-Guity, were All-ACC Freshman Team selections.
The 2015-16 campaign put Syracuse on the national map. The Orange advanced to its first Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and national final in their history. Syracuse set program records with five wins against nationally-ranked foes, 13 conference victories, 23 regular-season wins, and 30 overall victories. Following its run to the national final, Syracuse was ranked third in the final USA Today Coaches Poll.
Hillsman's impact as the head coach of the Orange program was immediate. In only his second season in 2007-08, he guided Syracuse to a 22-9 overall record and its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in school history. SU climbed into the national rankings for the first time in history, checking in as high as No. 21 in the country in the Associated Press Poll. Hillsman was recognized as the 2008 BIG EAST Coach of the Year.
Hillsman has built a strong reputation as one of the top recruiters in women’s collegiate basketball. Eleven of the past 12 recruiting classes have been touted as top-25 classes nationally by the Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. In addition, the school’s first six McDonald’s All-Americans have all been recruited and played under Hillsman.
Prior to being elevated to the position of head coach of the Orange program on Oct. 17, 2006, Hillsman spent one year as an assistant coach on the staff. His collegiate coaching tenure also includes stops at Alabama, American, Siena, and St. Mary’s (Md.). Hillsman also coached at the high school level, leading the Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C., Laurinburg Institute (N.C.), and Newport School in Silver Spring, Md.
Hillsman also has coached on the international level. Beginning in 2011, Hillsman began serving as an assistant coach for various Dutch junior national teams. He has served as an assistant coach for the Netherlands U19 national team in each of its last two trips to the FIBA U19 World Championships in 2013 and 2015.
A native of Suitland, Md., Hillsman graduated from St. Mary’s College (Md.) in 1993 after a standout playing career with the Seahawks. He led the squad to two Capital Athletic Conference championships and one conference tournament title, earning all-conference accolades and setting the school’s single-game and single-season assist records. Hillsman studied sport management at the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Ala. from 1994-96, as well.
He, his wife, Shandrist, and their sons, Kyan and Harlem, reside in Jamesville.
In his 15 seasons at the helm, Syracuse boasts an impressive résumé, which includes 13 consecutive postseason appearances, eight trips to the NCAA Tournament, 19 all-conference selections, five All-Americans, and four WNBA Draft picks. Under Hillsman, the Orange own a 319-169 overall record, averaging nearly 20 victories per season. Hillsman is the all-time winningest coach in school history.
Hillsman won his 300th game as Syracuse's head coach on Feb. 9 in an upset win over No. 6 Louisville at the Carrier Dome. The Orange posted a 16-15 overall record before the season ended prior to the postseaosn due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kiara Lewis was named All-ACC First Team and led the Orange with 17.6 points per game. The Orange earned bacl-to-back overtime wins to start the home ACC slate defeating No. 8 Florida State and Notre Dame on Jan. 2 and 5, respectively. The win over the Irish was the first in over 20 years and Hillsman's first victory over Irish head coach Muffett McGraw.
The Orange put together one of the most successful regular seasons in program history in Hillsman's 13th year on The Hill. He led Syracuse to the NCAA Tournament Second Round and best tournament seed (No. 3) in program history. Syracuse was ranked in the Associated Press (AP) Top-25 all season long peaking as high as No. 12. The Orange collected five wins over nationally-ranked opponents, had the No. 3 strength of schedule in the country and was top-10 in the RPI. Mangakahia earned AP and WBCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades while being named the ECAC Player of the Year, All-ACC First Team for a second-straight season and was a Nancy Lieberman Finalist.
In 2017-18, Hillsman guided Syracuse to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth-straight season. The Orange finished 22-9 overall and held a 10-6 record in the nation's best conference, the Atlantic Coast. Tiana Mangakahia led the nation in assists and assists per game en route to earning All-ACC First Team honors while two freshman, Digna Strautmane and Amaya Finklea-Guity, were All-ACC Freshman Team selections.
The 2015-16 campaign put Syracuse on the national map. The Orange advanced to its first Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and national final in their history. Syracuse set program records with five wins against nationally-ranked foes, 13 conference victories, 23 regular-season wins, and 30 overall victories. Following its run to the national final, Syracuse was ranked third in the final USA Today Coaches Poll.
Hillsman's impact as the head coach of the Orange program was immediate. In only his second season in 2007-08, he guided Syracuse to a 22-9 overall record and its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in school history. SU climbed into the national rankings for the first time in history, checking in as high as No. 21 in the country in the Associated Press Poll. Hillsman was recognized as the 2008 BIG EAST Coach of the Year.
Hillsman has built a strong reputation as one of the top recruiters in women’s collegiate basketball. Eleven of the past 12 recruiting classes have been touted as top-25 classes nationally by the Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. In addition, the school’s first six McDonald’s All-Americans have all been recruited and played under Hillsman.
Prior to being elevated to the position of head coach of the Orange program on Oct. 17, 2006, Hillsman spent one year as an assistant coach on the staff. His collegiate coaching tenure also includes stops at Alabama, American, Siena, and St. Mary’s (Md.). Hillsman also coached at the high school level, leading the Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C., Laurinburg Institute (N.C.), and Newport School in Silver Spring, Md.
Hillsman also has coached on the international level. Beginning in 2011, Hillsman began serving as an assistant coach for various Dutch junior national teams. He has served as an assistant coach for the Netherlands U19 national team in each of its last two trips to the FIBA U19 World Championships in 2013 and 2015.
A native of Suitland, Md., Hillsman graduated from St. Mary’s College (Md.) in 1993 after a standout playing career with the Seahawks. He led the squad to two Capital Athletic Conference championships and one conference tournament title, earning all-conference accolades and setting the school’s single-game and single-season assist records. Hillsman studied sport management at the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Ala. from 1994-96, as well.
He, his wife, Shandrist, and their sons, Kyan and Harlem, reside in Jamesville.
| Year | Overall Record | Conf. Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 9-20 | 3-13 | |
| 2007-08 | 22-9 | 10-6 | NCAA Tournament First Round |
| 2008-09 | 17-15 | 5-11 | WNIT Second Round |
| 2009-10 | 25-11 | 7-9 | WNIT Quarterfinals |
| 2010-11 | 25-10 | 9-7 | WNIT Quarterfinals |
| 2011-12 | 22-15 | 6-10 | WNIT Semifinals |
| 2012-13 | 24-8 | 11-5 | NCAA Tournament First Round |
| 2013-14 | 23-10 | 10-6 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| 2014-15 | 22-10 | 11-5 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| 2015-16 | 30-8 | 13-3 | NCAA Tournament Final |
| 2016-17 | 22-11 | 11-5 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| 2017-18 | 22-9 | 10-6 | NCAA Tournament First Round |
| 2018-19 | 25-9 | 11-5 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| 2019-20 | 16-15 | 9-9 | |
| 2020-21 | 15-9 | 9-7 | NCAA Tournament Second Round |
| Total | 319-169 (.653) | 135-107 (.557) |
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