“Build the Hill” has been a motto for Richmond Hill High School (RHHS) Athletics for the last decade—but over time, it’s become more than just a slogan. It’s a mindset, a mission, and a movement that starts with our youth and continues through generations of Wildcats who live, work, and give back in Richmond Hill.

More Than a Game

I remember the moment it really clicked. Head Football Coach, Matt LeZotte, was talking to a group of 7- and 8-year-olds I was coaching at the time. He looked at them and said, “Aren’t we all students in the game of life? Let’s do this together… let’s Build the Hill.” Then he added something that still sticks with me, “You can control two things in this game, your attitude and your effort. Not the weather, not the kid on the bus—just you and your commitment to being the best you can be.”

That’s the essence of Build the Hill. It’s about developing character and commitment—on and off the field.

Role Models in Our Backyard

The culture of Building the Hill is embodied by those who’ve poured years—some even decades—into coaching and mentoring Richmond Hill’s student-athletes. Coaches like:

Bill Henderson and Sarah (Brown) Jones, head basketball coaches who just wrapped their 13th and 12th seasons respectively, both Richmond Hill natives who have led with consistency and passion.

Chris Willis, a RHHS graduate from the ’90s who coached middle school baseball for more than 20 years and is now helping lead the high school team.

Randell Boone, a local legend who’s been teaching and coaching for 33 years, most of those in the Bryan County School System, currently heading up RHMS Golf.

These are just a few of the many leaders who’ve been laying the foundation—brick by brick.

Full Circle Moments

Some of the most inspiring stories come from former Wildcats who went off to college, then came back home to keep building the Hill.

Coach Josh Davis, Class of 2009, returned in 2017 to join the RHHS football staff. He said it best, “I’ve always believed we were put on this Earth to serve. My wife and I made a pact that our kids would grow up to the buzz of the lights in a gym, the dirt of an infield in the spring, or under the Friday Night Lights in the fall. Coming back to Richmond Hill gave me the ability to serve the young people in my community and give my daughters a chance to love the same place I grew up in.”

Coach Caleb Tanner, Class of 2020, now an assistant football and flag football coach at RHMS, was part of the 2019 RHHS team that made it to the state semifinals. He reflects, “I am a product of what it means to ‘Build the Hill.” I came back to coach in Richmond Hill because I knew that a culture of success was being built here, and I wanted to be part of it. I want my players to feel the same passion and love for Richmond Hill that changed my life.”

It Starts Early

“Building the Hill” doesn’t begin in high school—it starts with youth sports, recreation leagues, and volunteer coaches who light the first spark.

A Football Redemption Story

In December 2024, the 12U Richmond Hill Wildcats Football Team won the GRPA State Championship with a perfect 15-0 record, outscoring opponents 509-20. But that victory was two years in the making.

Back in 2022, this same group—coached by Kelvin Brown—came within seconds of an undefeated season and a state title, only to fall short on a last-minute run by Carrollton.

Coach Brown reunited the team in spring 2024. “Sometimes you must fail to fuel your desire to succeed,” he told them. “We’re not losing again if we make it to the chip!”

Most players juggled middle school football and 12U commitments, showing up early and working hard. Their discipline paid off. Three teams quit at halftime. The Wildcats stormed through the Coastal Atlantic Association, toppled state powerhouses in district play, and shut out both Lee County and Thomson-McDuffie en route to a championship they’d earned in every way.

A Basketball Dream Realized

In March 2025, the 12U South Bryan Girls All-Star Team brought home a GRPA State Championship—just two years after a near miss in the 10U tournament.

Coaches Alex Tucker and Cory Sommers saw potential early. “The goal was to take a group of good individual players and turn them into a great team with dynamic chemistry,” said Coach Alex.

In 2024, they formed a travel team to build unity and gain experience. By 2025, 7 of the original 10 girls returned for the GRPA run. They beat the defending state runner-up Glynn Academy in their district opener and never looked back—blowing out every team in the state tournament by more than 25 points. Thomasville, Dublin-Laurens, Stephens County, and Summerville never stood a chance.

The Hill Keeps Rising

The future is bright. These young athletes are headed into middle and high school with memories that will last a lifetime—and lessons that will shape who they become.

As coaches, we hope every player leaves our teams a little better than they arrived—not just in skill, but in character, in discipline, and in confidence. Athletics is just a small piece of life, but the experiences gained through sports can echo far beyond the scoreboard.

The Hill is being built daily—brick by brick.