Saguaro hires former Arizona State OC Zak Hill to take over football program

Zak Hill, who was the offensive coordinator at Arizona State just two years ago, will be taking over Scottsdale Saguaro's football program.

He will succeed Jason Mohns, who left to become tight ends coach under first-year ASU coach Kenny Dillingham. Mohns led the Sabercats the last 11 years to seven state championships, including the Open crown in 2021. Saguaro's last game under Mohns came at Sun Devil Stadium in December, a 28-21 setback to Chandler Basha.

Hill was part of a championship program at American Leadership Gilbert North this past season. The team captured the 4A title behind Northern Arizona-bound quarterback Adam Damante, who put up huge numbers (4,769 yards and 59 TDs passing with just three interceptions and 545 yards and seven TDs rushing).

Before that, Hill served as Herm Edwards' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2020 and '21. He resigned amid the NCAA investigation over alleged recruiting violations that saw several other coaches depart.

Hill has been reevaluating life since leaving ASU, wanting to make sure his wife and two children can find roots. The life of a college coach can get transient and always on the move, recruiting or otherwise.

"I'm at a different time in my life," Hill said. "My kids are getting older. I just feel like this is a great opportunity to be with a highly successful program. It's going to be fun getting into all of this."

Hill said his perspective has changed in the past year or so. His children are 6 and 9.

"Talking to my wife through this transition and everything that happened at ASU, I've been able to move up in the career world with college football, pushing at a high level and doing a lot of things," Hill said. "But there's a family toll that goes along with that. My kids understand now what a move is. Early on, it was, yeah, I go to Boise State or I go to ASU. They're young and they're just following mom and dad around, so it's not that big of a deal.

"As they're growing up now, 'How many more times do I want to move?' Those conversations are happening and really it's more about my family. And then being a part of a community, being a part of a program where you can really dig in and feel a lot of self-worth from that."

Hill steps into one of the nation's most visible high school football programs. Mohns was a part of 12 Saguaro state championships as either an assistant or the head coach. Mohns went 121-19 in his 11 seasons in charge of the Sabercats.

Mohns had input in selecting his successor.

"I think it's a terrific hire for Saguaro football and the Saguaro community," Mohns said. "Coach Hill has a plethora of experience at the college level, as well as the high school level. The people I know who have worked with him in the past could not say enough great things about him as both a coach and a man."

Mohns calls Saguaro a special place filled with amazing people.

"The foundation is in place for Coach Hill to come in and elevate the program to new heights," Mohns said. "I have already spoken to Zak and let him know that I will support him in any way I can in the future."

Saguaro scheduled a press conference Wednesday afternoon to introduce Hill.

Hill, a former college quarterback, was Boise State's offensive coordinator for four seasons before coming to ASU. In the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, ASU was among the top 20 in the nation in five offensive categories, including 12th in scoring offense.

Hill, a record-breaking college quarterback at Central Washington from 1999-2003, was an assistant at Hawaii and the passing-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for seven years at Eastern Washington, coaching some of the top Football Championship Subdivision quarterbacks, including Walter Payton Award finalists Vernon Adams Jr., and Matt Nichols.

He was the offensive coordinator at Hillsboro High in Oregon in 2006-07, before taking over as head coach in 2008, leading the team to the 5A playoffs.

ALA Gilbert North head coach Randy Ricedorff called Hill in his one season working with the Eagles a true pro, detailed oriented, well-organized and well-liked and respected by those inside and outside of his circle.

"Zak didn't come in and change what we do," Ricedorff said. "He simply came in and made what we do better.

"We were looking for a way to get over the semifinal hump from the two previous years (in 3A) and he helped us find a way. Our whole coaching staff is better with Zak's influence and our community holds a little more pride with the championship he helped us win."

The question is, wiill a college or maybe an NFL team come calling and tempt him?

"I believe it won't be long before we see Zak heading up a team in the NFL or college ranks as a head coach or OC," Ricedorff said. "He works hard to master his craft and he is one of the best I have ever coached with or against."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Saguaro hires former ASU OC Zak Hill to take over football program