Alabama State renews contract of head coach Donald Hill-Eley

Andre Toran | Montgomery Advertiser

Show Caption Hide Caption ASU's Hill-Eley talks Turkey Day Classic ASU head football coach Donald Hill-Eley talks days leading up Turkey Day Classic and what the games means for his senior class.

Alabama State University renewed the contract of head football coach Donald Hill-Eley late Friday night according to a university news release.

According to a Freedom of Information request the Montgomery Advertiser obtained in 2018, if renewed, Hill-Eley's contract would be extended from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020, for the same annual base salary — which was a yearly total of $185,000.

However, at this moment no contractual details on Hill-Eley's renewal have been released. In addition, Hill-Eley and athletic director Jennifer Lynne Williams were not available for comment.

Hill-Eley entered the 2019 season on the final year of a two-year deal that was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2019, after taking over as interim coach five games in the 2017 season.

At the time of his promotion, Hill-Eley inherited an 0-5 team and was able to turn that season around with a 5-1 finish. However, over his past two seasons Hill-Eley led the Hornets to a 4-7 record in 2018 and a 5-6 finish this season.

Of the 28 games Hill-Eley was at the helm, he finished with an even 14-14 record and was 11-8 in SWAC play.

This season, the Hornets fell just short of posting their first winning season since 2015 following a tough 20-17 loss in the season finale versus Prairie View A&M.

Nevertheless, the future is now for Hill-Eley and company as he will be granted another opportunity to get this program back on track.

"I think we have hit the turning point of the program," Hill-Eley said. "Where week in and week out we are going to be able to compete with the upper echelon, not only in this conference but with those that are playing football at this level."

To be updated.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Andre Toran at 334-322-4631 or AToran@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndreToran.

ASU Football:

ASU coach Hill-Eley's contract set to expire in December; players make pitch for return

Before final game, ASU's Hill-Eley says Hornets are on the brink of glory in 2020

Two years: A look at ASU coach Hill-Eley's contract