Malcolm Hill has helped turn the Normandy basketball team into one of the area’s better programs and now he’ll try to do the same for the rest of the Vikings’ athletic teams. Hill was approved this week to become the school’s next athletics director.

“I went to school to be an assistant principal or athletic administrator and when the opportunity presented itself and I went for it,” Hill said. “I am going to miss coaching. I asked to be able to do both but I won’t be able to.”

Hill, who has worked as a social studies teacher, was the Vikings’ basketball coach for the last 10 seasons. Normandy went 20-6 this season, including an 18-game win streak, and won the school’s Christmas tournament for the first time in 32 years.

During Hill’s reign, the Vikings won four Suburban North Conference titles, one Suburban East Conference crown and one district championship. Hill, who was 175-80 at Normandy, is proud of what he accomplished during his time there.

“I took over a basketball program that was one of the losingest programs in the state,” Hill said. “They were 8-18 the two previous years before I took the job. It was a job that nobody really wanted. We had three people apply. We ended up turning them into a top 10-15 power every year.”

Hill replaces Jean Pate, who is retiring after 25 years working in the district, including the last seven as Normandy’s athletics director. He will start his new job on July 1 and help to pick his replacement.

Among the coaches expected to apply is Lawndale Thomas, who served as Hill’s top assistant coach. Thomas led the sophomore team to a 22-4 record this past season.