Lincoln coach has tall task ahead of him

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — When John Hill was hired as the new head men's basketball coach at Lincoln University on Sept. 20th, he was well aware of most of the immediate challenges, which are significant.

With the season opener less than eight weeks away, Hill had a mountain of work to do and very little time to get it all done. He also knew that the program is completing the transition from Division III to Division II, and is beginning its first season as a member of a conference in nearly a half century. And to complicate matters, Hill is at the epicenter of the fallout resulting from NCAA violations within the program that occurred under his predecessor, Garfield Yuille.

Lincoln Men: Challenges await untested group

In a perfect world, the Lincoln men's basketball program would head into its first season as an active NCAA Division II and CIAA member with great stability among its players and coaching staff.

Instead, the Lions plunge into a new, more competitive era with a new coach -- hired less than two months ago — and with just five holdovers from last year's 4-22 squad. Much of the instability is the direct result of NCAA violations committed under previous head coach Garfield Yuille.

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