Jefferson County boys basketball coach Andy Hill faces DUI charges, suspension

Jefferson County boys basketball coach Andy Hill was charged with a DUI and arrested after allegedly hitting three vehicles Tuesday night, according to the police report Knox News obtained from the Jefferson City Police Department.  

Hill has been suspended as coach, and assistant boys basketball coach Kyle Briggs will serve as the interim coach for the remainder of the season, Director of Schools Tommy Arnold told Knox News. 

After the season is completed, the school will re-evaluate its staff, Arnold said. 

Details from police report

An officer was dispatched for a vehicle driving west in the eastbound lane of US-11E at 6:52 p.m., according to the police report. At 6:56 p.m., the police were informed that there was a crash, involving an F-150 truck on 11E at East Old Andrew Johnson Highway, the report said. 

The officer went to Hill’s truck at the scene and “could immediately smell alcohol” from him and tell that “he was not coherent,” the report stated. When the officer walked toward Hill, he attempted to start his car to leave, but it wouldn’t start due to damage.

The officer took Hill’s keys out of the ignition after telling Hill to stop. Hill said, “Everything is fine,” according to the report. 

Hill had hit three vehicles and caused injuries to drivers in two of the vehicles, according to the report. One driver had blood on their face, appearing to break their nose and the other said they would go to the hospital because their neck and back hurt, the report stated.

The Jefferson City Fire Department checked Hill for injuries and stated he was cleared, the report stated.

Hill was unable to perform the standardized field sobriety tests because he couldn’t stand on his own and also was unable to answer simple questions, the report said. He was placed in the back of the officer's vehicle and taken to the Jefferson City Police Department.

Along with being charged with DUI, Hill was cited for reckless driving, failure to provide insurance, not exercising due care, providing no driver's license and driving on the wrong side of the roadway, the report stated. 

Background

Hill is in his second season as coach of Jefferson County after being hired in April 2022. His last job was as the boys basketball coach at Knoxville Central, where he was hired in May 2017. Before that, he spent two seasons at Carter, which was his first head coaching job.

The Patriots are 7-11 this season and had a 12-21 record in 2022-23.

Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email toyloy.brown@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly Twitter, @TJ3rd_.