Roosevelt's Stanford Hill said Wednesday that he has been hired as the new Skyline boys basketball coach.

Hill led Roosevelt to the 2006 Class 3A state championship and was 217-157 in 12 seasons there. Roosevelt finished 17-13 last season and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Hill, 49, is replacing J.D. Mayo, who had been one of the longest-tenured coaches in the state before he was informed by Skyline principal Harold Wright in late March that he wouldn't return as the school's head coach.

The 60-year-old Mayo posted a record of 698-350 in 33 seasons at Skyline, which last missed the playoffs in the 1995-96 season. Skyline finished 20-11 last season and lost to Garland in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Hill was an assistant coach at Skyline under Mayo for eight seasons from 1989 to 1997. He said he certainly understands that he has big shoes to fill.

"When I was there working with J.D., he was really great and he has a great following. I just want to enhance what he has done," Hill said. "I don't want to tear down anything he's done or rebuild it. He has a great, great tradition there, and we just want to take it to the next level. I'm very excited about it."

Hill, who coached at Sour Lake Hardin-Jefferson for five years before his first stint at Skyline, said the Skyline job brings certain expectations because of the program's consecutive playoff streak.

"It does put a little bit more pressure on you. You do want to succeed," Hill said. "With J.D. going to the playoffs as many years as he has, not making it to the playoffs would be considered a disappointing season."