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Cologuard Classic and Tucson Conquistadores New Executive Director
Miguel Angel Jimenez with Tucson Conquistadores
Hill Returns to Tucson, Golf Roots
Geoff Hill Takes Tucson Conquistadores Executive Director Post
At eight years old, Tucson native Geoff Hill wanted to be a golf professional, seeing himself on a golf course, living the dream of life as a golfer.
“One hundred percent I did. I vicariously lived through my buddy Michael Thompson quite a bit,” Hill said, referring to his fellow Tucsonan who became the PGA’s 2011 Rookie of the Year and is still on the tour. “There was a small jealous bone in me, but at the same time, I was thrilled for him. He’s had a long career. I ended up swallowing the pill and understanding that wasn’t my future.”
Still, life isn’t bad for Hill, the new executive director of the Tucson Conquistadores. The 37-year-old has returned to his roots and has found himself back on a course. He replaced Katy Pradella, who oversaw the Conquistadores and the annual PGA Tour Champions Cologuard Classic. It returns Feb. 27 through March 5.
Hill traveled across the United States, cutting his teeth on different sports and different levels, including golf. He said the Conquistadores have “welcomed me with open arms.”
“It’s been a humbling homecoming,” he said.
After graduating from Rincon High School and the University of Arizona, Hill clocked more than 10 years in sports entertainment and with largescale events. He most recently served as VP of Operations at the Austin, Tex.motorsports track Circuit of the Americas, which hosts the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
Before that, he was the Tournament Operations Manager for the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin and the Tour Championship in Atlanta. And from 2014-2017, he was a tournament operations specialist for the PGA Tour Champions where he oversaw the Senior Players Championship.
He believes those “real-life experiences” have set him up for what’s ahead.
“I started as an unpaid intern, and I wouldn’t change my decision for anything,” he said of his early years. “It was a matter of meeting the right people and getting surrounded by the right people that you need to be successful.”
Hill admits that coming back to Tucson wasn’t initially on his radar, having had a great career in some great spots.
“There’s a lot of opportunity in and out of golf,” he said. “There was a lot of family and friends tied to my hometown. But it was the executive director role of the Conquistadores and the event and what the impact in the local
By Steve Rivera
By David B. Pittman
– Geoff Hill, Executive Director, Tucson Conquistadores
community – nationally, as well – has. When I found out there was a chance to get back in the golf world and do it at a high level for an organization that stands for the certain details that they do is very exciting and very important.”
In introducing Hill in October, Conquistadores President Dr. Andrew Rosen said, “I am very excited for the new energy, enthusiasm and leadership” Hill will bring to the Cologuard Classic and the Conquistadores.
Hill plans to play observer for the upcoming event on the Champions Golf Tour to assess what’s next for Tucson’s professional tournament, which the Conquistadores have staged since 1966.
“I’ve talked to the Conquistadores about this and, being the time frame that it is, I don’t want to go in and try to change too quickly and disrupt anything they have going on,” Hill said. “They are a well-oiled machine, but I’ll definitely be working closely with their operations and some of their business development teams trying to find avenues to grow revenue for the event and then find some efficiencies.”
He’ll then “dive into it with them over the next several years,” he added. That includes trying to “maximize what our beneficiaries can receive and maximize the revenue for the foundation to excel and to continue the event. We want to grow it in the future. I’ll be taking a really hard look at the budgets, finding ways where we can save money, finding new partners that want to get ingrained into our business, and see how we can maximize some of those partnerships. We want to better the organization, always wanting to grow.
“If I can be a small part of that and make an impact, it will make not only the Tucson community better, but it’ll make the event better for … our fans, our spectators and everyone involved.”
By Steve Rivera
Arizona golf fans will be seeing more than one chase during the PGA Tour Champions Cologuard Classic at the Omni Tucson National.
While the players are chasing a championship, country singer Chase Rice will headline the Cologuard Classic Military Appreciation Concert. The March 4 concert, which will be held on the golf course’s practice range, is sponsored by DM50 and the Tucson Conquistadores. Joining Rice will be Chayce Beckham, a singer/songwriter who won American Idol’s 19th season.
“The Tucson Conquistadores and Cologuard Classic are thrilled to welcome multi-platinum entertainer Chase Rice and supporting star Chayce Beckham. We encourage all fans to join us at this star-studded concert,” said Geoff Hill, new executive director of the Tucson Conquistadores. “Beyond the exceptional championship golf, we look forward to these stars bringing a high-energy atmosphere for all to experience through live music. It is truly a unique opportunity to get up close with some of the best musicians in the industry. We would also like to thank all our sponsors including DM50 for their support over the years, as well as our military and their families for their dedication and support.” The concert is expected to start at 6 p.m. following the second round of the golf tournament.
Rice has sold more than 2.3 million albums and has more than 2.4 billion streams and a strong and loyal following throughout the world. His next album, “I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs go To Hell,” will be out Feb. 10. Those attending the golf tournament on March 4 can stay for the concert for free. Tickets are $59 for those not attending the golf. Tickets for the all-ages show are now on sale at www.CologuardClassic.com.
