Mary Hile (1986) - Hall of Fame - University of San Francisco Athletics

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Mary Hile

Class

1981
Induction

1986
Sport(s)

Women's Basketball

Position: Forward/Center
USF Career Years: 1977-1981
Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA
Career Highlights: Three-time Kodak Regional All-American; Two-time Academic All American; Four-time All-NorCal Selection; Leading Scorer (Men's & Women's) with 2,324 Points; West Coast Conference Hall of Honor Inductee (2013)

Mary Hile-Nepfel dedicated 23 years to the USF Women’s Basketball program, leading the Dons not only on the court as an All-American player, but also from the sidelines as a successful coach. A four-sport star for Peterson High School in Sunnyvale, Hile came to USF in the fall of 1977 as an acclaimed athlete. The combination of her size, speed and jumping ability, allowed her to excel in every aspect of the game of basketball.

She finished her USF career first in the women’s record books for career points (2,324) and rebounds (1,602). She ranks as one of a select few to average a double-double over the course of her career. The number 15 was retired in her honor in 1981, and she became the first woman inducted into the USF Hall of Fame in 1986.

A three-time Kodak Regional All-American and four-time All-NorCal selection, she was twice a finalist for the Wade Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top collegiate women’s basketball player. Led by Hile, the Dons made the AIAW Regionals in 1979 and won the NCAC title in 1980. Her successes went beyond the hardwood, as she was a two-time Academic All-American and twice was named the recipient of the Anne Dolan Award as USF’s outstanding female athlete.

Hile-Nepfel’s passion for basketball continued during her 19-year coaching tenure for USF. She shared head coaching duties with husband Bill Nepfel from 1987 to 1999, and took over the reigns as Head Coach in 2001. Hile-Nepfel compiled 270 career victories by 2006. During her coaching career, her teams won three WCC Championships and made three consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament. The two-time WCC Coach of the Year led the Dons to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1995. The following year saw USF reach the NCAA Sweet 16 after tournament wins over Duke and Florida, and the team finished the season ranked No. 16 in the final USA Today poll. As both a player and a coach, Hile-Nepfel’s passion for excellence underscores her selection as a true legend of USF athletics.

Why Hile-Nepfel Chose USF: “USF offered me a full basketball scholarship. I wanted an opportunity to compete, play for a good coach, play with great teammates, and USF gave me that opportunity. I always played with a sense of gratitude and wanted to give back to the school that gave me so much.”

Favorite USF Memories: "I scored 39 points and had 23 rebounds in the small college regional final game against Pepperdine in 1979. Our team advanced to the Small College National Tournament with the win! What I remember most is playing for the love of the game. Great friendships emerged from the experience of playing collegiate athletics.”

The USF Student-Athlete Experience: “The best thing is the balance between academics and athletics. You have the opportunity to challenge yourself in the classroom and on the court to be the best you are capable of becoming.”

Did You Know? Hile is one of only six USF basketball players – and only two women’s players – to have their jersey number retired. Her number 15 jersey can be seen hanging from the rafters inside War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center, alongside the jerseys of Bill Cartwright, Mike Farmer, K.C. Jones, Brittany Lindhe and Bill Russell. Over the course of her four-year USF career, Hile scored 2,324 points, an all-time record for male or female. She was the first female inducted into the USF Hall of Fame, and a two time All-American.

Life After USF: Hile-Nepfel went into coaching and teaching, and coached women’s basketball at USF for 19 years (1987 to 2006). Currently, she is coaching high school basketball in San Francisco, teaching at USF in the Kinesiology Department, and is a volunteer at Saint Robert's Church in San Bruno for the RCIA program.

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