Keller Central football coach battles cystic fibrosis and continues to inspire

Derek Hill admits he’s living on borrowed time as he battles cystic fibrosis daily. His parents were told that he might not reach his 18th birthday.

However, at age 28, he continues to prove doctors’ prognostications wrong. He went on to be a high school football standout and is now in his fourth year at Keller Central High School as wide receivers coach.

“My parents decided that the best way to attack this diagnosis was to treat each day like it was the last and let me lead a ‘normal’ life,” Hill said. “My parents raised me to be resilient and to never be just another number.”

Hill was a quarterback at Garden City High School in Kansas, where his father, Brian Hill, was head football coach and his younger brother Peyton was a running back. He helped the Buffaloes reach the Class 6A state semifinals in 2013.

“It was such a magical season to be able to play with all three of us on the field at one time,” he said.

Daily routine

“Every day I have to do extra just to stay healthy, and even then it isn’t always enough,” Hill said.

He does a vest treatment for 30 minutes every day to clear mucus from his airways. He also does a nebulizer treatment and takes a handful of medicine.

“Thanks to advancements in CF research, I am able to take a modulator called Trikafta, which has been an absolute game-changer,” he said.

“Many times people ask if I could go back and change my diagnosis. I simply tell them no, I wouldn’t change my life because CF has taught me the value of enjoying every single moment in life because it can be taken away from you at any given moment.”

Hill said he refused to accept the limitations doctors and cystic fibrosis tried to place on him.

Senior night

As a senior, Hill was admitted to a hospital with pneumonia and did not finish the season. It was one of more than 100 times he’s been hospitalized, along with more than 15 surgeries, he said.

After being released, Hill rushed to the stadium for senior night. When he arrived he saw something that brought tears to his eyes.

“We took our picture, and my brother and dad went back to the locker room and waited for the team to run out onto the field. When they did, I saw my jersey on my brother,” he said, still sentimental. “He ran out of the tunnel and gave me the biggest hug and told me, ‘No. 1 is playing today, no matter what.’”

Hill followed in his parents’ footsteps and attended Emporia State University in Kansas. While there he joined the Hornets’ football team as a student assistant coach.

Coaching career

Hill credits his mentors at Emporia State, head coach Garin Higgins and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo, with having a big influence on his career.

“Them, along with my dad and grandpa convinced me even more that my calling in life was to use football as a vessel to have an impact in the lives of others,” he said.

His dad is the second-winningest coach in Garden City history (79-65). His grandfather, Tony Hill, was the head football coach at Deerfield High School in Kansas.

“I saw how important the coach’s role is in the lives of young men and women,” Derek Hill said. “I saw firsthand how important those relationships are and how much of an impact you have on the lives of others.”

Make-A-Wish dream trip

As a youth Hill was selected by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. His was to attend an LSU football game.

“I cannot thank the Make-A-Wish Foundation enough,” he said. “When we arrived in New Orleans, we went on a tour of the city and got to see the Superdome, Bourbon Street and all the city had to offer.”

He met his favorite player at the time, running back Leonard Fournette, and got a photo with him. He also got to hold the Heisman Trophy that Billy Cannon won.

“The Tigers won, which made it even that much better,” he said.

Wife and infant daughter

Hill and his wife, LaNaya, recently celebrated their sixth anniversary and welcomed their daughter, Emersyn, on Feb. 1. He called LaNaya an inspiration.

“She has been with me through the good, bad, and ugly, always there in the hospital helping me get through,” he said.

He added that “there may not be a more loved baby than Emersyn,” citing that people with cystic fibrosis generally are not able to have biological children.

“The fact that my wife and I were able to have Emersyn is a miracle,” he said. “We would not have been able to without the help of [in vitro fertilization].”

An inspiration

Hill is proud to call himself an inspiration.

“If there is one thing I want people to learn from my journey and story it is to never, ever stop believing,” he said. “Even though we don’t choose the hand we are dealt, we do choose how we play that hand. I want people to look at my journey and say, ‘I can get through this because Derek did.’”

Hill has been part of a spectacular turnaround for Central. After a 1-9 season in 2024, the Chargers are 5-3 and have been competitive in District 4-6A play.

Central head coach Eric Vance praised Hill.

“He persevered with a positive outlook, accomplishing goals that many doctors never thought possible,” Vance said.

He added that he’s proud of Hill for “using his platform to raise awareness about the disease, give others hope.”

Hill encourages people to donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“Without their generous donations, CF research would not be as advanced as it is,” he said. “My goal in life is to help CF stand for cure found, not cystic fibrosis.”

This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 11:19 AM.