University of Northern Iowa Athletic Director Rick Hartzell says the school had no choice but to dismiss Hakim Hill from the football and track teams after a run-in with the law. Hill, a former Iowa City High standout, was arrested on several charges after he allegedly threatened police officers when they responded to a call about a fight at an Iowa City hotel. Hartzell says Hill knew he was on a short leash, and violated everybody’s trust. He says to Hill’s credit Hill told U-N-I football coach Mark Farley immediately about what happened, and Hartzell says that gives him some hope that Hill understands the seriousness of what happened. Hill enrolled at U-N-I last month after being kicked off the Arizona State University football team in December for violating team rules. Hartzell says it’s sad to see that Hill could not keep out of trouble after transferring. He says he’s disappointed anytime a kid gets in trouble and then you have to deal with it. Hartzell says he will continue to give athletes a second chance at U-N-I. He says his feeling hasn’t changed, “That is, that most of us in our life deserve a second chance for something that we did, you know, made a mistake.” Hartzell says they’ll continue to do things the same way as they’ve had more successes than failures. Hill is charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer, and one count each of disorderly conduct, public intoxication and interference with official acts.
