Hills was again a key figure in Tuesday’s 1-1 derby draw at Morecambe in his 13th appearance of a season-long move.
The centre back is part of a growing City enclave, with both fellow academy defender Lewis Shipley and keeper Jon McCracken now at Stanley on loan.
Norwich-bred Hills was involved in the early part of the Canaries’ pre-season under David Wagner, but was deemed ready for a testing Football League stint rather than action for the development squad.
“He has settled in really well. You would think how he carries himself he is one of ours. Not a loan player,” said the experienced Coleman. “You can see how much it means to Brad Hills when he celebrates a win. I thought he was man of the match for us on Saturday. Lewis Shipley has settled in really well. Now we have brought Jon in as an emergency loan.
“When you have young players, and we have probably too many at present with one or two of the experienced ones not available, they will lose focus. They will make some casual mistakes. The whole team, not the defence, is lacking a bit of fire in the belly not to concede goals.
“We have to learn and very, very quickly, because you can soon find yourself in the relegation zone.”
McCracken was beaten by John Connolly’s close range strike just past the hour mark on Tuesday night, after some excellent early stops, but Tommy Leigh rescued a point from the spot.
The 23-year-old Norwich keeper is desperate for regular senior football after Tim Krul’s exit saw him recalled from a planned season long switch to Dundee.
“Mixed emotions. A bit gutted that you are not playing at Dundee. But it is football. Now an another opportunity has presented itself to go and get games,” he said, speaking to Accrington’s official youtube channel. “I was looking forward to the season at Dundee, and I’d played a few cup games up there, then Norwich recalled me once Tim Krul moved on (to Luton). I thought I was on a season loan at Dundee which only lasted seven weeks.
“Hopefully I can add something to this group and get a consistent run of games. It is very different. Games for the Under-23s are good for what you need at that level, but it is not real football. It is not what you want.
“There is only one position on the pitch so it is not like you can build up that trust with the manager with five minutes here or a 20 minute appearance there.
“One game at a time. I am here week to week so there is not too much, in terms of an end goal, just striving for that consistency, in terms of games. Hopefully I am here for a while and can give the boys what they need.”
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