SAN DIEGO – San Diego State Director of Athletics John David Wicker ushered in a new era for the Aztec volleyball team Friday with the hiring of Brent Hilliard as the fifth head coach in program history.
A 2018 inductee to the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame, Hilliard arrives at SDSU with a wealth of experience after achieving 19 years of unparalleled success as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego, where he served as the Toreros' associate head coach since 2007.
"Brent Hilliard's presence in San Diego County volleyball is far reaching," Wicker said. "Through the club volleyball teams he coached, his 19 years at USD, the time and relationships with the Olympics, Coach Hilliard will be able to hit the ground running for San Diego State. In addition to his San Diego ties, Brent also has what we need in the next leader to graduate the women in the volleyball program, lead them to compete for championships and prepare them for a successful life after sport. He is known for his coaching tenacity in the gym, and at the same time, people of all ages told us how much they enjoyed him as a person."
During his fruitful tenure, the Toreros qualified for the NCAA Tournament in all but one of his 19 seasons, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2004, 2006, 2013 and 2018. In addition, Hilliard helped guide the Toreros to nine West Coast Conference championships while his players earned six All-America awards, 12 All-America honorable mentions, 44 all-WCC accolades and 15 freshman all-conference certificates.
Hilliard twice assumed the reins of the USD program on an interim basis while head coach Jennifer Petrie was absent on maternity leave. In 2006, Hilliard was honored as WCC Coach of the Year after guiding the Toreros to a conference championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. That season, he coached five all-conference honorees, including WCC Player of the Year Kristen Carlson, as USD finished 14th in the final USA Today/Coaches Poll.
The Toreros also flourished under Hilliard's guidance in 2011, racing to a 13-0 start en route a program-best 28-5 record, highlighted by a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Throughout his stint, USD was consistently ranked among the nation's top 25, climbing to as high as No. 2 during the 2013 campaign and rising to No. 5 in 2016.
"I would like to thank John David Wicker, Jenny Bramer, Dr. Adela de la Torre and the rest of the SDSU search committee for making me feel so welcome during the interview process," Hilliard said. "To be the head coach of such a remarkable women's volleyball program in my family's hometown is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
"We are fully committed to work tirelessly to elevate this program back to an elite status on the college volleyball landscape, one that the student body, faculty, community, alumni and, of course, all future Aztecs will take great pride in."
Hilliard played collegiately at Long Beach State, earning All-America honors in each of his four years from 1990-93, including first-team recognition over his final three seasons. A right-side hitter for the 49ers, Hilliard was named the NCAA Men's Volleyball Player of the Year as a junior in 1992 after leading LBSU to a 31-1 record.
In 1991, Hilliard and the 49ers captured the NCAA Championship with a 3-1 victory over USC in the finals, avenging a loss to the Trojans in the title match the year before. He finished his career as the NCAA all-time leader with 3,034 kills.
Additionally, Hilliard was selected to play for Team USA in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, where he helped the Americans capture the bronze medal. The following year, he won a silver medal at the 1993 Pan American Games in Argentina and also owns a bronze medal from the 1991 World Cup.
After receiving his undergraduate degree in 1993 from Long Beach State in political science, Hilliard continued his volleyball career as a professional in Europe from 1995-98, playing two seasons in Belgium and another in the Netherlands. In 1996, Hilliard and the Masiek Volleyball Club captured the Belgian national championship and competed in the European Champions League.
In addition to his collegiate experience, which included a stint as head coach at nearby Cuyamaca College in 1999 and 2000, Hilliard has also coached for the past 10 years at Wave Volleyball Club in Del Mar, the premier volleyball club in San Diego County.
"Our priority at SDSU will be to engage, attract and secure exceptional student-athletes that strive for both academic and athletic excellence in their everyday lives," Hilliard added. "From day one, we will set expectations high and build from there. I am incredibly excited to get started and I look forward to the bright future ahead."
Hilliard resides in San Diego with his wife Beth, daughter Audrey and son Christopher.
Hilliard's Collegiate Coaching Ledger (As an Assistant)
| Year | School | Overall Record | WCC Record (Finish) | Postseason | |||||
| 2001 | San Diego | 22-9 | 10-4 (3rd) | NCAA Second Round | |||||
| 2002 | San Diego | 25-8 | 10-4 (3rd) | NCAA First Round | |||||
| 2003 | San Diego | 17-13 | 6-8 (T-5th) | NCAA First Round | |||||
| 2004 | San Diego | 24-5 | 14-0 (1st) | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
| 2005 | San Diego | 23-6 | 10-4 (T-2nd) | NCAA Second Round | |||||
| 2006* | San Diego | 26-6 | 13-1 (1st) | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
| 2007 | San Diego | 21-8 | 11-3 (1st) | NCAA First Round | |||||
| 2008 | San Diego | 23-5 | 12-2 (1st) | NCAA First Round | |||||
| 2009 | San Diego | 18-7 | 10-4 (2nd) | None | |||||
| 2010 | San Diego | 24-8 | 13-1 (1st) | NCAA Second Round | |||||
| 2011* | San Diego | 28-5 | 12-4 (2nd) | NCAA Second Round | |||||
| 2012 | San Diego | 21-7 | 13-3 (T-1st) | NCAA First Round | |||||
| 2013 | San Diego | 26-4 | 16-2 (1st) | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
| 2014 | San Diego | 19-12 | 12-6 (T-3rd) | NCAA First Round | |||||
| 2015 | San Diego | 22-10 | 14-4 (2nd) | NCAA Second Round | |||||
| 2016 | San Diego | 24-6 | 15-3 (2nd) | NCAA First Round | |||||
| 2017 | San Diego | 25-5 | 17-1 (T-1st) | NCAA Second Round | |||||
| 2018 | San Diego | 18-13 | 13-5 (3rd) | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
| 2019 | San Diego | 25-6 | 17-1 (1st) | NCAA Second Round | |||||
| Totals | 431-143 (.751) | 238-60 (.799) |
Notes
* - Served as interim head coach during the 2006 and 2011 seasons
- Qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 18 of his 19 seasons at USD
- Reached the NCAA Sweet 16 four times in 2004, 2006, 2013 and 2018
- Won nine West Coast Conference championships