July 10, 2006
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Ky Snyder, University of San Diego Executive Director of Athletics, announced Monday that Brent Hilliard will be the interim head coach for women's volleyball for the upcoming 2006 season. He will take over for current head coach Jennifer Petrie who will be taking the semester off to spend time with her new born son Charles, her two-year old daughter Jane, as well as time with her husband Mark. Petrie, who just completed her 7th year, will return to her head coaching position for the 2007 season.
"Brent and Jennifer work well together as a team, and they have proven that over the past five seasons with a tremendous amount of success," stated Snyder. "We look forward to another successful campaign this season."
Hilliard, USD's top assistant for the past five seasons, said that he is humbled by this opportunity. "Normally when a coach steps into their first head coaching job it is not for a top-20 program. I know it will be difficult, but I feel that my competitive experience as a player and an assistant coach will carry over and help me to succeed at this level."
Hilliard brings a wealth of volleyball experience to the head coaching position as he has won at the highest levels of volleyball. During his tenure at USD, the Toreros have advanced to the NCAA Tournament all five season's with a program-best Sweet Sixteeen appearance in 2004.
Hilliard was a catalyst for the 1991 Long Beach State men's volleyball national championship team en route to earning the NCAA Player of the Year award. In 1992, Hilliard was a member of the bronze medal winning U.S. Olympic team, and one year later, he helped the U.S. earn a silver medal at the Pan American Games.
Hilliard continued his volleyball career as a professional in Europe from 1995-1998, playing two seasons in Belgium and one season in the Netherlands. In 1996, Hilliard and the Maasiek Volleyball club from Belgium won the country's championship and competed in the European Champions League.
Hilliard and the Toreros will open their 2006 campaign on August 25th as they open play in the San Diego State Tournament against Hofstra University at 11 a.m.
