Signs Point To Hilbert’s Departure UI Volleyball Coach Expected To Jump To Colorado State

Tom Hilbert, one of the University of Idaho athletic department’s all-time winningest coaches, could be come the head volleyball coach at Colorado State as early as today, according to sources close to situation.

Hilbert interviewed Tuesday in Fort Collins, Colo. An official job offer is expected this morning and an announcement might come as early as this afternoon, the sources said.

Hilbert declined comment Tuesday evening.

Earlier Tuesday, Hilbert turned down a chance to interview for the head coaching job at the University of Tennessee.

Colorado State athletic director Tom Jurich and Hilbert became acquainted when Jurich was A.D. at Northern Arizona. Jurich previously has hired several Big Sky coaches at Colorado State, including Stew Morrill (Montana) for men’s basketball and Sonny Lubick (Montana State assistant) for football.

Three others interviewed at Colorado State before the Rams targeted Hilbert. CSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season.

Hilbert was at UI for eight seasons, compiling a 174-72 record. The Vandals won four consecutive Big Sky regular-season and/or conference tournament championships from 1992-95. During that span, Idaho went 107-21, won two first-round NCAA Tournament games and was among national leaders in attendance. Attendance at Memorial Gym often topped 1,000 per match.

Outside hitter Mindy Rice became the first Vandal to receive All-American recognition when she earned second-team honors in 1994. Hilbert was selected Big Sky Coach of the Year four times. His 174 wins surpassed Amanda Gammage’s 160 from 1977-83.

In 1996, Idaho won the Big West’s East Division in its inaugural season in the conference, but lost in the conference tournament and didn’t advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Hilbert was an assistant at Oklahoma before coming to Idaho.

Possible candidates at Idaho might include Melissa Stokes, head coach at Southwest Missouri State, Vandals assistant coach Debbie Martin, Ben Stroud, coach at College of Southern Idaho and Kip Yoshimura, head coach at Lewis Clark State College. Stokes assisted under Hilbert at Idaho before landing a head coaching position. Martin is an ex-St. Maries High standout who went on to USC. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo