FROM STAFF REPORTS

University of Montevallo Athletic Director Jim Herlihy announced the hiring of Cindy Hilbrich as the 15th head women’s basketball coach in program history April 29.

“Cindy has all the attributes that were important for us in the search for a new women’s basketball coach,” said Herlihy. “She is not only recognized as a top-notch recruiter but she also understands the value of a quality student-athlete experience, on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”

Hilbrich comes to Montevallo after spending the previous four seasons as assistant coach at University of South Carolina in Aiken. Prior to her time at USC-Aiken, Hilbrich spent one season as varsity assistant coach and junior varsity head coach at Mount Olive College.

Hilbrich also spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin in Parkside.

“I am very excited to be chosen as the next head women’s basketball coach at the University of Montevallo,” said Hilbrich. “There are so many wonderful things about the community, the University, and the Athletics Department, and I am honored to be a part of it. I am eager to get on campus to begin working on building a successful and well-respected program. ”

Hilbrich helped guide the Pacers to an 84-39 record during her four seasons as assistant coach. The Pacers advanced to a pair of NCAA Division II tournaments in her time with the program, including an appearance this past season. USC-Aiken advanced to the Peach Belt Conference tournament championship game this past season and won a school record 27 games.

During her time at USC-Aiken, the Pacers were ranked in the top 10 during the 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 seasons. The Pacers competed in the 2009 and 2011 Peach Belt Conference tournament championship games, were the 2008 regular season conference co-champions and won the 2008 Disney Tip-Off Classic in Orlando. Hilbrich helped recruit the 2011 Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year.

Hilbrich coached USC-Aiken’s all-time leading scorer, all-time 3-point shooter, all-time blocks leader, second all-time career assists leader and third all-time career steals leader. Hilbrich also coached the conference’s all-time leading 3-point shooter.

In the fall of 2009, USC-Aiken compiled a 3.56 grade-point average, which was the highest GPA of any USC-Aiken team that semester. That team ended the 2009-2010 season with a 3.44 GPA, which was 22nd in the nation for all Division II women’s basketball programs.

Hilbrich is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater, where she was a two-sport athlete. Hilbrich played both basketball and softball and ended her basketball career ranked ninth in career free-throw percentage, 12th in career steals and 14th in steals per game. Hilbrich graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and went on to earn her Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from UW-Whitewater in 2006.

Hilbrich is a native of Elgin, Ill. and will begin her duties as head coach near the end of May.