A look at CSU Volleyball Head Coach Tom Hilbert’s 600th win

November 13, 2013

Head Volleyball Coach Tom Hilbert watches his team perform at practice. The Rams have worked their way to the 12th spot nationwide and look ahead towards their next game against Fresno State this Thursday at 7pm in Moby Arena. — Head Volleyball Coach Tom Hilbert watches his team perform at practice.

In a college town like Fort Collins, many students hope to graduate with an undergraduate and masters degree by the time they’re 25 years old. While Rams pursue dreams of an education, CSU volleyball Head Coach Tom Hilbert chased dreams of his own for the last 25 years.

Within the quarter century time period, Hilbert has accomplished years of awards, recognitions and most recently his 600th career win. With two milestones under the belt within the last two years, Hilbert has the success of the team to thank for this accomplishment.

“I have 600 wins because I’ve been consistently good over the past 25 years, but I’ve been a coach all that time and I’ve gotten to do a really cool job,” Hilbert said. “That’s what 600, to me, means. I’m not winning any of these games, but I am shepherding this program through a pretty good time, and I’m happy about that.”

On Saturday Nov. 9, CSU swept Nevada(25-18, 25-18, 25-19), in front of 4,418 fans to earn its 23rd straight win while Hilbert became the 1oth NCAA coach in history with 600 career wins, not to mention a winning percentage above .770.

Hilbert has a record of 600-176 overall, including 426 of those wins as a CSU Ram.

When Hilbert came to CSU 17 years ago, he came with the reputation of winning games and setting new standards for Rams athletics. Since then, he developed one of the top ten programs in the nation within Ram country.

In the 2013 season alone, Hilbert and the Rams earned the best start in program history, a 19-match winning streak at home which is the third longest in program history as well as finishing the first half of the season undefeated.

Although this season was meant to be a rebuilding year with no expectations to be great after losing four pivotal starters, it proves that Hilbert has the ability to take any team and coach them towards greatness.

Coaching Awards:

21 Consecutive 20 win seasons

AVCA Regional Coach of the Year

Western Region: 2011

North West Region: 1993,94

Conference Coach of the Year:

Mountain West: 1999, 00, 01, 02, 03, 07, 09, 11

WAC: 1998

Big Sky: 1992, 93, 94, 95

Volleyball beat reporter Haleigh Hamblin can be reached at sports@collegian.com or @haleighhamblin on twitter.

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