NSU hires volleyball coach

It took nearly five months, but Nicholls State University has its new volleyball coach.

It’s one that has Colonels Athletics Director Rob Bernardi excited about the future of his program.

Nicholls State announced last week that University of Louisiana-Monroe assistant coach Patrick Hiltz has been named the team’s head coach.

Pending expected approval from the University of Louisiana System Board, Hiltz would replace former coach TeAna Tramel, who resigned from the team in December 2011.

“We are delighted to add Patrick to our coaching staff,” Bernardi said. “He is committed to making Nicholls volleyball a consistent winner in the Southland Conference, while maintaining the high academic standards our department demands.”

Hiltz lands in Thibodaux after collecting more than 18 years of experience coaching in the high school, club and collegiate ranks.

A press release issued by Nicholls State said the new Colonels coach got his start in coaching at the high school level in California, where he also was a standout varsity player.

Hiltz’s first gig was with San Marcos High School’s freshman team. After guiding that program, the coach also made stops at various high schools in Nevada and Arizona.

He also coached North Arizona University’s club team during his early coaching days.

Bernardi said having ties to the prep level are one of the biggest reasons why he liked Hitlz’s resume.

The coach added he plans to use his influence to boost the Colonels’ recruiting efforts.

“With my background with club teams, I hope to be able to find some of the best volleyball players in the country and welcome them to Nicholls,” Hiltz said. “I’ve made a lot of connections with coaches and club directors in this region on top of the ones I made out on the West Coast, because those relationships are so valuable to your program.”

After his decorated club and prep career, Hiltz started his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Phoenix College, where he helped lead the Bears to a runner-up finish at the NJCAA Division II regional championships.

The year before the 2nd-place finish, Phoenix College placed third at the same event.

Following his stint with the Bears, Hiltz accepted a position with the University of UL-Monroe, where he helped coach the Warhawks to a 10-16 record last season.

One year before the 10-win campaign, UL-Monroe had a winless season.

With the Colonels, Hiltz will inherits a team with eight seniors and one that is coming off an 18-win season – the most for the program since 2002.

The coach said he has high hopes for the future and he expects to see immediate success.

He added he doesn’t expect any growing pains to occur during the team’s transition into his defensive-oriented scheme.

“I look forward to the chance to return Nicholls volleyball to the program it was in the past,” Hiltz said. “With eight seniors on the team, I want to make their last year something special and after seeing them play last year, I believe it can be. … I’m excited to get to know the players and begin to figure out how we can merge my defensive techniques with the strong abilities they already have. This team is full of leaders, and as a new coach, we will make the transition a smooth and successful one.”

Patrick Hiltz

NSU ATHLETICS