Jim Hilvert - Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

Email: james.hilvert@thomasmore.edu

Office Number: 859-344-3516

Jim Hilvert enters his fourth season as the head football coach at Thomas More College with a 23-10 career record, two Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) championships and two NCAA Division III Championship Playoff appearances. In addition to serving as the head coach, he is also the defensive coordinator and coaches the defensive backs.

In just three seasons on the sidelines in Crestview Hills, Hilvert has earned two PAC Coach of the Year honors, while coaching 18 first team All-PAC players, two All-Americans and one PAC Player of the Year. During the 2009 season, he guided the Saints to their highest ranking in school history when they received 640 votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top-25 poll and were ranked No. 10 in the nation after the regular season. Thomas More ended the 2009 campaign ranked No. 10 in the nation with 543 votes. The Saints also have a 2-1 record in the Bridge Bowl against across-the-river rival, the College of Mount St. Joseph, in Hilvert’s three seasons as the Thomas More head coach.

During the 2009 season, the Saints won their second straight PAC title while compiling an 11-1 overall record and a perfect 6-0 record in the PAC. The Saints clinched the PAC title with a come-from-behind, 14-7, victory over then No. 6 ranked Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. Thomas More then made its fourth appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Playoffs, where it advanced to the second round and hosted both playoff games.

In 2008, Hilvert guided the Saints to an 8-3 overall record and a 6-0 mark in the PAC which earned the team its first-ever PAC title and the program's third appearance in the NCAA Division III National Playoffs.

In his first season as head coach in 2007, Hilvert led the Saints to a 4-6 overall record and a 2-4 mark in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Hilvert came to Thomas More from across-the river rival, the College of Mount St. Joseph (MSJ), where he served as the defensive coordinator. He spent seven seasons coaching at the Mount and the Lions made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Playoffs. During his tenure at MSJ, he coached the conference’s defensive player of the year in four straight seasons, six All-North Region players and three All-Americans.

In addition to his defensive coordinator role, Hilvert served as the recruiting and strength coordinator at Mount St. Joseph.

A 1989 graduate of Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hilvert earned his undergraduate degree at Division II St. Joseph’s (Ind.) College. He was a graduate assistant at Division I Western Michigan University, where he also earned his master’s degree. He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Highland Heights, Kentucky with their daughter, Joy, and sons J.T. and Max.