HILDEBRANDT NAMED ELMS COLLEGE MEN AND WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL COACH
2008 AVCA Division III Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year Finalist
hired as third coach in program-history

CHICOPEE, MA, May 9, 2008 - Elms College Director of Athletics Louise McCleary announced the hiring of David Hildebrandt as head coach of the men and women's volleyball programs on Friday, May 9.

Coach Hildebrandt brings a combined eight years of volleyball coaching experience to his new position at Elms College, including the last seven as head coach of both the men and women's volleyball programs at Newbury College.

Coach Hildebrandt's success at Newbury was unprecedented, as he won a combined 242 matches and posted a .565 winning percentage at the helm of both programs - best of any coach in any sport in school-history.

In 2008, Coach Hildebrandt was one of four finalists for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Men's Coach of the Year award after leading the Nighthawks to a program-record 33 wins, first-ever North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England Division title and NECVA Tournament championship match, and a national ranking of sixth in the final 2008 AVCA Division III Top 15 Coaches Poll.

"We are excited to hire someone of Dave's caliber as our men's and women's volleyball coach," McCleary noted.  "He brings a wealth of experience and passion for Division III athletics that will continue to move our volleyball programs forward."

Coach Hildebrandt's success with Newbury's women's volleyball program has been equally impressive, as the Nighthawks posted winning seasons in five of the last seven years, including a school-record 23 victories in 2006.

Under Coach Hildebrandt's direction, Newbury's women's volleyball team won consecutive NCAA Division III Northeast Independent Tournament championships in both 2006 and 2007.

In 2006, Coach Hildebrandt was honored as Association of Division III Independents Women's National Coach of the Year after leading the Nighthawks to their first-ever independent tournament title.

Coach Hildebrandt helped build Newbury's men's program into a perennial national contender, as the Nighthawks have been ranked in the AVCA Division III Top 15 Coaches Poll in each of the last four years.

Prior to his arrival, Newbury's men's program had never won a match, but since then, has recorded winning seasons in five of the last seven years, including three 30-plus win seasons.

During his seven years at Newbury, he coached two AVCA Second Team All-Americans, four All-NECVA New England players, five All-Association of Independent Division III Team players and 17 NECVA All-Academic players. His teams also earned All-Academic team honors a combined four times.

"I am very excited to be part of the Elms College community," Coach Hildebrandt said. "I am impressed by the level of loyalty and commitment the faculty, staff and student body show toward the College's student athletes. I look forward to becoming part of that community and recruit high-caliber student athletes to both programs."

Coach Hildebrandt was a four-year member of the men's volleyball program at Johnson & Wales University from 1998-2001.

As a sophomore in 1999, he helped the Wildcats to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship, and the following year, a NECVA New England Division title.

Coach Hildebrandt earned his bachelor's degree in food service management with a concentration in sociology from Johnson & Wales University in 2001.