After a national search, Kelley Hilliker was hired as Susquehanna University's Swimming and Diving Head Coach in the summer of 2024 after three years as the Assistant Coach at Randolph-Macon College.
"We are delighted to have Kelley join the department and help us write the next chapter of the Susquehanna swimming & diving program," said Director of Athletics Sharief Hashim. "She impressed us with her swimming background, recruiting experience, and knowledge of the sport. We're proud of our swimming and diving history and we're excited to work with Kelley to guide the program to future success."
During her time at Randolph-Macon, Hilliker helped guide the teams to five individual ODAC Championship titles, along with coaching the Women's Swimming Rookie of the Year in 2022. She helped in planning and running practices, working with alumni and fundraising initiatives, running the team social media accounts, and spearheading all aspects of the recruitment process for the teams.
"I'm beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the River Hawk family," related Hilliker. "From the moment I stepped foot on campus, I knew SU was a special place. I want to thank the hiring committee, Athletic Director Sharief Hashim, and Associate Athletic Director Stephanie Johnson for entrusting me with the future of these programs. I also want to give thanks to Katie Robbins and the team for welcoming me with open arms. The swimming and diving teams are full of wonderful people, and I can't wait to see what we achieve in the coming seasons."
She has also served as the head coach of the Pebble Creek Piranhas swim club in Mechanicsville, VA and coached for Hanover Aquatics and Virginia Swimming, Inc. She also provided coaching at swim camps at the University of Georgia, the University of Virginia, and Indiana University.
Hilliker was a highly decorated member of the swim team at Bridgewater College during her collegiate career. She was named to the ODAC Sportsmanship Team, a three-time All-ODAC selection, a recipient of the ODAC Bonnie Kestner Sportsmanship Award in 2019, and a four-time member of the All-ODAC Academic Team. She served as a team captain for three years, then graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology in 2019 and becoming an Athletic Media Relations Intern at Bridgewater. She earned her Master's degree at Bridgewater in Digital Media Strategy.
Kelley will immediately get to work with the men's and women's teams at Susquehanna, looking to continue to bolster the rosters for the 2024-25 season and improve on strong showings for the teams at the Landmark Championships, with the women finishing fourth and the men claiming fifth this year.
