Hilliard began his stint as boys’ basketball head coach in 1985, taking over a Harvard team that had gone 1-23 the year before his arrival. He subsequently turned the team around and, in his 29 years, has coached the team to 13 Mission League titles, nine CIF titles, and two State Championships. The veteran coach also molded many household names in the Wolverine basketball system, including Jason Collins ’97, Jarron Collins ’97, Bryce Taylor ’04, Renaldo Woolridge ’08 and Erik Swoope ’10. “Coach Hilliard is a great man who gave me the opportunity to play the way I know how to play basketball,” Woolridge said. “His belief in me allowed me to accomplish great things at the high school level, and go on to play at the collegiate and now professional level. His experience and success was always reassuring. I am still in contact with Coach Hilliard, and view him as a friend and mentor.” Yet despite his accruement of milestones, Hilliard, who most recently surpassed 600 career Harvard-Westlake wins in 20132014, looks beyond the legacy he may leave and remains grateful for his experiences as Wolverine head coach as he approaches his final season. “Legacy is something that other people decide, and the only thing that I’d want other people to know is that I loved every minute of this,” Hilliard said. “I never worked a day in my life, and I hope every person gets to pursue his or her passion the way
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I did. Whatever’s left over as far as a legacy, I’ll leave that to other folks, but the legacy HarvardWestlake has left me has been incredible.” Beyond the wins and accolades, Hilliard has garnered a reputation for his calm temperament, warm disposition and devotion to his players, having never received a technical foul in his 30 years of coaching. Following the announcement of Hilliard’s retirement, head coach of the rival Loyola Cubs Jamal Adams remarked on the Wolverine head coach’s character over Twitter. “Saddened to hear a great man and a good friend is stepping down,” Adams tweeted. “Greg is a class act and someone I have long admired.” Woolridge shared similar sentiments about his high school coach. “[Hilliard] has helped me throughout my career, and he could have retired years ago from all of his success,” Woolridge said. “His dedication to playing a major role in the development of his players as not only athletes, but people, is admirable.” For his last run, Hilliard will try to turn things around one more time, after the Wolverines finished 2013-2014 with a record below .500 for the first time in more than 10 years. Next year’s squad will feature one of the more inexperienced groups of players in recent memory, with only three rising seniors on the team. Alex Copeland ’15 will be the only player in his fourth year on the varsity squad.
RETRO Boys’ basketball head coach Greg Hilliard advises Damiene Cain ’11 and David Burton ’11 during practice in 2010-2011. Big Red aRCHIVES
“I’ve been with Coach Hilliard since I’m a freshman, he’s a legendary coach at HarvardWestlake and he’s done a lot for the school,” Copeland said. “We just really want t o send him out on a good note. We have a really excited group
We just really want to send him out on a good note. We have a really excited group of guys and a really young team, but we have that extra motivation that we’re not just doing it for ourselves, but we’re doing it to help a legendary figure finish his career.” -Alex copeland ’15 24 • BIG RED YEAR IN REVIEW 2014
of guys and a really young team, but we have that extra motivation that we’re not just doing it for ourselves, but we’re doing it to help a legendary figure finish his career.” Hilliard emphasized the importance of simply enjoying his final season after making his announcement April 29.
By the Numbers
603 Career Wins 9 CIF Titles 2 State Championships
4 players active in NCAA 4 players competing overseas
2 players sent to the NBA 2 players sent to the NFL