Paris Hilliard

Paris Hilliard

  • Title:
    Director of Cross Country and Track & Field/DEI Co-Chair
  • Phone:
    937-327-7094
  • Email:
    philliard@wittenberg.edu
  • Previous College:
    Heidelberg, 2010
  • Office:
    N116

Paris Hilliard joined the Tiger coaching staff in December 2011. After nearly four years on staff as an assistant, Hilliard moved into the lead role with the track and field program in August 2015. Hilliard was announced as the head of both Cross Country and Track & Field programs in the spring of 2019. Hilliard was appointed co-chair of the Wittenberg Athletic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program in Fall 2021. After a record breaking 2022-23 season, Hilliard was promoted to Director of Cross Country and Track & Field.

A native of Lorain, Ohio, Hilliard arrived at Wittenberg after one year as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Heidelberg University. Hilliard graduated from Heidelberg in May of 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in sports management and business administration. In May 2013, Hilliard finished a master's degree in education at Heidelberg.  While attending Heidelberg, he was a member of Tau Pi Phi honorary and the Black Student Union and was twice named to the Dean's List. Hilliard was also a 2-sport athlete (football and track & field) at Heidelberg

Coaching History

  • Heidelberg University (2010-2011)
  • Wittenberg University (2011-current)

Wittenberg Highlights

  • 201 Track and Field All-Conference Award Winners (NCAC)
  • 39 Track and Field NCAC Individual Champions
  • 24 Track and Field NCAA National Qualifiers
  • 12 Track and Field NCAC Athlete of the Year Awards
  • 2 Track and Field NCAC Conference Records
  • 1 Cross Country Honorable Mention
  • 1 Track and Field Regional Athlete of the Year Award
  • 2020 NCAA Regional Indoor Coach of the Year
  • Has coached the Tigers to more than two dozen new school records

All-Americans

  • Victor Banjo 60m Indoor 2012
  • Victor Banjo 100m Outdoor 2012
  • Aaron Melsop Long Jump Indoor 2015
  • Victor Banjo 60m Indoor 2015
  • Tyler Gittens 400H Outdoor 2017
  • Alexis Johnson Long Jump Indoor 2020
  • Stevie Plikerd Long Jump Indoor 2020
  • Alexis Gray 800m Indoor 2020
  • Alexis Gray 800m Outdoor 2020

Athletic Career

  • Received 10 All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors, 6 all-state honors, and a first-place finish in the 200-meter dash at the All-Ohio Championships in 2008.
  • Member of four Division III provisional qualifying relay teams
  • Appeared in two Division III Championship meets (2007, 2010)
  • Hilliard is also a member of two records at Heidelberg, the 4x200-meter indoor (1:30.04) and the 4x100-meter (41.45) relays. 

Personal

  • Hilliard currently resides in Springfield, Ohio with his wife Casey and their three boys Darius, Paris Jr., and Caison.