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 historical 2022-23 season, Hilliard was promoted to Director of Cross Country and Track & Field for the Tiger program.

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 two-sport athlete (football and track & field) at Heidelberg

Coaching History

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

Wittenberg Highlights

• 7 team conference championships (2 cross country, 5 track and field)
• 11 All-American honors
• 6 conference records (NCAC)
• 34 NCAA national event qualifiers
• 72 individual conference champions (NCAC)
• 336 All-Conference honors (NCAC)
• 21 individual conference Athlete of the Year awards (NCAC)
• 1 cross country Honorable Mention
• 1 Track and Field Regional Athlete of the Year award
• 7 NCAC Coach of the Year honors
• 2020 NCAA Regional Indoor Coach of the Year
• 2023 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year
• Has coached the Tigers to more than two dozen new school records

All-Americans

• Victor Banjo 60 meters Indoor 2012
• Victor Banjo 100 meters Outdoor 2012
• Aaron Melsop long jump Indoor 2015
• Victor Banjo 60 meters Indoor 2015
• Tyler Gittens 400-meter hurdles Outdoor 2017
• Alexis Johnson long jump Indoor 2020
• Stevie Plikerd long jump Indoor 2020
• Alexis Gray 800 meters Indoor 2020
• Alexis Gray 800 meters Outdoor 2020
• Sydney Khosla 3,000 meter steeplechase Outdoor 2023
• Taylor Weiss high jump Outdoor 2024

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.