Nebraska head coach John Cook announces the addition of Tyler Hildebrand as the teams new assistant coach, replacing Chris Tamas who accepted the head coaching position at Illinois in February.
Earlier this year, Cook also brought back the teams former libero, Kayla Banwarth as the other assistant coach for the program.
Hildebrand is in his second year as associate head coach and fifth year overall on the staff for the Long Beach State men’s volleyball program. He was a former All-American at Long Beach State he was also a major fixture on the U.S. Men’s National Team. He is already on campus with the team, leaving the 49ers, who are 15-2 and ranked #2 in the AVCA Coaches Poll. The team has a good chance of making a decent run in the NCAA Tournament in May; therefore, Hildebrand could still possibly serve as a volunteer assistant with the team come tournament time.
With Nebraska, Hildebrand will have the opportunity to coach all positions as well as recruiting. With Long Beach State, he helped run the offense and blocking defense.
Since the conclusion of his collegiate career, Hildebrand has accomplished much as both a player and coach. From 2006-2012, Hildebrand played with the U.S. Men’s National Team where he was a four-time Pan American Cup champion and a World University Games bronze medalist. In 2015, he served as the setting consultant for the National Team as they won the FIVB World Cup and earned the bronze medal in the World League.
Last summer, Hildebrand helped coach the U.S. beach pair of Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson at the 2016 Rio Olympics – also having played beach professionally from 2006-07.
Hildebrand’s wife, Kristin Hildebrand was a former U.S. Women’s National Team captain and is retired from playing. At a later time, she will be put into a role with the team, of which will be determined at a later date.
“Of all the coaches I’ve hired, Tyler is giving up more of what he has going on right now than anyone,” Cook said. “He’s got a Long Beach State men’s team that could win a national championship. He had a contract offer to be with the U.S. Men’s National Team that could be favored to win gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.”
During his playing career at Long Beach State, Hildebrand was a setter from 2003-06. He was a three-time AVCA All-American selection and three-time first-team All-MPSF pick. In his freshman season, Hildebrand earned the MPSF Freshman of the Year and AVCA National Newcomer of the Year in 2003.
Hildebrand graduated from Long Beach State with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2006.
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