In a stellar four-year career as a right-side hitter at Long Beach State, Brent Hilliard was a three-time selection as first team NCAA All-American and in 1992 was the NCAA Player of the Year. In 1991 Hilliard led the 49ers to the NCAA Championship, defeating USC in the final in Honolulu.

Post college, Hilliard was selected as the youngest member of the USA National Team that competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, earning a Bronze Medal with a victory over Cuba. The next year Brent earned a Silver Medal in the 1993 Pan American Games. Hilliard played professionally in Europe from 1995-1998, playing one season in the Netherlands and two years in Belgium, winning the Belgian club championship one year.

Hilliard began his coaching career in 1999 as the Head Coach at Cuyamaca College. Two years later he moved to the University of San Diego. Brent was promoted to Associate Head Coach after serving as USD’s interim head coach for the 2006 season. During the 2006 season Hilliard led USD to West Coast Conference Championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. For his efforts, Hilliard was named the 2006 WCC Coach of the Year. Hilliard has been an important ingredient in USD’s current run of six straight appearances in the NCAA tournament and will be serving again as the Interim Head Coach for the 2011 season. In 2020, Hilliard became the Head Coach at San Diego State University.