FORT COLLINS — Tom Hilbert’s coaching tree grew another branch on Monday.
Florida Gulf Coast University announced it has hired Matt Botsford to be its new head volleyball coach after spending the past two seasons under Hilbert at CSU. He becomes the sixth former Hilbert assistant to currently hold a head-coaching post.
“I’m really happy for Matt. I’m not happy for me, because I really like Matt,” Hilbert said. “I thought he was a good fit, and I enjoyed working with him. You have to be happy for people when things are happening like this for them. I want to be the guy people think he’s a good person to work for because he’ll help you and support you in moving your career along.”
Botsford was with the Rams for two seasons after replacing Jesse Mahoney, who took the head job at Denver. Botsford’s main focus was working with the middles and setting up the blocking schemes for CSU, overseeing four players who earned all-conference recognition. FCGU will represent his first collegiate head coaching position.
“It’s exciting to get a head coaching opportunity like this,” said Botsford in a release issued by CSU. “At the same time, it’s difficult to walk away from a phenomenal program and tremendous group of players and staff that I’ve invested so much into.”
Hilbert said he will not rush to fill the position, but he won’t have to look far for candidates. He already has a short list, saying he had received at least 15 inquiries about the opening by Monday afternoon.
“The biggest thing is to be thorough,” Hilbert said. “It’s more about who I get than it is a timeline.”
