Hilker was an assistant coach for the past three seasons at Benedictine College, where he served as the Ravens’ pitching coach. Hilker helped Benedictine achieve 82 victories from 2016-18 after the team won only 44 games over the previous three campaigns. He helped lead the Ravens to a 35-22 record in 2017 for their first winning season since 2007.

Hilker inherited a Benedictine pitching staff that compiled a team earned run average of 7.61 in the 2015 season. Under Hilker, the Ravens lowered their team ERA each season with marks of 7.23 in 2016, 6.24 in 2017 and 5.74 in 2018. The Ravens’ 5.74 ERA this past season was their lowest mark since the 2013 season.

Hilker served as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado in the 2013-14 academic year and was Northern Colorado’s director of baseball operations in 2012-13. He has served as a head coach for three summer collegiate leagues, most recently leading the Melville Millionaires of the Western Major Baseball League in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Hilker has a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in sports administration from the University of Northern Colorado. He enjoyed a highly successful playing career at NCAA Division I Northern Colorado, where he earned second-team All-Great West Conference honors as a junior and senior.