The two new assistant women’s basketball coaches bring positivity and a fresh start to the team, according to students. One founded an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team while the other worked in the WNBA, creating a dynamic atmosphere with plenty of new ideas.
In response, Matthew Hilkens and Lisa Ballenger both say the quality of the Hillsdale students impresses them, especially in comparison to other places they’ve worked or studied.
“The standards that the school follows are so different than really anywhere any of us have ever coached; it’s such a higher quality of student athletes to work with,” Hilkens said.
“There are so many things we don’t have to worry about that we had to worry about at D-I schools, such as kids going to class,” Ballenger said, expressing enthusiasm for the lack of study tables as well. “Our GPA as a team is a 3.34 after last semester. The girls are extremely proactive about their academics, and it’s an awesome stress relief for us so we can focus on basketball.”
This is not Hilkens’ first experience with head coach Todd Mitmesser, who was an assistant coach at University of Toledo while Hilkens was a practice player.
“This job was a great opportunity to reconnect with Coach Mit and coach with him and learn from him again,” Hilkens said.
In addition to his time at Toledo, Hilkens also played a year at Trine University. Since then, he’s coached at Owens Community College and Sienna Heights University, and he has also founded and coached his own AAU team, Michigan Elite. His experience at Toledo made him realize he wanted to coach competitive college basketball.
Ballenger has known basketball all her life. The daughter of a Division I basketball player and 20-year coach, she said she’s been passionate about basketball since before she started playing as a 5-year-old. She played at Wheaton College and spent a year in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky as part of their basketball operations staff.
She was only 15 when she decided she wanted to coach. Her first experiences were with high school and AAU teams, and she most recently coached at the University of Nevada at Reno for two years. She’s still trying to adjust to Hillsdale’s small town atmosphere.
“I’m kind of an organic-eating type of person, and there’s three shelves in Kroger. I’m used to having a Whole Foods and a Trader Joe’s. I’m used to having multiple options,” Ballenger said with a laugh as Hilkens agrees.
Despite the lack of organic food, Ballenger said she’s thrilled with the people.
“I’ve never met so many friendly people who are more than willing to bend over backwards to help me,” Ballenger said.
The students shared their excitement for the year as well.
“These assistant coaches are much more individualized, so they’ll tell you individually what you need to work on instead of always just repeating one thing that the team needs to do better,” sophomore forward Jessica De Gree said.
“They want to know how they can coach us better, and they want to know us as players and know each of us individually outside of basketball as well. It’s been a refreshing change,” senior guard Madison Berry added. She said the entire team has noticed improved positivity.
De Gree loved their first practice together, and said she came out with more of an attacking mindset.
“I definitely think they’re a lot more engaging and energetic, especially because both Ballenger and coach Hilkens played. They know a little bit more about the athletes’ psyche and they’re able to push us,” De Gree said.
The new coaches will experience their first game day on Nov. 13 against the University of Illinois Springfield in Lebanon, Illinois.
