Former Florida football standout Ike Hilliard has returned to college football after spending the past decade on various National Football League sidelines. Having coached for the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Gator alumnus is set to take over the wide receivers coaching duties for the Auburn Tigers.
His recent two-year stint with the Steelers ended following the 2021 season when the team declined to renew his contract, opening up the field for new opportunities. Hilliard’s new gig with the Tigers is his first coaching job at the collegiate level.
Florida fans are quite familiar with his pedigree dating back to his days in Gainesville, where he played from 1994 to 1996 under Steve Spurrier and was instrumental in the Gators’ first national championship in his final season. Taken with the No. 7 overall pick of the 1997 NFL draft by the New York Giants, Hilliard spent eight years in the Meadowlands before spending his final four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished his pro career with 546 receptions for 6,397 yards and 35 touchdowns over a total of 161 games played.
Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin had the following to say about his newest staff addition.
“Ike is exactly what we are looking for to lead our wide receivers room. His credentials really speak for themself – All-American in the SEC, NFL First Round pick, 12 years as a very productive player in the league and a decade plus coaching in the NFL,” Harsin said. “Amongst all of those accomplishments one other thing really stood out showing who Ike is as a person and leader. He made a commitment to his family that he would graduate from college, and he never lost sight of that, finishing up his degree while also being a full-time NFL coach. Ike, without a doubt, possesses the same values that we want our Auburn program to be known for – character, discipline, toughness and conviction. We are excited to welcome Ike, his wife Lourdes and their children to the Auburn family.”
[lawrence-related id=78133]
[listicle id=63502]
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.