SHARE YOUR CONDOLENCES FOR DR. HILYER (HERE)
Dr. Jim Hilyer was at the helm of UAB's launch into college football. He guided the Blazers through their two club years in 1989 and 1990, then led the Blazers into NCAA football as Division III members in 1991 and 1992 and Division I-AA members in 1993 and 1994.
He coached UAB to an overall record of 28-12-1, good for a winning percentage of .695 – the highest in school history. Not only was Coach Hilyer instrumental in starting the UAB football program, but he was also a member of its re-birth as a special assistant to Bill Clark during the return of UAB from 2016-19.
Dr. Hilyer was inducted into the UAB Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
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Dr. Jim Hilyer was our football program’s first head coach. It was our honor to induct him this past year into the UAB Athletics Hall of Fame. Coach Hilyer has meant so much to so many of our players, fans and alumni. The impact that he made will never be forgotten. We mourn his passing; our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Mark Ingram, UAB Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics |
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It is with sadness that we learn about the passing of Dr. Jim Hilyer. He meant so to the UAB football program and it was special for me that I got have him on my staff. We are praying for his family. Dr. Hilyer is such an important part of UAB and Birmingham.
Bill Clark, UAB Head Football Coach |
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Jim and I did not always see eye to eye, but was smart enough and taught me that when that was the case to get someone else Involved. He was the coach so most times he got what he wanted but when I could not get it or allow it, I was glad Snoozy Jones was there to help us keep it from getting personal. Jim was so smart and and me smarter by the way he handled adversity.
Dennis Rancoont, Associate AD Football retired |
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Coach Hilyer was a Huge part of the success of UAB Football. He laid the foundation for generations of athletes to receive a world class education while competing at the highest level. Thank you Coach for all you have done for UAB.
Trey Ragland, Former UAB Player/Current Sideline Reporter |
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I played for Coach Hilyer from 91-94. He was a great coach and teacher. I will never forget the man he was and am forever thankful he gave me an opportunity to play at UAB. He will be missed by so many. Love you Coach!
Chris Maye, Former UAB Player |
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The early days of UAB Football could not have been more humble. Club football in hand-me-down equipment became NCAA Division III football, still no scholarships, but someone would need to lead it.
Newspaper speculation threw out big names like former Alabama and NFL coach Ray Perkins, but the perfect person was right there on campus.
Dr. Jim Hilyer, teaching in the School of Medicine, seemed almost written out of a book. How could you argue against a medical school putting a doctor (phD) from the faculty to coach football for a bunch of non-scholarship student-athletes? Oh, and he helped integrate Auburn football as an assistant coach, was part of a Washington Redskins staff coached by Hall of Famer George Allen and had experience on a start-up staff in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions?
As the kids sing today on TikTok, Jim Hilyer “understood the assignment.”
Perhaps his best quality of all, Jim Hilyer knew how to spot abilities in people and show them things they might not have seen themselves.
By believing in them, he empowered their potential.
Whether you were getting your first chance, or were down to your last, Jim Hilyer could find it in you and unlock your best.
The team won against the odds, going 28-12-1 in Hilyer’s four seasons as coach, rising from Division III to FCS and the brink of I-A. By the time 1994 rolled around, they were playing teams like Kansas instead of Millsaps, and a new day would soon arrive in which Coach Hilyer and staff’s part of the story would end.
Except that isn’t really true. Jim Hilyer’s legacy can be seen every time you see that dragon logo on your TV. You see Jim Hilyer’s legacy when you see see Cedrick Buchannon still doing touchdown backflips in his 40s and hear him in the stands. You see Jim Hilyer’s legacy when you see coaches in the community winning high school football games. You see it in businesses and schools and communities, through the now middle-aged men who believed in him, and believed in UAB, and who stood up to be heard and counted when others counted them out.
You see it in the teammates who are brothers for life. You see it in their kids, decked out in green and gold in that shiny new stadium they were dreaming about even back then.
You see it all around you. You see it in today’s caretakers of that vision, who continue to add to it and honor it with their effort, talent, support and love.
Players honor it every time they suit up. Fans honor it every time they show up.
That is Jim Hilyer’s gift. He saw what we all could be before it ever was.
Tim Stephens |
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Coach, I am sending prayers up for your family. Thank you for the opportunity you gave me. God bless you and I miss you.
Alvin Binion |
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