Bill Hilburt

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Bill Hilburt is a 1968 graduate of Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Bane, and a 1972 graduate of Lock Haven University. At Coughlin he won nine varsity letters in football, wrestling and track. Bill was a District 2 wrestling champion and a Northeast Regional runner-up in his senior year. He was also a District champion in track as well as an All-State nominee defensive back on the undefeated 1966 conference championship team. Bill was recipient of the outstanding senior athlete award in 1968. Bill started his coaching career at Plains Junior High School in 1972. He started the cross-country, wrestling, and track programs for the junior high. In 1977, Bill assumed the head wrestling coaching position at Elmer L. Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre, where in 17 years his teams have accumulated a 261-60-5 record with six Wyoming Valley Conference championships. In 1987 his team had a perfect 18-0 record. Additionally, his teams have captured five District 2 championships and in 1978 were the PIAA State AAA team champions. Coach Hilburt has produced 56 District 2 champion athletes, with seven being named outstanding wrestler, 11 Northeast Regional champions and 28 PIAA qualifiers, of which ten were place winners. He has had the privilege of coaching nine PIAA State champions, three of which were in 1978. Two of those were voted outstanding wrestler in the tournament and five have attained All-American status. For his outstanding efforts, Coach Hilburt has been named District 2 Coach of the Year on six occasions and twice Northeast Regional Coach of the Year. In 1978, Bill was named the PIAA Coach of the Year and was elected to coach the Pennsylvania Team at the Pittsburgh Classic. Bill is the Athletic Director at Meyers and serves as the secretary-treasurer of the Wyoming Valley Wrestling Conference, is the District 2 tournament director, is a member of the PIAA Steering Committee, and is on the Executive Committee of the District 2 Athletic Directors Association. In 1998, Bill was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Bill currently resides in Wilkes-Barre with his wife Joan and two sons Billy and Brian.