Hilbert athletics photo

Hilbert president Michael S. Brophy announced the addition of three new sports – football, men's and women's track & field, and women's ice hockey – to begin competition in fall 2022. The addition of these athletic programs advances the school's strategic plan, which calls for increased engagement, recruitment, and retention of student-athletes. 

"As outlined in our strategic plan, Hilbert has always intended to grow our athletic offerings," Brophy said. "Given the current momentum around revitalizing our Hilbert campus and our tremendous community partners, we are energized to accelerate our planned athletics growth by one year."

Typically, schools which announce new football programs do so somewhere around 18 months in advance. Eastern, which made its announcement on Sept. 15 of this year, is expected to play a limited schedule in 2022 and enter full competition in 2023. 

If there are no other changes, Hilbert would become the 242nd Division III member with football. The school is not aligned with a conference which currently sponsors football, but Hilbert could be a candidate for either the Empire 8 or Liberty League. 

Hilbert, located in Hamburg, New York, south of Buffalo, has 686 full-time undergraduate students, according to its most recent filing with the U.S. Department of Education.

"On behalf of the Hilbert College Board of Trustees, we are thrilled to be announcing these new athletic programs," said Laurie Boreanaz Carra, chair of the board. "Providing our students with these additional opportunities for growth in both mind and body aligns well with the college's strategic plan and mission and will increase access to a Franciscan education for deserving students in our region who are interested in these sports."

The football program be one of 19 NCAA Division III teams in New York, while women's hockey becomes the 14th in the state. Women's ice hockey will be one 67 programs competing for a national championship, and men's and women's track and field one of over 300.

"We also recognize prospective college students and their families want these athletic offerings and many of them have the desire to continue competing at the collegiate level with the character-building education provided by a Franciscan institution," Brophy added.

Hilbert has recently launched a capital campaign for a new NCAA Division III track and field complex, with an artificial turf field. The Hawks will compete in football and track & field at St. Francis High School while the campaign is ongoing. Additionally, the women's ice hockey program will practice and compete at the ice rink located at the Town of Hamburg Ice Arena on Lakeview Road.

The Hawks are still finalizing plans to join athletic conferences for these respective sports. Hilbert will remain in the United East for men's and women's lacrosse and in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference for their existing sports. 

Coaching searches are currently underway and Hilbert plans to announce its first football coach next week.