Coaching Could Be In Hilliard's Future
Published: Oct 20, 2007
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TAMPA - Bucs receiver Ike Hilliard will spend today on an airplane, take a bus to a Detroit hotel, enjoy a few hours of personal time, attend a team meeting at 8 p.m., then get some sleep before Sunday's game.
The way Hilliard envisions his future Saturdays is extremely different.
Instead of preparing for an NFL game, Hilliard sees himself pumping up Florida International University's football team as a coach. Hilliard, a University of Florida graduate who lives in Miami, has no ties to the program, but after 11 seasons in the NFL, coaching the Golden Panthers has become his post-playing career dream job.
"I got an itch to do it. By no means am I trying to retire early, but my ideal job is at FIU," Hilliard said. "I would like to try to build on what that program is doing, even though I am not an alumnus. I just got an itch."
Hilliard used to scratch the notion of being a coach.
There was no initial appeal for him to spend hours in meetings, breaking down film, recruiting and attending school-related functions.
However, when Hilliard began thinking about the impact he could have developing young players, coaching seemed like an ideal job.
"I just think college is so appealing because the kids are in transition. They need to learn how to be young men and transition into men because they're on their own," Hilliard said. "They don't have Mom and Dad telling them to get up and go to school, or do your homework. They were fortunate to get a scholarship, but you still have to work your butt off to help your transition as a player and person."
Hilliard already has begun preparing for his eventual transition.
He spends countless hours picking receivers coach Richard Mann's brain, learning the finer details of how offenses work. Hilliard also spends time talking with defensive backs coach Raheem Morris to learn the finer points about defenses. Morris often slips Hilliard tapes for him to study as his quest for football knowledge grows.
"He will be a phenomenal coach one day, whenever he decides to do it. Whenever he stops catching first downs for us," Morris said. "Coaches have to be patient. He has to understand that everybody is not going to be Ike Hilliard. If he can just deal with the guys who are not Ike Hilliard and make them better, he will be a good coach."
Hilliard has no desire to coach on the high school level, mainly because dealing with parents is not alluring. And although NFL assistant coaches have uncertain futures, he said he would consider it only if it helps him land a college job.
"Everybody has to pay their dues. I'm not afraid of climbing up the ladder," Hilliard said. "I'll do what I have to do. Dirty laundry. Bring coffee and donuts. Draw up the plays. I'm no different than any other guy. I'm not worried about the transition. I'm just looking forward to the trip itself."
Hilliard said he does not anticipate his sideline journey from player to coach will happen anytime soon.
Jokingly, Hilliard said he could play in the NFL for another five to six years, but at 31 years old it is likely he will hold a clipboard sooner rather than later.
Even though Hilliard is looking forward to changing his Saturday routine, those close to him believe his weekend success will remain the same.
"The thing about Ike Hilliard is he's going to be great in whatever he does," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "He cares about people. He cares about the details. He's a great communicator. He's going to be a great coach. He will be a great governor. He will be a great congressman. He's just got to put heart into it and he'll be awesome.
"I'd like to have him as my head coach. I'd like to have him come out here and call these plays and I can take a couple of weeks off."
Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425 or arichardson@tampatrib.com.
