WINSTON-SALEM, NC — Salem College is excited to announce the addition of a women's swimming program, with Tim Hillen being named head coach. Hillen's time with the program begins immediately as he builds a roster for the inaugural competitive season in Fall 2019.
"We are thrilled to announce the addition of a competitive swim program to Salem College Athletics," said Salem College Athletic Director Patricia Hughes. "We feel truly honored that we have a head coach with the level of experience that Coach Hillen will bring to our athletics staff. He possesses vast experience in coaching top-level swimmers and is renowned for his community outreach. We are confident that we can build a competitive swim program that will attract high-level student-athletes who can help us build the foundation for a nationally competitive swim team."
After receiving his MBA from Lewis University (03') Hillen joined the Peace Corps and served in Cameroon, Africa where he worked in the field of microfinance and small business banking. Upon returning to the U.S. in 2007, Hillen moved to North Carolina and became the director of corporate development for The BuddGroup in Winston Salem, NC.
In December of 2012, Hillen co-founded Enfinity Health Ventures (initially a health food company and personal training center). Drawing upon his background and swimming experience, Enfinity established a Master's Swim Club which has since evolved into the nationally recognized Enfinity Aquatic Club. What started with a dozen swimmers at Salem College has expanded to three branches with more than 200 swimmers. Out of the 12 founding swimmers that started the club, six have since gone on to swim in college at Florida State, Harvard, UNC Chapel Hill, Washington and Lee, and Emory and Henry.
Tim was a senior-level coach with the Saint Cloud State Swim Club in 2002-2004. During his time with the SCSC Tim's 13-14 boys program amassed: 14 individual state titles, six age group state records and six state relay titles, and two state high point winners.
In 2005 before Hillen enrolled in graduate school, he spent a summer coaching with the McFarland Spartan Sharks, a year-round competitive swim team, where his swimmers earned multiple accolades including five state titles and two high point champions.
During 2005-2007 Hillen was a graduate assistant at Lewis University. Over the course of the two collegiate seasons, Lewis University produced 14 school records, four NCAA national qualifiers, two All-Americans and one Olympic trials qualifier. Hillen has had 32 junior national qualifiers, 45 state titles, 16 state records, and one national Jr/Sr national team member.
"I couldn't be more happy to establish and lead the women's swimming program," Hillen said. "I have always admired the history, culture, and overall spirit of Salem College campus. To now become a part of an athletic staff that has so much energy and momentum is an opportunity and challenge I look forward to."