ROB DEGRANDPRE EARNS 200TH WIN AT HILBERT

After the Hilbert College men's basketball team earned a 67-66 road win at Franciscan University earlier this month they assured themselves a spot in the AMCC post-season tournament for the eighth consecutive season. 

The decision also secured head coach Rob deGrandpre his 200th career win in his 16th year at Hilbert.

The Hawks' all-time leader took over the program prior to the start of the 2002-03 campaign and earned his first win January 11, 2003 against Medaille (72-69). 

Hilbert went 1-23 that season but gradually improved going 14-14 during the 2006-07 season until the program posted its first winning season (15-12) in 2011-12.

deGrandpre earned his 100th career win January 6, 2013 at La Roche College in a decisive 73-71 victory which propelled his Hawks to the program's first AMCC regular season championship.  deGrandpre was named the 2013 AMCC Coach of the Year and his 14-4 Hawks earned the right to host the AMCC Championship Tournament that same season.

Currently, Hilbert is 13-8 overall and holds onto 4th place with a 9-5 league record.  The Hawks will host two home games this week, with Senior Day set for Saturday, February 10, before they close the regular season schedule with a pair of road games. 

The 2017-18 AMCC tournament begins Wednesday, February 21 with the First Round games pitting #3 (vs. #6) and #4 (vs #5) battling for the right to advance to the Final Four Weekend.  #1 (tourney host) and #2 receive a bye opening night and wait for the championship weekend February 24/25.

During deGrandpre's tenure, the Hawks have qualified for the post-season tournament now ten times in his 16 seasons.  Twice Hilbert has hosted the Championship tournament as the #1 seed and made it to the finals three consecutive seasons (2013-14, 2014-2015, 2015-16).