Many collegiate athletes turn into coaches and college administrators.  Calvin University head softball coach and assistant athletic director Becky Hilgert is not unique in that. But her path to Calvin in those roles is different from many who knew from an early age that is what they wanted to do.
 
Hilgert saw her future in politics. A prominent softball player for NCAA Division III St. Thomas University (Minn.), Hilgert had already worked on numerous political campaigns when she was named to the NCAA Division III World Series All-Tournament Team as a senior in 2002. She spent a semester of her junior year at American University in Washington D.C., which she says cemented her desire to work in politics.
 
After graduating from St. Thomas, Hilgert traveled the country working on different national and state campaigns. In 2004, Hilgert worked as chief of staff in the Michigan House of Representatives, a title she held for four years before she began to wonder if the career she had chosen was right for her.
 
"After eight or so years in a unique and cutthroat industry, it no longer was fulfilling and I questioned if this was the path God intended for me," Hilgert said.
 
In 2008, Hilgert co-founded Traditions Communications, which started the path for her to work more flexible hours and be around sports again in various capacities.
 
"Starting my own communications business was an opportunity for me to chart a new path professionally and it allowed a flexible schedule to be around sport again," she said. "I assisted as a high school basketball and softball coach for several years without the intention of doing much more than that. I just wanted to be around sports and share my knowledge with young athletes. It wasn't until I was hired as an assistant softball coach at Calvin in 2015 that I felt more of a pull to pursue coaching as a new career."
 
After serving two years as an assistant softball coach at Calvin, Hilgert was named the Knights' head softball coach in 2017, where she amassed a 141-66 record in her first six seasons with three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, including two regional finals.
 
"Coaching as a full-time profession was not on my radar in college. In the early 2000's, most coaches I was around were stipend and worked full time as high school teachers. Teaching was not a career path I was interested in pursuing.
 
"One positive thing I have witnessed over the last few years at Division III is more head coaches have worked toward and shown a professionalism in coaching and, as a result, have earned more opportunities as far as job security and benefits," she continued. "At more and more Division III institutions, student-athletes now have full-time, professional coaches in their corner. I believe this has been a game changer not only for each sport, but these coaches are more accessible to help student-athletes manage the many issues and demands they face daily."
 
In the summer of 2021, Hilgert added the title of Assistant Athletic Director to her position as head softball coach. In her new role, Hilgert handles the compliance duties for the athletic department.
 
"With my political and legislative background, I felt I could bring a unique perspective and be an asset to the University, our athletic department, and my coaching colleagues," she said of her new role. "The inter-workings of the NCAA and its rulemaking has always been an interest of mine, and it has been exciting to expand my knowledge – especially with some of the important issues currently at the forefront of the NCAA."
 
Calvin Director of Athletics Dr. James Timmer could not be happier with the things Hilgert has brought to the administrative side of the athletic department over the last two years.
 
"Becky has always been a vital part of our department as a coach who has done a tremendous job with our softball program," Timmer said. "Her background and skill set made her a perfect fit for the administrative duties she's added to her plate with compliance, and she has proven to be an invaluable resource to me and the rest of the athletic department over the last two years. We're thrilled to have someone of her talents in that role as we move forward."
 
Through her career as a student-athlete, coach and administrator, Hilgert views herself as a lifelong advocate for Division III. She also believes part of her roles as coach and administrator are to protect the things that make Division III unique.
 
"There are a lot of outside entities and issues (NIL, transfer portal, athletes as employees) trying to disrupt the bedrock of Division III and if I can have a role and voice in trying to protect and maintain the philosophy of Division III, I certainly want to be a part of that for our University, student-athletes, and coaches," Hilgert said. "There is a reason why Division III is the biggest division as far number of schools and student-athletes. We (Division III) often get overlooked in the conversation or get lumped in with the big schools and we must work hard to advocate and protect what makes Division III so special."
 
"I have witnessed so many success stories of our student-athletes who have done it all – had a successful athletic career, studied at a high level and are now working in careers they find fulfilling," she added. "The beauty of Division III is you can really have it all as a student-athlete."