Hilliard returns to Flathead sidelines
His name is still atop the Flathead football record books. This season, Lex Hilliard, a six-year NFL veteran, will be on the sidelines for the Braves.
Hilliard, who played running back for the Braves from 2000-02, has been hired as the new running backs coach and special teams coordinator for Flathead coach Kyle Samson, a close friend and competitor from their time in high school. Hilliard has his football career on hold while he recovers from an injury suffered in New York Jets training camp last year.
“We’ve always kind of stayed in touch,” said Samson, who played against Hilliard at Helena Capital, winning the 2002 state championship and Gatorade player of the year.
“When I saw him in the interview process, that was the first time that I’d seen him in about six years.
“He told me he’d like to help out any way that he can until he got a chance to go back [to the NFL]. With his injury he hasn’t quite had the chance.”
Hilliard, who coached his son’s third grade football team while rehabbing last fall, has yet to be medically cleared to return to football after breaking his scapula and acromion — two shoulder bones — in Jets camp. The injury kept him from being able to lift his shoulder for three months, and while his rehab is over, it still hasn’t fully healed.
“It’s just unfortunate that I wasn’t able to make it to training camp, like my goal was,” Hilliard said.
“It’s just a waiting game. Once you’re out for a certain amount of time, it’s hard to get back in. It’s hard to get in in the first place, let alone back in once you’re out.”
“Someday I probably will [play again], hopefully I’ll still be around the age that I can still play and take a beating.”
When he was offered a position on the Braves’ coaching staff, he jumped at the opportunity to help an old friend.
“I love football,” Hilliard said. “I’ve been around the game a long time. I couldn’t just turn that away. Helping out a buddy that was short on coaches, I had to do it.”
He slides into a perfect position, coaching running backs and special teams, where he has boundless experience in college and the pros. An All-American running back at the University of Montana, he was selected in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins. In six seasons, he has 13 career starts between running back and fullback, with 168 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and another 233 yards and two touchdowns receiving. In 62 career games, he never lost a fumble.
He also brings a world of experience in special teams, a skill he had to learn quickly.
“One of the things that made me in the NFL was playing special teams,” Hilliard said. “I had to learn it. Unfortunately, I never played it in high school or in college. I had to learn it at a high level and learn it fast.
“You can win and lose games just by special teams alone. Just because you’re not a starter on offense or defense, doesn’t mean you can’t be a starter on special teams. That’s as big a part as any.”
According to Samson, Hilliard has taken quickly to coaching.
“He’s done a heck of a job with our kids this summer in the weight room and also on the practice field,” Samson said.
“Obviously, any kid that shows up, Lex is a hero around here. It’s pretty special to have a kid that has given back to his hometown. I can’t be happier that he’s going to coach for us.
“Myself, I can learn a lot from him, some different things that he’s learned. We’ve kind of bounced off ideas on each other from my coaching career and his playing career.
“It’s a great feeling to know he wants to be a part of the Braves, because he’s obviously one of the best players that has ever been a part of this program.”
Flathead will hold a football scrimmage at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Legends Field to show off the new-look team.
Hilliard, while still looking forward to another chance in the NFL, said he is jumping full in to coaching this season.
“I can’t wait until we get to Friday night in two weeks and come together as a group underneath the lights.”