Adam Hilker

Bio

Adam Hilker joined the Mustangs’ coaching staff prior to the 2019 season.  He completed his seventh season as the pitching coach in 2025, preceded by three seasons at Benedictine College and two at the University of Northern Colorado.

While at Benedictine, Coach Hilker served as the Ravens’ pitching coach, and helped Benedictine achieve 82 victories from 2016-18 after the team won only 44 games over the previous three campaigns. He helped lead the Ravens to a 35-22 record in 2017 for their first winning season since 2007.

Hilker inherited a Benedictine pitching staff that compiled a team earned run average of 7.61 in the 2015 season. Under Hilker, the Ravens lowered their team ERA each season with marks of 7.23 in 2016, 6.24 in 2017 and 5.74 in 2018. The Ravens’ 5.74 ERA that season was their lowest mark since the 2013 season.

Prior to Benedictine, Hilker served as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado in the 2013-14 academic year and was Northern Colorado’s director of baseball operations in 2012-13. 

Hilker is a Westminster, Colorado native, and has a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in sports administration from the University of Northern Colorado. He enjoyed a highly successful playing career at NCAA Division I Northern Colorado, where he earned second-team All-Great West Conference honors at shortstop as a junior and senior.

Adam and his wife Lexie reside in LeMars.

Pitching Staff Under Adam Hilker and how they rank in the GPAC (11 teams)

2025 Pitching Totals:

• GPAC 1st Team Pitcher- JR Cade Nolan
• GPAC 1st Team Relief Pitcher- JR Sam Hanson
• 5th in innings pitched- 373.2
• 2nd in fewest runs allowed- 245
• 1st in earn runs allowed- 207
• 3rd in WHIP (Walks & hits per innings pitched)- 1.56 (44th national)
• 2nd in strikeouts- 359
• 2nd in ERA- 4.99 (25th national)
• 2nd In batting average against- .258

2024 Pitching Totals:

• GPAC 1st Team Pitcher- SO Kai Purdy Burton
• GPAC 1st Team Relief Pitcher- JR Mason Hymer
• 5 th in innings pitched- 384.1
• 3 rd in fewest runs allowed- 225
• 2 nd in earned runs allowed- 189
• 4 th in WHIP (Walks & hits per innings pitched)- 1.51 (36th national)
• 7 th in strikeouts- 351
• 3 rd in ERA- 4.43 (14th nationally)
• 2 nd in batting average against- .254

2023 Pitching Totals:

• GPAC 2nd Team Pitcher- JR Wade Canaday
• 2nd in innings- 422.0 (35th national)
• 5th few runs allowed- 311
• 7th earned runs allowed- 265
• 5th batting average against- .283
• 6th in strikeouts- 359
• 5th in ERA- 5.65
• 4th in WHIP (Walks & Hits per innings pitched)- 1.56 (23rd national)

2022 Pitching Totals:

• GPAC 2nd Team Pitcher- SO- Wade Canaday
• 5th in innings- 365.2
• 4th fewest hits allowed- 390 (31st national)
• 3rd fewest runs allowed- 256 (33rd national)
• 2nd fewest earned runs allowed- 203 (24th national)
• 3rd in strikeouts- 412 (55th national)
• 3rd in K/9- 10.14 (17th national)
• 4th in ERA- 5.00 (48th national)

2021 Pitching Totals:

• 1st in innings- 426.1 (33rd national)
• 10th fewest hits allowed- 459
• 4th in batting average against.- .273
• 9th fewest runs allowed- 323
• 9th fewest earned runs allowed- 273
• 4th in strikeouts- 409 (46th national)
• 6th in ERA- 5.76 

2020 Pitching Totals (COVID):

• 2nd in innings- 167.1
• 7th fewest hits allowed- 162
• 2nd in batting average against.- .252 (41st national)
• 7th fewest runs allowed- 129
• 7th fewest earned runs allowed- 97
• 2nd in strikeouts- 158
• 5th in ERA- 5.22

2019 Pitching Totals:

• 9th in innings- 330.2
• 2nd fewest hits allowed- 340 (16th national)
• 2nd in batting average against- .261
• 2nd fewest runs allowed- 242 (36th national)
• 1st fewest earned runs allowed- 180 (22nd national)
• 5th in strikeouts- 314
• 3rd in ERA- 4.90