After being fired by the Atlanta Falcons earlier this season, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard has found a new home and will be heading to the college ranks.
Hilliard is joining Cal’s new coaching staff under new head coach Tosh Lupoi, and he will be co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach there.
Hilliard has held many jobs over the course of his career, including two since the Steelers moved on from him as their wide receivers coach in 2021. He was the wide receivers coach and interim offensive coordinator at Auburn in 2022.
Before he came to the Steelers in 2020, Hilliard was the wide receivers coach with the Washington Commanders for five seasons from 2014 to 2018. He also worked for the Bills and Commanders in that capacity earlier.
A former NFL player from 1997 to 2008, Hilliard played with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his career.
In his successful NFL career, Hilliard had 546 receptions for over 600 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns. He was the seventh overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft out of Florida by the Giants.
Hilliard, 49, has experience at the pro and college ranks, which should give him a boost while starting at Cal.