Marcus Hilliard has been named the Defensive Coordinator for Albany State University, effective Monday, February 2. A veteran coach with deep Division II experience, Hilliard brings a proven defensive pedigree and championship-level leadership to the Golden Rams football program.
Hilliard joins Albany State after serving during the 2025 season as the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach at Barton College. He was hired in the spring of 2025 following a successful three-year stint as Head Coach at Elizabeth City State University from 2022–24, where he guided the Vikings through a period of competitive growth while continuing to build one of the conference’s most respected defensive identities.
Prior to his time as a head coach, Hilliard spent three seasons at Virginia Union University as the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Line Coach. While with the Panthers, he also served as the program’s pro-scout liaison and assisted with football operations, including budgeting and scholarships. His impact at Virginia Union earned national recognition in 2018, when he was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.
Hilliard is no stranger to Elizabeth City State, where he previously dedicated 14 years to the program as a student-athlete, graduate assistant, position coach, and defensive coordinator. Across that span, his defenses helped produce a combined 25 All-CIAA selections and NCAA Division II All-American performers.
A native of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Hilliard earned his bachelor’s degree in history and later completed his master’s degree in Sport Management and Administration from the United States Sports Academy in 2007.
