David Hildebrandt, 29, volleyball coach

DAVID HILDEBRANDT

David Hildebrandt, the former Newbury College volleyball coach who was to start coaching at Elms College next Friday, drowned Sunday near Albany, N.H., after he fell into the Swift River. He was 29.

Mr. Hildebrandt was born and raised in Glidden, Wis. Upon graduation from Glidden High School, he moved to Rhode Island to study food science management at Johnson & Wales University.

At Johnson & Wales, Mr. Hildebrandt played volleyball for four years and was first president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. He graduated in 2001.

That summer, Mr. Hildebrandt began coaching the men's and women's volleyball teams at Newbury College, where he served as head coach for seven years.

In that capacity, he turned the men's and women's programs into nationally respected programs, Newbury College athletic director Peter Centola said. He recruited students from 14 states and three countries and developed very successful teams.

"It's almost hard to describe the impact he had," said 2007 Newbury graduate Katie Hawkes of South Boston, who played volleyball. "He completely turned around everything in our program, as well as in our lives."

Mr. Hildebrandt's dedication paid off: He was named 2006 Coach of the Year for the Association of Division III Independents for his work with the women's team.

For five out of seven seasons, the women's team finished with a winning record, setting the school record for wins in a season five times, including the current record of 23 matches in 2006.

Under his leadership, the women won the NCAA Division III North East Independent Championships in 2006 and 2007. On Nov. 5, 2006, he led the women to his 100th career victory during the Independent Championship match against University of Maine at Presque Isle.

"He really did make so many people love the sport so much more. because he really wanted us to succeed," Hawkes said. "He was an amazing guy. It's so sad. It's almost unreal that this had to happen. It's like a loss that you can't even describe."

Mr. Hildebrandt transformed the men's program from a last-place team to winners of the 2008 North East Collegiate Volleyball Association New England Title, with a school record of 33 wins that season.

The 2008 team finished in sixth place nationally, another school record. He was named 2008 NECVA New England Division Coach of the Year.

He led the men's team to five consecutive winning records, during which he coached talented players who served as a testament to his leadership and impact on Newbury College.

For the past three years, the men's team was named an NECVA academic team for having a combined GPA of over 3.0. In 2007 and 2008, he won the Eastern College Athletic Conference North Men's Volleyball championship. On January 22, 2008, he won his 100th career men's volleyball match against his alma mater, Johnson and Wales.

"He really brought life and enthusiasm to Newbury College and to the students," said Newbury College athletic director Centola. "He was just very hard-working, very dedicated."

Mr. Hildebrandt was to begin coaching at Elms College in Chicopee on Aug. 15, said Elms athletic director Louise T. McCleary.

"I've seen him coach before. . . . To see it firsthand, that passion for volleyball, for student athlete growth, and just for life," McCleary said. "He got excited about just about everything he did. It's very sad, very tragic, not to get to know him better."

Mr. Hildebrandt had been acclimating himself to the Elms campus since he was hired in May, reaching out to new students at volleyball camp and getting ready to begin the next step in his promising future.

"He loved what he was doing, . . . it was obvious," McCleary said. "He always kept student athletes and their growth as his number one priority, and how they could learn through the sport of volleyball."

He was described as enthusiastic and passionate by colleagues at Newbury and Elms colleges.

"It's so hard to comprehend just how many people's lives he has touched," said his aunt, Helene Whiting of Ashland, Wis. "He has made such a difference, . . . and to accomplish all of that at such a young age."

He leaves his mother, Tammie of Glidden; a sister, Mandi of Madison, Wis.; and a brother, Gatlin of Glidden.

A memorial service will be held today at 7 p.m. at Newbury College Student Center. A private burial service will be held in Wisconsin.