South Texas native Emily Hilliard was hired as the Islanders' Beach Volleyball Assistant Coach in September of 2018.

Hilliard brings an extensive volleyball background to her hometown university. In 2017, she moved to Singapore and was named captain of the International Volleyball Elite Team, winning two gold and one bronze medals. In Singapore, she was also the head coach of the International Development Team and the assistant coach of the Junior International Team. She also spent one season in Croatia coaching several Austrian beach volleyball teams. 

The Corpus Christi native was the 2005 All Metro and All South Texas Defensive Volleyball Player of the Year at King High School. In 2006, Hilliard won the All-Metro and All-South Texas Outstanding Blocker award. She was also a member of the school's varsity tennis team for three years.  
 
After graduating from King High School, Suma Cum Laude in 2007, she went on to play for Trinity University in San Antonio Texas where she majored in Political Science with a double minor in English and French. A three-year starter for the volleyball team, Hilliard helped the Tigers win three SCAC conference championships and was a catalyst for the team’s regional championship win and appearance in the Elite Eight. She was named Top Hustler for three consecutive seasons and earned a spot on the SCAC Academic Honor Roll from 2007-2010. 
 
In 2011, Hilliard graduated with her Bachelor of Arts and continued her education at South Texas College of Law (STCL) in Houston Texas. In law school, Hilliard was a two year director for the Board of Advocates at STCL, and was named to the school’s nationally renown mock trial team. In 2014 she graduated with her Juris Doctorate and proceeded to practice personal injury litigation in Texas for several years.