Eastern Michigan Athletics
Baseball
Hilt, Aaron
Aaron Hilt
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- ahilt@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.1985
Aaron Hilt, a former standout collegiate baseball player and seven-year assistant coach at Ashland University, has officially taken the reigns of EMU's pitching staff ahead of the 2022 season.
In his first season on staff, Hilt helped lead the Eagles’ pitching staff set a new school record for strikeouts in a season (416). The previous high, set in 2012, was 389.
Hilt played a role in helping Eagle hurler Cameron Wagoner get drafted in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The selection was EMU's fifth MLB draft pick in the last six years. Hilt also guided freshman hurler Adam Falinksi through a great rookie season, as the right-hander led all freshmen in the Mid-American Conference in innings pitched (58.0), strikeouts (61), and complete games (4). Additionally, Falinski’s four complete-game efforts ranked third in NCAA DI baseball in 2022.
Hilt spent nearly a decade climbing the coaching ranks and adding responsibilities with Ashland. After returning to his alma mater in 2014, he was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2018.
The Eagles reached the NCAA Division II postseason four times in Hilt's seven seasons, and made a run to the College World Series in 2019. Hilt has been part of two College World Series teams, also reaching the final stage as a player in 2008. Ashland posted a 230-149 (.607) record during Hilt's run with Ashland.
The 2019 season was a record-setting year for Ashland’s hurlers. Ashland won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's regular season and tournament championships, as well as the Midwest Regional Tournament title, advancing to the NCAA College World Series. Eagle pitchers combined for a program-record-tying 48 wins, and set a new program and GLIAC standard for team strikeouts in a season with 537.
Hilt was directly responsible for the mentorship of numerous award-winning and now-professional pitchers while at Ashland. A pair of his players, Art Warren and Brandyn Sittinger, were selected in the MLB Draft in 2015 and 2016, respectively. A 2015 All-GLIAC selection, Warren made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2019. Sittinger, a former GLIAC Pitcher of the Year, Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year, and First Team All-American while at Ashland, made his MLB debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season.
In addition to mentoring now-MLB players, Hilt has also helped his hurlers earn many other awards and finish atop the national leaderboards in multiple categories. Jake Baldwin (2015) earned Second Team All-American honors and finished with Ashland's best career win percentage under Hilt's leadership, while Chris Slavik (2019) and Perry Bewley (2021) both earned All-American status, and led all of Division II baseball in wins, and saves, respectively. Josh Smith (2021) also signed an independent professional contract this spring after studying under Hilt.
Before returning to Ashland as a coach, Hilt spent a pair of seasons at Wheeling University as a graduate assistant coach. He also held the title of Interim Head Coach for a brief stint with Wheeling.
During Hilt’s playing career at Ashland, he won a GLIAC Championship, one Midwest Regional championship, made three straight NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament appearances, and an NCAA Division II World Series appearance. In 2009, Ashland was ranked third in the nation, and received the program's highest national ranking. Hilt received All-GLIAC conference honors, All-Midwest Region honors, and is the only pitcher to throw a complete-game no-hitter since the 1994 season.
After playing at Ashland, Hilt continued his athletic career by signing a professional contract with the Normal Cornbelters in the independent Frontier League. He was selected as the fifth overall pick in the first round of the annual Frontier League draft.
A native of Richmond, Ohio, Hilt and his wife Kaleigh reside in Ypsilanti.
In his first season on staff, Hilt helped lead the Eagles’ pitching staff set a new school record for strikeouts in a season (416). The previous high, set in 2012, was 389.
Hilt played a role in helping Eagle hurler Cameron Wagoner get drafted in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The selection was EMU's fifth MLB draft pick in the last six years. Hilt also guided freshman hurler Adam Falinksi through a great rookie season, as the right-hander led all freshmen in the Mid-American Conference in innings pitched (58.0), strikeouts (61), and complete games (4). Additionally, Falinski’s four complete-game efforts ranked third in NCAA DI baseball in 2022.
Hilt spent nearly a decade climbing the coaching ranks and adding responsibilities with Ashland. After returning to his alma mater in 2014, he was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2018.
The Eagles reached the NCAA Division II postseason four times in Hilt's seven seasons, and made a run to the College World Series in 2019. Hilt has been part of two College World Series teams, also reaching the final stage as a player in 2008. Ashland posted a 230-149 (.607) record during Hilt's run with Ashland.
The 2019 season was a record-setting year for Ashland’s hurlers. Ashland won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's regular season and tournament championships, as well as the Midwest Regional Tournament title, advancing to the NCAA College World Series. Eagle pitchers combined for a program-record-tying 48 wins, and set a new program and GLIAC standard for team strikeouts in a season with 537.
Hilt was directly responsible for the mentorship of numerous award-winning and now-professional pitchers while at Ashland. A pair of his players, Art Warren and Brandyn Sittinger, were selected in the MLB Draft in 2015 and 2016, respectively. A 2015 All-GLIAC selection, Warren made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2019. Sittinger, a former GLIAC Pitcher of the Year, Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year, and First Team All-American while at Ashland, made his MLB debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season.
In addition to mentoring now-MLB players, Hilt has also helped his hurlers earn many other awards and finish atop the national leaderboards in multiple categories. Jake Baldwin (2015) earned Second Team All-American honors and finished with Ashland's best career win percentage under Hilt's leadership, while Chris Slavik (2019) and Perry Bewley (2021) both earned All-American status, and led all of Division II baseball in wins, and saves, respectively. Josh Smith (2021) also signed an independent professional contract this spring after studying under Hilt.
Before returning to Ashland as a coach, Hilt spent a pair of seasons at Wheeling University as a graduate assistant coach. He also held the title of Interim Head Coach for a brief stint with Wheeling.
During Hilt’s playing career at Ashland, he won a GLIAC Championship, one Midwest Regional championship, made three straight NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament appearances, and an NCAA Division II World Series appearance. In 2009, Ashland was ranked third in the nation, and received the program's highest national ranking. Hilt received All-GLIAC conference honors, All-Midwest Region honors, and is the only pitcher to throw a complete-game no-hitter since the 1994 season.
After playing at Ashland, Hilt continued his athletic career by signing a professional contract with the Normal Cornbelters in the independent Frontier League. He was selected as the fifth overall pick in the first round of the annual Frontier League draft.
A native of Richmond, Ohio, Hilt and his wife Kaleigh reside in Ypsilanti.
| The Aaron Hilt File | ||
| Name: | Aaron James Hilt | |
| Hometown: | Richmond, Ohio | |
| College: | Ashland University - Bachelor's degree in Sports Management - 2012; Wheeling University - Master's degree in in Organizational Leadership - 2014 | |
| Family: | Wife - Kaleigh | |
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2021-Pres. | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Pitching |
| 2018-21 | Ashland University | Associate Head Baseball Coach |
| 2014-18 | Ashland University | Assistant Baseball Coach |
| 2012-14 | Wheeling University | Graduate Assistant Baseball Coach |
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