Tim Seil was hired as Hilbert’s Athletic Director in December of 2021. He has described his time at Hilbert as “outstanding”. 

Before coming to Hilbert Tim worked as the Assistant Director of Athletic facilities at Canisius College. He also teaches at the college in the Kinesiology and Sports management programs 

“I’ve learned a lot. As you mentioned, this is my first AD job,” he said. “Kara Reabum and Rob deGrandpre have done a really good job of helping me navigate certain problems and questions.” 

 Hilbert’s campus size had a role to play in making the job easier, Seil said, noting how everything is in reasonable distance and what an advantage it is being able to know everyone. 

“I’m able to walk across campus in two minutes to go have a conversation with somebody,” Seil said. “It’s a lot better to have this conversation face to face rather than over e-mail, right? So those types of things have been great you don’t get lost in the shuffle here you feel like I pretty much know everybody on campus including the professors.” 

“I think it’s something that still kind of keeps me connected to actually engaging with the students on a different level than I would normally do on a daily basis.” 

When the decision came to leave his previous job at Canisus to come to Hilbert one of the driving factors was having his family in the right position along with being in a position to succeed, Seil said. 

“I knew that I wanted to be in athletics long term,” he said.”But I also wanted to be in the right position for my family and I knew that I wanted a position close to home. I saw (college president) Dr. (Michael) Brophy’s vision and I was like ok I think I can succeed here.” 

A big part of Brophy’s vision for the athletic department was the start of three new sports programs to Hilbert: football, track and field and women’s ice hockey.

Seil said how proud he is of the sports being implemented successfully under his tenure. 

“I’m proud of the fact that we started those three new sports and added over 120 new student athletes,” he said. “Being able to give more opportunities to students and helping grow enrollment here at Hilbert’s been important. The next thing I want to accomplish is getting a field and track.” 

Football, being one of the more eye-catching additions of the three new sports, came under a lot of attention and scrutiny from within the college community. Hilbert Football went winless in the regular in its inaugural season, with the majority of the losses coming by large margins, but did have two wins in exhibition matches against junior varsity teams. And head coach Jim Kubiak left at the end of the season.

Seil said struggles are to be expected when implementing brand new programs. 

“We struggled in year one,” Seil said. “Anytime you add any sports program it takes time to develop, you need established people, athletes, and culture. I know that it can be done but it’s going to take time.”

“Last year we were a younger team, the two JV teams we did play St. John Fisher and Brockport we beat them, so I know that it can be done, it is just going to take time.” 

Seil also applauded the job that new Head Football Coach Ted Egger has done so far this season in leading the program 

“I think Coach Egger and his staff have done a really good job getting these athletes prepared, having structure so they can succeed,” Seil said.