James Hilliard, Jr. recently completed his 32nd season leading the Langston University men's and women's track and field team teams. Hilliard, Jr. also served for 25 years as the head cross-country coach. During his time leading the Lions and Lady Lions, he has taken the track and field program to unparalleled highs which includes a total of 70 NAIA Women's Track and Field All-Americans and 84 NAIA Men's Track and Field All-Americans.

In the 154 NAIA Track and Field All-Americans, Hilliard, Jr. has coached 12 NAIA National Champions which includes the 2005 Langston University Women's 4X100 relay (Darnehsa Sellers, Tasia Galbreth, Tatiana Simon, Dominque McDonald), Brandee' Means in the 600M (2009 Outdoor), Julius Koger in the long jump (2009 Indoor), Mario McCottrell in the 600M (2009, 2010, 2011 Indoor), William Moses in the high jump (2007 Indoor, 2009 Indoor, 2009 Outdoor), Clyde Young in the 60H (2011 Indoor) and David Walters 60M (2013 Indoor). Most recently, ZaChaeus Beard won the 60-meter dash NAIA National Championship and set the national record with a final time of 6.61.

Additionally, Hilliard, Jr. led the way in establishing Langston's dominance in the Red River Athletic Conference where they won the RRAC Track and Field Championships eight times on the women's side (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014),four times on the men's side (2005, 2008, 2010, 2013) and boasted 77 RRAC Championships and 300 All-RRAC Selections.

The Amarillo, TX native’s family moved to Denver, CO when he was in the fifth grade where he went on to graduate from George Washington High School. Upon graduation he entered Langston University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and started working in public relations. He served as sports information director from 1983-2006 and head track & field/cross country coach from 1991 to present missing a one year term when Harold Johnson served as track coach. Coach Hilliard enjoys photography, traveling, being outdoors.