Shaq Hilton

Head Coach

Boys Varsity Wrestling

Coach Shaq Hilton, is a graduate of Columbia High. While growing up in Columbia, he attended H.B. Rhame Elementary, St. Andrews Middle School, and graduated from Columbia High School in 2010. While at Columbia HS, Coach Hilton wrestled for championship Head Coach, Joe Lovier. 

After graduation he attended Coastal Carolina University where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology and a minor in Criminology. While at CCU, he played football for the Chanticleer football team under David Bennet, and former Ameritrade CEO Joe Moglia. While under the leadership of Joe Moglia he learned organizational structure, and good work habits. They talked often about the transition from football, to life after football.

Once that transition was clear for him, he began his career. He started off working in a level four group home in Socastee as a direct care staff supervising DJJ, and DSS referrals from the state. In a short time he was promoted to manage the mileu. He used his behavior management skills to over see both employees, and residents.

This lead Mr. Hilton to begin mental health counseling, and behavior modification services in Horry County. He enjoyed working with families, but longed to be back around the game of football as well.

To satisfy this need, Mr. Hilton relocated to Jacksonville, Fl, where he did case management and was blessed to coach at one of Duval County’s most established programs at Matthew Gilbert Middle School. At this time, Mr. Hilton was working for FSS, which investigates child abuse and neglect. He was able to affect lives, but not in a way that he wanted to the most. Mr. Hilton felt that deep inside there was more that he could do to help.

This led me to begin subbing in Duval County. He fell in love instantly with making an impact on children and families from the classroom. That love led him to move back home to Columbia, SC to become a certified teacher.

While studying to become certified and obtaining alternative licensure, Mr. Hilton took a long term sub positions in Lexington Richland School District 5. He ran the ISS room at Dutch Fork High School, and later that year he was blessed to go over to Irmo Elementary in a special education classroom. The role he assumed there was special education teacher’s assistant.

The teacher that Mr. Hilton was working for and with, happened to be the reigning teacher of the year, and a “Call Me Mister” program graduate of Clemson University. Mr. Hilton learned first hand from this remarkable educator how working hard, and treating others kind pays off in the end. By the end of the school year, Mr. Hilton secured a teaching position at Aiken Middle School.

While at Aiken Middle School, he was a special education teacher and the head football coach. He worked directly with the high school to develop the feeder system. Additionally, he volunteered on Friday nights to help the program get started. Mr. Hilton was able to see success in the first year that the school hadn’t seen in over 20 years. Wining was big, but the impact that was made in children and families lives was even greater.

The following year, as Aiken Middle was closing, he took a position at Heyward Gibbes Middle School, where he taught special education. In this same year, Mr. Hilton worked again to sister the middle school program, while being in the role of Offensive Coordinator and running backs coach at Eau Claire High School. There he experienced and saw gains that the school hadn’t seen in 30 years, in regards to win totals. In this same year, Coach Hilton worked for the Columbia wrestling program. The season was a success with a 126 state champ, and two other top four qualifiers in the state. 

Currently, Mr. Hilton is teaching Special education at West Ashley High School. He currently assumed the role of the varsity linebackers coach for the 5A-Region 7 West Ashley Wildcats. Mr. Hilton enjoys working with children and families to foster life long learners. Currently, he attends The Citadel, where he is pursuing a M.Ed in Educational Leadership. Mr. Hilton plans to serve in education to give back to others the same way that great educators have given to him.