Knightly News

Head Girls Track & Field Coach Van Hiles ’93 was a standout Episcopal athlete during the days of landlines, cassette tapes and the original “Jurassic Park.” Now a Knights Athletic Hall of Famer, Hiles develops the next generation of student athletes, one race, one jump and one play at a time.

As a student, Coach Hiles left a lasting mark on Episcopal football, basketball, and track and field. He was a gifted football player, earning a scholarship to the University of Kentucky and All-SEC honors before being drafted by the Chicago Bears.

The NFL took Coach Hiles far from Baton Rouge and created many exciting opportunities. After playing for the Bears, he started his own engineering firm and was a member of a team developing the first Motorola NFL headset. He met Chicago native Tracie and the two married in 2000. Life in Chicago was good, but then, with the 2008 crash, the Hiles looked to make a change. Coach Hiles still feels grateful that Tracie agreed to relocate to Baton Rouge. Once here, the two enrolled their children, Jayden ’24 and Makyla, at Episcopal.

Back on the home track

While Coach Hiles had not planned on returning to his home field, his son Jayden brought him back, and Coach Hiles still beams with pride remembering the moment his son expressed interest in the long jump. “I didn’t introduce it to him,” he recalls. “He found it on his own.” That shared love for a common interest was all it took for Coach Hiles to return to the Episcopal track. At first, he observed practices, offered advice and enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with his son. Eventually, Makyla also picked up the sport, and to Coach Hiles’ delight, the entire family began discussing track and field at home.

Looking back, it makes sense that Coach Hiles is back on the track. Though he had a natural talent for football, his heart always belonged to track and field. He says he learned early on that the sport fosters lasting connections among athletes and spans the entire school community. He says it’s also the perfect balance of team effort and individual accomplishments. Coach Hiles loved the excitement of competing independently in hurdles and jumps and was also proud to help his team become state champions.

Coaching the next generation of Knights

Welcoming and approachable, Coach Hiles has now coached Jayden, Makyla and countless other Knights to similar success. He’s coached two long jump state champions and three high jump state champions, while helping the boys and girls teams capture a combined seven state championship titles and three state runner-up finishes.  He’s also found time to apply his NFL experience as an assistant coach for the Episcopal football team.

Coach Hiles is a family man, an entrepreneur and an engineer. Yet, he still makes time to work with Episcopal athletes, including those currently enrolled and several who now compete at the collegiate level. He puts in the extra time because he knows it matters. “If the kids don’t think you’re invested, they won’t perform their best,” he says. There’s no question that Coach Hiles believes in the students and Episcopal School of Baton Rouge. “I’ve seen this school change a lot,” he recalls, thinking of the former Episcopal bus circle and the house that used to sit where the Visual & Performing Arts Center now stands. “It is a great community that supports each other. You don’t get lost in the shuffle. You can participate in a lot of things, and you’re pushed to be better.”

Coach Hiles is sure to push the Knights to another great season, and students are fortunate to have him as a mentor.

Were you coached by Coach Hiles or a teammate of his from decades ago? Share a message of appreciation for him in the comments section below.

Track and field action gets underway later this school year. Meanwhile, if you want to catch Episcopal runners in action, the cross country team begins its quest for additional state titles in September.

Saturday, September 19th Episcopal Round Table Run Highland Road Community Park

Don't forget Homecoming is Friday, September 18th!

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