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{{Infobox person
|name=Tynes Hildebrand, Sr.
(Louisiana basketball coach and athletic director
|birth_date=February 25, 1931
|birth_place=Florien, Sabine Parish, [[Louisiana]]<br>
'''Residence''':<br>
[[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], Louisiana
|death_date=July 28, 2024 (aged 93)
|death_place=Alexandria, Louisiana
'''Resting place''':<br>
Greenwood Memorial Park in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], Louisiana
|spouse=Julia Hildebrand
'''Children''':<br>
Tynes Hildebrand, Jr.<br>
Bruce Hildebrand<br>
'''Alma mater''':<br>
Florien High School
[[Northwestern State University]]
|religion=[[Southern Baptist]]
|branch=[[United States Army]]
|awards=Top Officer award in the Western Defense Command; served at Fort Bliss in [[El Paso]],
[[Texas]], and at the Hanford Atomic projects in [[Washington]] State.
}}
'''Tynes Hildebrand, Sr.''', popularly known as '''Coach Hildebrand''' (February 25, 1931 – July
28, 2024), was a [[basketball]] coach from 1965 to 1980 and athletic director from 1983 to 1996 at
his alma mater, [[Northwestern State University]] in his adopted city of [[Natchitoches,
Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]].<ref>''The New York Times,'' May 24, 1995.</ref> As coach,
he compiled a career record of 187–203.In 2014, he was elected to the [[Louisiana Sports Hall of
Fame]] in downtown Natchitoches.<ref>''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' February 3, 2014.</ref>
==Background==
Hildebrand was born in rural Florien in Sabine Parish in northwestern Louisiana, to Hez and Isabel Hildebrand. He graduated from Florien High School before entering Northwestern State University on a basketball and track scholarship. He lettered in both sports for all four years and graduated with honors with degrees in Education and Science. He earned a Master's degree plus 50 graduate hours.<ref name=obit>Tynes Hildebrand Obituary - Shreveport Times, July 30, 2024.</ref>
==Career==
After graduation from NSU, he served in the [[United States Army]] at Fort Bliss in [[El Paso]], [[Texas]] and at the Hanford Atomic projects in [[Washington]] State. There he was awarded the Top Officer award in the Western Defense command. Thereafter, he returned to Natchitoches to teach and coach at Natchitoches High School and later became the basketball coach at Northwestern State University. He coached championship teams at all levels and was honored to be part of selection coaches in 1972 for the United States Olympic Team.<ref name=obit/>
During his time as the athletic director, NSU moved from the Gulf Star Conference to the Southland Conference. After his retirement from NSU, he began his work for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, for which he served until 2014 as a referee trainer and evaluator of major college basketball officials.<ref name=obit/>
==Personal life==
Active in the Natchitoches community, he was a former president of the Kiwanis Club. With his wife, Julia, he was co-chair of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival in 1982, and was named that year as "Man of the Year." He was often the master of ceremonies at public and private events and was known for his humorous stories. His obituary calls him "a collector of friends" with "more than you could ever count." He was named to the NSU Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name=obit/>
He was a member, deacon, and Sunday School teacher at the First Baptist Church in downtown Natchitoches. In addition to his wife, he was survived by his sons, Tyne, Jr., and wife Trish, and Bruce and wife, Nancy and five grandchildren.<red name=obit/>
He is commemorated by Tynes Hildebrand Athletic Scholarship Fund at NSU.<ref name=obit/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT: Hildebrand, Tynes}}
[[Category:Louisiana People]]
[[Category:Educators]]
[[Category:Coaches]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]