Tim Hillen, who serves as a volunteer assistant to Salem head coach Vavina Lapham, played a vital role in developing the Salem swim program which captured 39 Top-3 finishes over the course of the 2019-20 season. While serving as head coach for the 2019-20 campaign, Hillen played a role in the development of Olivia Kleven, who established a single-season program-record for most Top-3 finishes (16) after competing in eight events over the course of the slate. Kleven also set the single-season program-record for most first-place finishes (eight) in 2019-20. Hillen’s tutelage of Kleven allowed the junior standout to establish program records in the 100 individual medley (1:10.07), 200 breaststroke (2:51.76) and the 100 breaststroke (1:16.31).

Hillen also coached Salem to a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay in the Guilford/Greensboro Dual when the combination of Kleven, Corrin Shores, Rachel Black and Amy Stutzer notched a time of 2:30.50. They became the fifth unit in Salem swimming history to post a time of 2:30 or better, narrowly missing the fourth-best time in program history, which came on Feb. 2, 2010.

After receiving his MBA from Lewis University (03’) Tim joined the Peace Corps and served in Cameroon within the field of Micro Finance and Small Business Banking. Upon returning to the United States in 2007, Tim moved to North Carolina and became the Director of Corporate Development for The Budd Group (Winston Salem, NC). In December of 2012 Tim co-founded Enfinity Health Ventures (initially a health food company and personal training center).  Drawing upon Tim’s background and swimming experience, Enfinity established a Master’s Swim Club which has since evolved into the nationally recognized Enfinity Aquatic Club.   What started with 12 swimmers at Salem College has expanded to 3 branches with 200+ swimmers.

Coaching Career

North Carolina: 32 Junior National Qualifiers, 45 state titles, 16 state records and 1 National Jr/Sr National Team Member.  Of the 12 founding swimmers that started the club, 6 have since gone on to swim in college (Florida State, Harvard, UNC Chapel Hill, Ferrum, Washington and Lee, Emory and Henry).

Illinois: Graduate Assistant, Lewis University Swim Team, 2005- 2007. Under the direction of Head Coach Jennifer Arndt, Tim worked closely in areas of program development, administration and recruiting. Over the course of the two collegiate seasons, Lewis University produced 14 School Records, 4 NCAA National Qualifiers, 2 All-Americans and 1 Olympic Trials Qualifier.

Wisconsin: McFarland Spartan Sharks (Age Group Coach), 2005. Before starting graduate school, Tim spent 1 summer with the McFarland Sharks, leading the 12-and-under program. During this time Tim coached 5 state titles and 2 High Point Champions.

Minnesota: Saint Cloud State Swim Club (Senior Level Coach), 2002-2004. Over the two-year stint with SCSC Tim’s 13-14 Boys Program amassed: 14 Individual State Titles, 6 Age Group State Records and 6 State Relay Titles, 2 State High Point Winners.

Tim most enjoys spending time with his wife Andrea and their dog Gunnar.  He considers his most accomplished moment in swimming is when his wife became his first-ever Olympic Trial Qualifier