- Michigan
The Lake Show Revamp — WB Hires From Within, Taps Hilbers To Head Football Team
West Bloomfield named longtime assistant and alum Zach Hilbers as the next Lakers head football coach last week, deciding to once again to “keep it in the family,” so to speak.
Hilbers, 38, is the third straight Lakers assistant to get the top spot when it opened up. He replaces Tyrice Grice, who replaced Ron Bellamy, after Bellamy left for an assistant post at University of Michigan in 2021 in the direct aftermath of leading West Bloomfield to a Division 1 state crown at Ford Field. With Hilbers help, Bellamy turned a previously unspectacular football program into a state power and a national recruiting staple pumping out Blue Chippers on a regular basis.
Grice went 18-4 in his two seasons at the helm. He retired last month.
A 2003 graduate of West Bloomfield, Hilbers has served as an assistant with the Lakers for the past 16 years, the past two as associate head coach under Grice.
“I’m humbled to get the chance to lead the program I played in and won a state title as an assistant coach in, but this is all about the kids and making sure we keep putting them in the best positions to be successful on and off the field.”
West Bloomfield is a combined 59-13 since 2017. The Lakers went 8-2 last year and bagged a share of the OAA Red title. Hilbers’ inaugural “L-Boyz” squad this upcoming season will be stacked with playmakers like quarterback Reqez Nance, running back Josh Tate, defensive end Brandon Davis-Swain, linebackers Kari Jackson and Montelle Johnson and secondary studs Bryce Rowe and Jamir Benjamin. Jackson is committed to Penn State and Benjamin is committed to Stanford. Davis-Swain de-committed from Notre Dame back in the winter.
