Hilmer recognized at WACO game

WAYLAND — Before WACO’s non-conference home game with North Linn on Thursday night, the two teams recognized former head coach Bob Hilmer, a staple in both communities during his long and decorated career.

Hilmer recently retired after an incredible 917 wins in the state of Iowa, the most of any coach to ever do it in the Hawkeye state. Just under 200 of those happened as head coach of the Warriors.

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Hilmer coached for nearly 60 years, the majority of those taking place at Forest City, where he racked up 534 victories. He had 199 wins at WACO, 128 at North Linn and 56 at Fredericksburg, where he started his career.

Hilmer has been in the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame since 2008. He has coached in 1,264 total games and finished his career with only 347 losses.

Hilmer was recognized with a plaque, which was made of a portion of the Forest City gym floor. The WACO home floor was named “Bob Hilmer Court” shortly before he left the school to coach with his son Mike, at North Linn, ahead of the 2015-16 season.

Hilmer won two state titles 43 years apart, winning at Forest City in 1976 and North Linn in 2019.

Hilmer officially became Iowa’s all-time wins leader while he was coaching at WACO, hitting 681, which at that time was as many as anyone ever collected.

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Before WACO’s battle with currently top-ranked North Linn, Hilmer spoke briefly to the crowd.

“I’ve always had great kids working for me,” Hilmer told the WACO and North Linn fans attending. “I’ve had a great community. I hope these schools last forever.”

WACO Athletic Director Chad Edeker spoke to the crowd as well, saying Hilmer made a difference in lives in all four communities he coached at. Also speaking was Hilmer’s son Mike, who is currently the head coach at North Linn.

“I think our communities of WACO and North Linn mirror each other quite well,” Mike Hilmer said. “We try to raise kids up to be of high character, ethics and integrity, and no body embodies that more than my father.”

Mike Hilmer also joked about his dad’s record standing the test of time.

“He’s the winningest coach in Iowa history and probably always will be,” Mike Hilmer said. “There are only a couple of guys who have a chance to catch him, and he claims he’s coming back to coach if they get close.”

In the game, North Linn, the Lynx survived the Warriors 56-42. WACO has only lost three games this season going into winter break, and two are to Top-6 teams in Class 1A.