LIBERTY, Mo. – William Jewell head men's basketball coach Chris McCabe has announced two staffing changes for the upcoming 2021-2022 season. Christian Hildebrandt has been promoted to Associate Head Coach while Mike Williams has been hired as an assistant coach and Director of Basketball Operations. Todd Marcantonio remains on the staff as a volunteer assistant coach. 
 
"To successfully build out our program we need to hire and retain high quality people who put our players first," said McCabe. "I know Christian, Mike and Todd do that in different ways which meet the various needs of our student-athletes. I am appreciative of the support of our administration as we build our program." 
 
Hildebrandt, a 2015 William Jewell graduate, will enter his fourth season on the Cardinal sideline after returning to Jewell following a two-year stint as a graduate assistant at Central Methodist. During his three years with the Cardinals, he has helped mentor four All-GLVC performers to seven total honors, including the league's top scorer in 2019 in Keith Hayes. Three players have gone on to play professionally after suiting up under Hildebrandt, including Hayes, Patrick Whelan and Pharroh Gordon.
 
"Since my arrival in April of 2019, I have leaned on Christian for every decision made within our program.  He is a star in the profession as he has an incredible work ethic on top of his basketball acumen," noted McCabe. "Whether it be skill development, practice planning, scouting or recruiting, Christian is as good as it gets and makes everyone around him better. The change in his title accurately reflects his overall contributions to our program and the College."
 
Responsible for much of the scouting and game preparation, Hildebrandt helped the Cardinals lower their points allowed each of the last two years and helped coach the 2018-19 squad that ranked 32^nd nationally scoring nearly 87 points per night. He played one season for the Cardinals after transferring from Texas Pan American, during which time he started all 27 contests and averaged nearly 12 points per game. 
 
"Trust is one of the core values that we practice within our program every day. It is an honor for me to have earned the trust of Coach McCabe and our administration through this expanded role," said Hildebrandt.
 
Williams has spent the last eight years as an assistant coach at Liberty North High School, where he previously worked under McCabe, most recently serving as the varsity assistant. A Liberty native, he played at Liberty High School before playing one year on the junior varsity at Jewell, being voted the Most Improved Player. He completed his degree in psychology at the University of Missouri where he published research related to athletic performance while working in the athletic department. 
 
"For numerous years, I have consulted with Mike when making significant decisions and I'm glad that will continue on The Hill," said McCabe. "Mike's skill set complement Christian, Todd and me in a way that directly benefits our players and elevates our program on the floor, in the classroom and within our Liberty community."
 
Williams also holds a master's degree in special education from Missouri-Kansas City and is a teacher at the Russel Jones Education Center in the Park Hill School District. He is married to wife Nicole and has two children, Julian and Maya. 
 
"Having grown up in Liberty attending the Larry Holley Summer Camps, and experiencing William Jewell as a student-athlete, the opportunity to return to The Hill and join the basketball staff is a tremendous and humbling honor," said Williams. "I have an unwavering belief in the direction and culture Coach McCabe has brought to this program and look forward to joining the William Jewell basketball family."
 
Marcantonio will enter his sixth year on the Cardinal staff during which time he has helped mentor five players to GLVC honors and coached two GLVC All-Freshman team performers. 
 
"Todd continues to be a valuable asset to our program, added McCabe. "Advanced scouting and future recruiting have been two things he has helped us grow. We will continue to find ways to maximize his selfless contributions to our program"
 
The Cardinals return 11 players from last season, including three-year starter Mason Alexander and GLVC All-Freshman performer Grant Stubbs, while bringing in a six-member signing class. Jewell opens the season on November 12 as they take on Purdue Northwest in GLVC/GLIAC Challenge, hosted by this season Rockhurst University.