Brenda Hilton

Senior Director, Officiating

Brenda Hilton serves as the Big Ten Conference’s senior director, officiating. Hilton leads officiating operations for select sports, including scheduling, payroll, contracts, clinics, and various other projects. Hilton serves as a liaison for assigned Coordinators of Officials to ensure synergy and collaboration with the Conference, and she develops innovative ideas to drive officiating operations into the future. Hilton also serves as a strategic advisor to the Chief Sports Officer on officiating related topics.

Hilton has spent the better part of her 21-year collegiate career involved in sports officiating and has found a passion for the men and women who officiate the competitions. In 2019, she founded Officially Human to restore respect to the game officials and recognize them as authorities on the fields and courts. Hilton has studied the entire process of becoming an official, from the first inquiry to working at the highest level in Division I. Her passion for the treatment, recruitment, and retention of officials is well-known around the officiating circuit.

Hilton joined the Big Ten in 2011 serving as the administrative assistant to men’s basketball (2011-2018). Hilton most recently served as the Senior director, building services from 2013 – 2021. Prior to joining the Big Ten, Hilton worked as the office manager at the Summit League (formerly the Mid-Continent Conference) from 2000-11, where she worked closely with the commissioner and staff and, among other duties, assisted with human resources and preparing annual reports for the directors of athletics and President's Council.

Hilton is also passionate about raising awareness for those with disabilities and fundraising for the National MS Society.

Last updated: 8/16/2023