Troy Hildebrand has been a familiar sight to Powell High School basketball fans in recent years. As head coach of the Panther boys team, he can easily be spotted on game days sporting his Sunday best as he patrols the floor in front of the PHS bench. Completing his ensemble is a towel, or as he calls it, “his Linus blanket,” which is often draped over his shoulder.To date, that sight has played out for five seasons. However, it will be a thing of the past after this week's Class 3A state tournament in Casper. Hildebrand told his players last Saturday that this year will be his last at the helm. His reason for stepping away from the job, he said, was based on his desire to spend more time with his family.Hildebrand's youngest child, Alyssa, will be a freshman at PHS during the 2009-10 school year. And like her older brother, Michael, who played under his dad's direction during his days as a Panther, Alyssa plans to spend plenty of time on the court as a basketball player as well. That, Hildebrand said, is something he doesn't want to miss.“It's important to me to watch her play and be able to follow her career as she goes through the Lady Panther program,” Hildebrand said. “Although it wouldn't be impossible to coach and follow her career, it would still be tough just because of the tremendous time commitment involved with this position.”Though the decision to step down was a difficult one, Hildebrand said now is a good time to open the door for someone else to lead the squad simply because the program has posted successful back-to-back seasons. Because of that momentum, he's hopeful the next coach will be able to take the Panthers to an even higher level. Hildebrand's coaching varsity coaching stint began during the 2004-05 campaign. After the Panthers endured a series of losing records during his first three years as coach, the team took a step in the right direction in 2007-08 by recording a 15-9 mark. However, they fell one win shy of securing a berth in the state tournament, a goal they believed was attainable last season. The sting from not earning a ticket to Casper last year was used as a motivating factor this season, and it paid off. During last week's Class 3A West Regional Tournament, the Panthers posted a 60-49 victory over Worland in a loser-out game to earn the program its first trip to state since the 2001-02 slate.According to Jeff Young, an assistant coach for the varsity squad, there were plenty of tears shed after that game. But for once, the tears were of joy for a season extended, not for one that ended. Part of the emotion, Young said, stemmed from the fact that so many people know and respect Hildebrand and understand how hard he's worked to get the Panthers on the winning track.“I looked around and saw a lot of tears,” Young said about PHS's victory over Worland. “They were so happy for the players and for Troy. A lot of hard work went into getting that chance to go to Casper, and anyone who knows Troy knows he deserves it. No matter what happens at Casper, I'll look at it as him going out on top.”To understand the respect that Hildebrand has earned through the years, Young said one needs to only watch the coach on gameday, particularly during road contests. “Everywhere we go, you can tell Troy has a lot of friends,” Young said. “Other coaches go out of their way to talk to him, and I've even seen fans come down out of the stands just for the chance to visit with him. Even referees come over and talk to him. That says a lot about the kind of person he is. That kind of thing doesn't happen unless you have the respect of a lot of people. He's a classy guy, and you can see that influence in our players. They carry themselves so well. When you have that, I think it's a reflection of the coach.”Hildebrand said he hopes to end his varsity coaching career with the Panthers with plenty of good memories from this week's state tournament. He also has quite a few moments from the past five seasons that mean a great deal to him. First on that list was last Saturday's win against the Warriors, a team that held the No. 1 spot for several weeks during 2008-09.“That was a tremendous win for us,” Hildebrand said. “It means a lot, especially considering the group of players we have right now, which includes eight seniors. All eight of the seniors are three-year letter winners, and it's an incredible feeling knowing they are going to finally experience playing in the state tournament.”One more of Hildebrand's favorite moments involves Worland and another Panther victory — the one during PHS's final night of competition in the school's old gymnasium last season. To end the venue's history of competitive events with a win meant so much to Panther athletes past and present. It also meant a lot to Hildebrand, who said the game had more than its share of key elements involved other than being the last matchup in the gym. “It was senior night for Mitchell McArthur and Michael,” Hildebrand said. “To top it off, it was Michael's birthday. There were just so many things surrounding that game that made it an amazing experience to be a part of.”One day after that win against Worland, the Panthers capped the regular season by beating Cody at CHS for Hildebrand's first victory against the Broncs. The outcome was decided by a steal and a lay-up by the coach's son at the buzzer in overtime.“That was a great win for our team, and I thought it said a lot about where our program had gotten to,” Hildebrand said. “To be part of that one was a lot of fun.”The coach, who believes the timing of his announced departure should give PHS's athletic administration time to find a replacement, offered plenty of thanks to everyone who has been a part of the boys program, including the players, assistant coaches, parents, fans and athletic administration. “I can't thank people enough for being behind us through the good and the bad during the past five years,” Hildebrand said. “We've had great kids, and they've all worked hard. As a coach, that means a lot.”Hildebrand added that he will continue to lead the boys and girls varsity golf teams during the fall. He also said if a coaching opportunity at the middle school becomes an option, that's something he will seriously consider.“It would be nice to help the program at some level,” Hildebrand said. “That's a role I would enjoy.”

Troy Hildebrand has been a familiar sight to Powell High School basketball fans in recent years. As head coach of the Panther boys team, he can easily be spotted on game days sporting his Sunday best as he patrols the floor in front of the PHS bench. Completing his ensemble is a towel, or as he calls it, “his Linus blanket,” which is often draped over his shoulder.

To date, that sight has played out for five seasons. However, it will be a thing of the past after this week's Class 3A state tournament in Casper.

Hildebrand told his players last Saturday that this year will be his last at the helm. His reason for stepping away from the job, he said, was based on his desire to spend more time with his family.

Hildebrand's youngest child, Alyssa, will be a freshman at PHS during the 2009-10 school year. And like her older brother, Michael, who played under his dad's direction during his days as a Panther, Alyssa plans to spend plenty of time on the court as a basketball player as well. That, Hildebrand said, is something he doesn't want to miss.

“It's important to me to watch her play and be able to follow her career as she goes through the Lady Panther program,” Hildebrand said. “Although it wouldn't be impossible to coach and follow her career, it would still be tough just because of the tremendous time commitment involved with this position.”

Though the decision to step down was a difficult one, Hildebrand said now is a good time to open the door for someone else to lead the squad simply because the program has posted successful back-to-back seasons.

Because of that momentum, he's hopeful the next coach will be able to take the Panthers to an even higher level.

Hildebrand's coaching varsity coaching stint began during the 2004-05 campaign. After the Panthers endured a series of losing records during his first three years as coach, the team took a step in the right direction in 2007-08 by recording a 15-9 mark. However, they fell one win shy of securing a berth in the state tournament, a goal they believed was attainable last season.

The sting from not earning a ticket to Casper last year was used as a motivating factor this season, and it paid off.

During last week's Class 3A West Regional Tournament, the Panthers posted a 60-49 victory over Worland in a loser-out game to earn the program its first trip to state since the 2001-02 slate.

According to Jeff Young, an assistant coach for the varsity squad, there were plenty of tears shed after that game.

But for once, the tears were of joy for a season extended, not for one that ended. Part of the emotion, Young said, stemmed from the fact that so many people know and respect Hildebrand and understand how hard he's worked to get the Panthers on the winning track.

“I looked around and saw a lot of tears,” Young said about PHS's victory over Worland. “They were so happy for the players and for Troy. A lot of hard work went into getting that chance to go to Casper, and anyone who knows Troy knows he deserves it. No matter what happens at Casper, I'll look at it as him going out on top.”

To understand the respect that Hildebrand has earned through the years, Young said one needs to only watch the coach on gameday, particularly during road contests. “Everywhere we go, you can tell Troy has a lot of friends,” Young said. “Other coaches go out of their way to talk to him, and I've even seen fans come down out of the stands just for the chance to visit with him. Even referees come over and talk to him. That says a lot about the kind of person he is. That kind of thing doesn't happen unless you have the respect of a lot of people. He's a classy guy, and you can see that influence in our players. They carry themselves so well. When you have that, I think it's a reflection of the coach.”

Hildebrand said he hopes to end his varsity coaching career with the Panthers with plenty of good memories from this week's state tournament. He also has quite a few moments from the past five seasons that mean a great deal to him.

First on that list was last Saturday's win against the Warriors, a team that held the No. 1 spot for several weeks during 2008-09.

“That was a tremendous win for us,” Hildebrand said. “It means a lot, especially considering the group of players we have right now, which includes eight seniors. All eight of the seniors are three-year letter winners, and it's an incredible feeling knowing they are going to finally experience playing in the state tournament.”

One more of Hildebrand's favorite moments involves Worland and another Panther victory — the one during PHS's final night of competition in the school's old gymnasium last season. To end the venue's history of competitive events with a win meant so much to Panther athletes past and present. It also meant a lot to Hildebrand, who said the game had more than its share of key elements involved other than being the last matchup in the gym.

“It was senior night for Mitchell McArthur and Michael,” Hildebrand said. “To top it off, it was Michael's birthday.

There were just so many things surrounding that game that made it an amazing experience to be a part of.”

One day after that win against Worland, the Panthers capped the regular season by beating Cody at CHS for Hildebrand's first victory against the Broncs. The outcome was decided by a steal and a lay-up by the coach's son at the buzzer in overtime.

“That was a great win for our team, and I thought it said a lot about where our program had gotten to,” Hildebrand said. “To be part of that one was a lot of fun.”

The coach, who believes the timing of his announced departure should give PHS's athletic administration time to find a replacement, offered plenty of thanks to everyone who has been a part of the boys program, including the players, assistant coaches, parents, fans and athletic administration.

“I can't thank people enough for being behind us through the good and the bad during the past five years,” Hildebrand said. “We've had great kids, and they've all worked hard. As a coach, that means a lot.”

Hildebrand added that he will continue to lead the boys and girls varsity golf teams during the fall. He also said if a coaching opportunity at the middle school becomes an option, that's something he will seriously consider.

“It would be nice to help the program at some level,” Hildebrand said. “That's a role I would enjoy.”