Maurice Hillard (via 'The Price of a Pearl' website) |
MALIBU, Calif. (KTLA) -- Students and faculty at Pepperdine University are mourning the loss of a campus leader after his unexpected death.
As the athletic chaplain and assistant girls basketball coach, Maurice Hilliard was part counselor and part teacher.
"The last thing Maurice told me was to love people and show the world love, and I can't ever forget that, because Maurice was love," student Myriah Stockman said.
"He gave of himself more than anyone I've ever known, without asking anything in return," Director of Athletics Steve Potts echoed. "All he wanted to do was give."
Hilliard was on a walk Monday morning near the ocean when he collapsed.
His body was discovered around 9 a.m. on the beach in the 2600 block of Pacific Coast Highway, near Corral Canyon.
The coroner said there was no sign of foul play or trauma to the body.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Women's basketball Coach Julie Russo said Hilliard's death has hit the Pepperdine community like the death of an immediate family member.
"Even if it were just for a moment, you knew you were encountering something great, someone great, and that's who he was," Russo said.
"He touched you. Even if it was just for a moment, it was something special."
Pepperdine University President Andrew K. Benton released the following statement early Monday afternoon:
"We are saddened to learn that Maurice Hilliard, our University Athletic Chaplain and program director at the Boone Center for the Family, died earlier today.
Maurice touched the lives of so many of us at Pepperdine, especially our athletes who looked up to Maurice as a friend, counselor, and mentor. He will be greatly missed.
Maurice grew up in Los Angeles and earned a bachelor's degree at the University of La Verne and a Master's of Divinity in Apologetics at Biola University.
He spent 10 years as a basketball coach at Pepperdine and then became the program director at the Boone Center for the Family.
Maurice recently published a book called The Price of a Pearl where he shared what he learned through teaching, coaching, and mentoring young adults. He said he wrote the book for 'those who will open their hearts and minds to the healing power of God and who are willing to receive help.'
Maurice was frequently invited to speak at conferences and seminars about the transformational power of God in the lives of young adults.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy on Hilliard's body Tuesday but will defer the result while awaiting toxicology test results, according to coroner's officials.
Please offer your prayers for Maurice's family and help each other through this difficult time."
As the athletic chaplain and assistant girls basketball coach, Maurice Hilliard was part counselor and part teacher.
"The last thing Maurice told me was to love people and show the world love, and I can't ever forget that, because Maurice was love," student Myriah Stockman said.
"He gave of himself more than anyone I've ever known, without asking anything in return," Director of Athletics Steve Potts echoed. "All he wanted to do was give."
Hilliard was on a walk Monday morning near the ocean when he collapsed.
His body was discovered around 9 a.m. on the beach in the 2600 block of Pacific Coast Highway, near Corral Canyon.
The coroner said there was no sign of foul play or trauma to the body.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Women's basketball Coach Julie Russo said Hilliard's death has hit the Pepperdine community like the death of an immediate family member.
"Even if it were just for a moment, you knew you were encountering something great, someone great, and that's who he was," Russo said.
"He touched you. Even if it was just for a moment, it was something special."
Pepperdine University President Andrew K. Benton released the following statement early Monday afternoon:
"We are saddened to learn that Maurice Hilliard, our University Athletic Chaplain and program director at the Boone Center for the Family, died earlier today.
Maurice touched the lives of so many of us at Pepperdine, especially our athletes who looked up to Maurice as a friend, counselor, and mentor. He will be greatly missed.
Maurice grew up in Los Angeles and earned a bachelor's degree at the University of La Verne and a Master's of Divinity in Apologetics at Biola University.
He spent 10 years as a basketball coach at Pepperdine and then became the program director at the Boone Center for the Family.
Maurice recently published a book called The Price of a Pearl where he shared what he learned through teaching, coaching, and mentoring young adults. He said he wrote the book for 'those who will open their hearts and minds to the healing power of God and who are willing to receive help.'
Maurice was frequently invited to speak at conferences and seminars about the transformational power of God in the lives of young adults.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy on Hilliard's body Tuesday but will defer the result while awaiting toxicology test results, according to coroner's officials.
Please offer your prayers for Maurice's family and help each other through this difficult time."
