USA Swimming Hires Cory Hilliard As New Chief Financial Officer

USA Swimming has hired Cory Hilliard as its new Chief Financial Officer, the organization announced. He comes from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he most recently served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business Operations and Chief Financial Officer.

Hilliard is the first major hire of the tenure of new USA Swimming CEO Kevin Ring. Like Ring, Hilliard has no close ties to the sport – he has spent the last 18 years at Colorado, which does not have a varsity swimming & diving program. It does have a robust collegiate club team, though that is outside of the purview of the athletics department.

He also taught a graduate level course in Colorado’s business school.

“Cory brings extraordinary financial discipline, operational expertise, and a strong track record of transparent leadership,” said Kevin Ring, USA Swimming President and CEO. “His experience navigating complex governance structures and delivering sound fiscal stewardship will be invaluable as USA Swimming continues strengthening its financial foundation and long-term planning.”

USA Swimming:

A trusted advisor within the athletic department’s executive leadership team, Hilliard contributed to major partnership negotiations that generated new revenue across apparel, multimedia rights, concessions, and licensing. Hilliard is widely recognized for his collaborative, data-driven approach and for building strong relationships with governing boards, university leadership, auditors, and campus partners.

At Colorado, he managed budgets and led the business office that oversaw 17 NCAA Division I programs.

Hilliard takes over the role previously occupied by Eric Skufca, who came to USA Swimming with former CEO Tim Hinchey from the Colorado Rapids organization. Skufca also had no significant swimming background.

According to public records, Hilliard’s salary in 2024 at the University of Colorado was $181,785. According to USA Swimming’s 990 tax form, Skufca’s salary in 2024 was $323,991, plus an additional $77,213 in “estimated amount of other compensation for the organization and related organizations.”

At USA Swimming, Hilliard will oversee USA Swimming’s long-term investments that measured $29,430,000 at the end of 2024. Investment returns have come under scrutiny in recent years, as USA Swimming’s fund has underperformed the market, including reporting roughly $16 million in investment losses in 2025.

He will also manage a budget that is projected to have a $1.8 million revenue shortfall in 2025.

USA Swimming’s budget, which was targeted for around $40 million in 2025, is roughly one quarter of the University of Colorado Athletics Department budget, which is projected at around $164.9 million in 2026 (including a roughly $27 million projected deficit).

It’s not all bad news on the financial front for USA Swimming, though. The organization recorded record revenue in 2024.

According to Hillliard’s LinkedIn profile, he left Colorado in August and has since teased his new role.

Hilliard is a graduate of Minnesota State, Moorhead, an NCAA Division II school. Prior to that, he attended the University of Wyoming from 1990-1992. He was a member of the track team at both schools. He was also on the track and football teams at Manitou Springs High School in the Colorado Springs area, where he won multiple state titles and set the Colorado state high school record in the 300-meter hurdles.

He later earned an MBA from the University of North Dakota.

Hilliard will relocate to Colorado Springs and work out of USA Swimming’s headquarters, USA Swimming says.

“I am thrilled to join USA Swimming and contribute to an organization whose mission and impact I deeply admire,” said Hilliard. “I look forward to partnering with our Board, staff, and swimming community to support long-term sustainability, strengthen operational efficiency, and ensure financial strategies that advance athletes and the sport at every level.”

Prior to Colorado, Hilliard was the Assistant Athletic Director for Operations at North Dakota for three years (2006-2008) and the assistant director for business services for five years (2001-2006).