USA Swimming CFO Cory Hilliard placed on leave after arrest for alleged theft, embezzlement while employed at University of Colorado
· Yahoo Sports
USA Swimming chief financial officer Cory Hilliard was arrested in Colorado on Monday, according to a news release from the Boulder County District Attorney's office. Hilliard has been charged with theft, embezzlement and official misconduct related to his time as an employee of the University of Colorado.
Visit esporist.org for more information.
USA Swimming CEO Kevin Ring told Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde that Hilliard, who was hired as CFO in December, has been placed on leave. USA Swimming found out about the arrest on Monday and is still gathering information, per Forde.
The charges against Hilliard date back to last summer, while he was the designated administrator of CU's Nike Elite program and was in charge of "managing employee product benefit allocations," per the release. He has been accused of diverting $9,510.50 in university funds for the Nike Elite program for his own use between 2021 and 2025.
Per the release, CU athletic director Rick George informed the university's internal audit department of Hilliard's potential financial misconduct in July 2025. The amount allegedly stolen by Hilliard was determined by a review of financial records, transaction histories and interviews with athletics staff.
Following an additional investigation by the university's police department, the Boulder DA's office has filed three charges against Hilliard: theft, embezzlement of public property and first degree official misconduct.
Hilliard becomes the latest hiring misfire for USA Swimming. Last year, Chrissi Rawak, who was supposed to take over the organization as CEO, withdrew her name after the organization found that she had not disclosed a report from the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
After Rawak's hire fell through, Ring was brought on as CEO in September 2025.