Hilgenberg joins Packer coaching staff

Posted on 25. Feb, 2011 by admin in Iowa Football

By Brendan Stiles

HawkeyeDrive.com

The Green Bay Packers announced Friday that they have hired former Iowa offensive lineman Joel Hilgenberg as their offensive quality control coach.

Hilgenberg played at Iowa from 1980-83 and was selected all-Big Ten on two occasions. He was a fourth-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints in 1984 and played 10 seasons there as the team’s center. He is one of six Hilgenbergs to have played for the Hawkeyes.

With Hilgenberg on board, he is the third member of the Packer organization with ties to Iowa. Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was Iowa’s offensive line coach from 1999-2002 prior to leaving the Hawkeyes for the NFL, and just last year, the Packers selected former Iowa offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga with the 23rd overall selection in the NFL Draft. Bulaga started at right tackle for Green Bay in its 31-25 victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6.

According to the Packers’ official web site, Hilgenberg spent time around the team last year as a coaching intern during Green Bay’s training camp and minicamp, as well as portions of the Packers’ OTAs (offseason training activites).

Last October, Hilgenberg introduced current Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz as the guest speaker at the Johnson County I-Club Breakfast on Oct. 22, 2010, the Friday before Iowa’s game against Wisconsin.

Tags: Iowa Football