BK Selects Welcomes Brian Hills as New Sr. Director of Boys Hockey

Hills, who recently concluded a remarkable 20-year run as associate head coach for the RIT men’s hockey team, will oversee the four BK Selects boys teams with an eye on continuing the program’s upward trajectory.

“BK Selects has a great reputation,” Hills said. “What they’ve achieved already, with the national championships and being an elite prep program, is so exciting for me. I want to help build on what’s already been built here.”

Collins, who will manage business development and strategic initiatives for Evolve Hockey, will step into a consultant role for BK Selects and maintain a regular presence at the Rochester Ice Center.

Under the guidance of Collins, BK Selects quickly established itself as a premier program for development and advancement, piling up several New York state titles and two USA Hockey national championships over its first five seasons. Just last month, three former BK standouts were selected in the 2025 NHL Draft, and dozens of BK Selects alumni have secured NCAA scholarships and many others have advanced to play at the highest levels of junior hockey.

“I’m proud to have helped BK Selects become a program recognized worldwide for excellence in performance, development and advancement,” said Collins, a Rochester native.

Collins will continue to collaborate with BK Selects through his position at Evolve. In addition, his brother Greg Collins, who previously coached the BK Selects 14Us to a USA Hockey national championship, will become director of Evolve’s new skills academy at RIC.

“The Rochester Ice Center is investing in being a place where young hockey players can constructively invest their time,” Chris Collins said. “My goal is to continue to be a resource for BK Selects through a consistent presence at the rink.”

Hills will assume Collins’ former position at BK Selects, guiding and managing all things related to the boys teams at the 18U, 16U, 15O and 14U age levels.

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Hills set the Bowling Green State University career scoring record before embarking upon an 11-year pro career in Europe. Following his playing retirement in 1994, he immediately jumped into the coaching profession, serving seven seasons as an assistant at his alma mater BGSU before taking the job as head coach for NCAA Division III SUNY-Geneseo.

After four years in Geneseo, Hills was tapped by RIT head coach Wayne Wilson to join his staff as the Tigers made the jump from D-III to the D-I level for the 2005-06 season. What resulted from there was extraordinary, as RIT went on to win 10 Atlantic Hockey titles in 20 years and make four NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by a landmark Frozen Four berth in 2010.

“I was very fortunate to work alongside Brian for many years,” said Wilson in an RIT press release. “Brian will be missed by the RIT hockey program, both as an outstanding coach and person.”

Known widely in the hockey world for his recruiting ability, Hills said development is another passion of his. During his tenure at RIT, the Tigers produced two Hobey Baker Award finalists and 19 major conference individual awards.

“I just love working with players,” Hills said. “I love making them better. Passing on knowledge I think is a big part of it, whether it’s helping the players or helping the coaches.”

As he touched upon, Hills’ duties at BK Selects will involve looking out for the development of both players and coaches. Indeed, two of his assistants at SUNY-Geneseo went on to head coaching jobs.

While Hills said the challenge at BK Selects will be new and exciting for him, he’s pleased to remain in the region as he continues his decorated hockey career. Hills’ family has called Western New York home for more than 25 years.

“It’s the place that I’ve spent the most time ever,” Hills said. “We have a lot of friends here and we love the area. Rochester and Western New York has a lot to offer.

“I’ve been involved in hockey all my life. I don’t know anything else other than hockey. I love the game and I love to work in the game.”