Dive Brief:
- The Boulder County District Attorney’s office in Colorado on Monday arrested Cory Randall Hilliard, a former administrator at the University of Colorado Boulder, charging he misappropriated funds for his own personal use in actions that resulted in a loss of $9,510.50 to the school, according to a Monday press release from the county.
- The district attorney filed charges of one count of theft, two of embezzlement of public property and three counts of first degree official misconduct. The charges come after the CU Boulder Police Department conducted its own investigation and a separate university probe found that from 2021 to 2025 Hilliard used university-provided Nike Elite funds for himself.
- Hilliard, who is currently CFO of USA Swimming, was placed on leave by the sport’s U.S. governing body, according to The New York Times, Associated Press and other media reports. USA Swimming did not respond to requests for comment.
Dive Insight:
USA Swimming hired Hilliard, 54, in December as its CFO, according to the Associated Press.
While at CU Boulder, he was the administrator of the school’s Nike Elite program, overseeing employee product benefit allocations, according to the DA. In July of 2025, CU Boulder Athletic Director Rick George informed the University's Department of Internal Audit about concerns around potential fiscal misconduct.
The university’s probe reviewed its financial records, interviewed staff in the athletics department and analyzed Hilliard’s transaction history in his Nike Elite account, ultimately confirming that the University had sustained a loss of nearly $10,000. The CU Boulder Police department also conducted its own review, including overlooking financial materials and more interviews.
“In any case involving possible Official Misconduct, the community trust requires a thorough investigation. So, I truly appreciate the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of the CU Police Department,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement in the release.
