Quick Overview

  • The Boulder County District Attorney's Office in Colorado arrested Cory Randall Hilliard, a former University of Colorado Boulder administrator, on Monday, charging him withmisappropriating funds for personal use, which resulted in a loss of $9,510.50 to the university, according to a press release from the county on Monday.
  • The district attorney filed one count of theft, two counts of embezzlement of public property, and three counts of first-degree official misconduct. This followed an independent investigation by the Boulder Police Department, and another university investigation found that between 2021 and 2025, Hilliard used Nike Elite funds provided by the university for personal purposes.
  • According to reports from The New York Times, the Associated Press, and other media, Hilliard currently serves asthe Chief Financial Officer of USA Swimmingand has been suspended by the sports governing body. USA Swimming did not respond to requests for comment.

In-Depth Analysis

According to the Associated Press, Hilliard, 54, was hired as CFO by USA Swimming in December.

During his tenure at Boulder, he served as the administrator of the university's Nike Elite program, responsible for distributing employee product benefits, according to the district attorney's office. In July 2025, Boulder Athletic Director Rick George reported concerns about potential financial misconduct to the university's internal audit department.

The university investigation reviewed financial records, interviewed athletics department staff, and analyzed Hilliard's transaction history in the Nike Elite account, ultimately confirming that the university suffered a loss of nearly $10,000. The Boulder Police Department also conducted an independent review, including examining financial materials and conducting additional interviews.

"In any case involving potential official misconduct, community trust requires a thorough investigation. Therefore, I am very grateful for the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of the Boulder Police Department," District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement in the press release.