BERLIN, Ohio – Former West Liberty University All-American Seger Bonifant has been hired as the new athletic director at Hiland (Ohio) High School. The 2012 Hiland graduate replaces Art Yoder, who announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the current school year.
     The announcement was made Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the East Holmes Board of Education.
     "I'm honored and grateful to be selected as the new athletic director at Hiland High School," Bonifant said. "I'm extremely excited to work with a school and community that has such a tremendous culture and tradition. The passion I have for Hiland and this community will drive me to inspire and challenge all of our student-athletes and coaches. I'm thankful to God and the East Holmes Board of Education for giving me the opportunity to represent East Holmes Local Schools."
     A two-time NCAA Division II National Player of the Year at West Liberty from 2013-16, Bonifant is the Hilltoppers' all-time leader in points (2,189) and 3-point field goals (374).  He still holds the NCAA Division II career record for 3-point field goal percentage (374-of-712, .525) after helping lead the Black and Gold to a 124-14 record, four straight NCAA Tournament runs and 33 No. 1 national rankings.
     Bonifant was no stranger to success on the basketball court when he arrived at West Liberty, having starred on back-to-back Ohio state championship teams at Hiland while earning All-Ohio laurels in 2011 and 2012.
     After graduating from West Liberty in 2016 with a Sport Management degree, Bonifant spent the next few seasons playing professional basketball in Spain, Germany and Holland before returning to his alma mater.
     Bonifant maintained his ties to the Hiland athletic department throughout his pro career, spending his summers working with the boys' basketball program in training and skill development. Earlier this spring he served as an assistant coach helping lead the Hiland girls' basketball team to another state championship.