Meet Hillcrest’s new athletic coordinator
Candace Balderas-Miller is one of the few female athletic coordinators in the district, leading the Hillcrest High School Athletic Department with a vision of opportunity, wellness, and athletic success for all students. Overseeing 18 sports programs, she leads by example as a lifelong learner, inspiring the next generation of student-athletes, especially young girls, finding their place in sports.
Balderas-Miller is no stranger to stepping into new spaces. Throughout her career she has transitioned across multiple sports and embraced challenges that required her to grow and adapt. Now in her 11th year with the district, she brings that tenacity into her new role as athletic coordinator and powerlifting coach at Hillcrest.
“Sometimes when we think of sports, especially because it is male-dominated, girls may feel like it’s not a place for them,” she said. “I hope that when any stude
nt sees me or interacts with me, they become open to new possibilities, because I really believe that in athletics, there is a place for everyone.”
Growing up, Balderas-Miller played soccer from a young age and later took on a new sport in college, competing in Division I and II rugby at Texas Tech University. Her commitment to lifelong fitness continued into adulthood.
“I still play rugby as an adult,” she said. “I got married and had my first child and I continued to play. My fellow coaches and my community around me were able to see how it’s possible to stay active. I was lifting weights and running, even while seven months pregnant.”
Balderas-Miller’s career in Dallas ISD began with another exciting transition, becoming the wrestling coach at Moisés E. Molina High School. Over 10 years, she advanced to assistant athletic coordinator, gaining leadership experiences that prepared her for her current role.
“I have learned the importance of being a lifelong athlete and lifelong learner,” she said. “Finding what you enjoy, discovering what you’re good at, and understanding that those passions can stay with you into adulthood is really important.”
Her impact was recognized in February 2024, when she was selected as the district’s Coach of the Month. During the 2024-2025 school year, Balderas-Miller was selected as the assistant athletic coordinator of the year.
As both a coach and athlete, she challenges traditional ideas about who may belong in a certain sport and is redefining what strength can look like.
“I am inspired by so many other great female coaches and athletic coordinators across the district that I’ve met along the way, from South Oak Cliff, Molina and W.T. White [high schools],” she said.
With a goal of developing Hillcrest athletics to become a premier athletic program in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Balderas-Miller and her fellow coaches are providing opportunities for current and prospective student athletes to get involved in ways that best fit them.
To prepare the next generation of athletes, she manages the Hillcrest Sports Academies, an opportunity for younger students across the vertical team to find sports that interest them, meet coaches, and learn what it means to become a Hillcrest Bystander.
Current students can even participate in sports without playing on a team. The Hillcrest Football Club creates photography and video content for the football team’s social media.
“I really want to create opportunities for every student who wants to be involved in Hillcrest athletics,” she said. “I play rugby. I once coached wrestling, and now I coach powerlifting here at Hillcrest. I do a lot of things that girls aren’t supposed to do. When students see that, it turns on a light bulb to the possibilities of what they could do if they want to.”
