University of Richmond Athletics
#ThrowbackThursday: Bilneys Continue Success Off The Court
06/09/2016 | Women's Basketball, #ThrowbackThursday
It's been three years since Rachael Bilney and Samantha (Bilney) Radford left the University of Richmond campus, turning in their Spider uniforms after five seasons.
But despite cross-country moves, graduate school and a marriage, nothing seems to break the bond of the Bilney twins.
It all started when the Mill Valley, California natives committed to Richmond together after impressive high school careers.
“Samantha and I really wanted to play together in college, and Richmond gave us that chance,” Rachael said. “It didn't take long for us to realize Richmond was the best place for us once we visited campus.”
Both also realized the importance of the level of academics at their school of choice.
“Richmond is the best of both worlds,” Samantha added. “Our parents always stressed that sports will end one day, so we need to maintain a strong focus on academics.”
After graduating in four years at Richmond, they elected to stay for a fifth year to compete in their final season on the Spider women's basketball team after each suffering season-ending injuries during their college careers.
Despite the frustration and the time and effort it took to battle back, those injuries made the Bilneys even tougher.
“Sam is a special person,” Rachael said. “She continued to play college basketball as a starter, even after four ACL tears, two meniscus tears, a bone graft and a scope of each knee. I know a lot of people who quit after one surgery, but it takes an unprecedented amount of guts to keep going after six years of injuries.”
For Samantha, the Richmond journey may not have begun at all if it weren't for her sister.
“If Rachael wasn't around, I think I would have quit sports after high school,” Sam said of her sister. “Coming back from an injury, especially a major reconstruction, is painful. But the truer pain comes from the mental and emotional toll the process can take on you. Had I not had Rachael's support every minute of every day, I'm sure I would not have completed my eligibility.”
The twins motivated and pushed each other to be the best athlete and person possible, giving each other the determination and support to keep trying.
“We'd grown up dreaming of playing college ball together,” Sam added. “I couldn't quit on her until I'd done everything in my power to live out that dream. By the end of our fifth year, I'd had six knee surgeries and Rachael had had three of her own. We needed each other to make it through.”
With each other's support, they did make it through their playing careers. Despite the injuries and pain they suffered, each is extremely thankful for the opportunities that Richmond presented them.
“Going to school and playing together was a dream come true,” Rachael said. “There was no other scenario I envisioned for our collegiate years. Richmond enabled me to spend five of the most important and fun years of my life with my very best friend, playing the sport I love.”
Samantha took full advantage of the Richmond experience, and wishes just as great of an experience for future student-athletes.
“I can't emphasize enough how important it is to jump in and take advantage of everything you can,” she said. “From your professors, to your coaches and teammates, to student life, embrace it all with an open mind and a willingness to learn. You're going to find out more about yourself than you ever thought.”
Immediately after their final season at Richmond, the twins continued their success off the court, moving down to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Rachael worked for the Dallas Mavericks' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends, serving as the Director of Business Development and in-game host, while Samantha took a job at an advertising agency, working as a project manager before being promoted to Account Executive.
Over the years, their careers have developed, with Rachael getting her master's degree in Sport Administration from the University of Louisville and landing a job as as Assistant Director of Development for the Cardinals, and Samantha moving to the client side of her work, taking a job at Kindred Healthcare within their Marketing and Communications Department. The twins are now both in Louisville, where their parents also reside, and have spent just over a year apart in their three years since leaving Richmond.
Both twins attribute much of their success to their experiences at Richmond.
“Richmond prepared me to dive into a career that inspires me,” Rachael said. “One of the biggest life lessons I learned was accountability. I learned to own my decisions, my actions and my words, which has been crucial to my development as a young professional.”
Samantha was also recently married to fellow Richmond grad Brian Radford, but that doesn't change the twins' relationship one bit.
“I'd never be who I am today without Rachael by my side through college.” Samantha said. “The best thing about being a twin, and especially about being Rachael's twin, is she is a fierce, fierce friend. I am never alone and I always feel loved.”
“I aspire to be more like my sister every single day,” Rachael said of Samantha. “She's compassionate, understanding, respected, tolerant and positive. She is my role model in every way.”
