Pilling served as an interim coach for the Toledo Goaldiggers, after coach Ted Garvin had a heart attack in the offseason. The team was sold partway through the season, and Pilling was retained until the end of the playoffs. In the 1979–80 IHL season, Toledo earned 28 wins, 74 points, and second place in the south division. In the playoffs, they lost in four games to Fort Wayne. Pilling was named coach of Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, when Dennis Smith resigned. His team won 36 out of 60 games, finished first place in the south division, and lost in the second round of the playoffs.
