Wisconsin Badgers promote Eli Wilke to basketball operations coordinator
Wisconsin men’s basketball is promoting graduate manager Eli Wilke to the role of Basketball Operations Coordinator for the 2025–26 season.
The University of Wisconsin men's basketball program is turning to an in-house option to fill a key role on its staff.
Nick Osen first reported, and a team spokesperson confirmed to BadgerNotes, that Eli Wilke, who spent last season as a graduate manager, has been promoted to Basketball Operations Coordinator.
“Extremely blessed for this new role and opportunity here at Wisconsin,” Wilke said. “Excited for what Year 2 brings!”
Wilke, a Beaver Dam native, joined the program last year as a graduate manager and made a name for himself with his work on scouting reports and in helping identify transfer portal fits. He also played a role in running the team's summer camps, serving as assistant camp director.
The operations coordinator role in college basketball is often the glue position that keeps a program running smoothly. It typically involves managing travel logistics, overseeing day-to-day scheduling, coordinating with compliance, and assisting with recruiting support and scouting preparation. While it’s not considered an on-court coaching job, it’s an essential role for the behind-the-scenes efficiency of a program.
Before coming to Madison, Wilke worked with the Minnesota men’s basketball program for two years as an undergraduate, gaining some hands-on experience in recruiting and scouting. He graduated with distinction in sports management with a leadership minor and came to the University of Wisconsin to pursue a master’s degree in sports leadership.
This promotion is another notable internal hire for head coach Greg Gard.
Not only does Wilke understand the day-to-day flow of the program, but he’s already proven to be a valuable set of eyes in the areas of scouting and roster construction, which are aspects that have arguably never been more important in today’s version of college basketball.
More importantly, Gard has stressed that culture is what steadies the program in a transient era, from coaches down to players. The Badgers don’t chase approval or outside validation. Instead, they keep their focus inward, stay connected, and let the daily work speak for itself.
And really, Wilke’s promotion is part of a bigger story that's taken place in Madison. Gard has been deliberate in reshaping his staff over the past year, building a structure that looks more like a professional organization than a traditional college program, which meant new roles were needed.
It started last offseason, when Gard carved out a full-time role for Kirk Penney. The former Badgers star has been credited with revamping the team’s offense using European-style ball screen concepts that gave Wisconsin a new identity. NBA veteran Greg Stiemsma was brought on as Director of Player Development from the Spurs, a move Gard called invaluable for bringing pro-level training and game-day prep to the roster.
Gard also went outside the program to replace assistant Dean Oliver, bringing in Saint Leo head coach Lance Randall. Randall brought three decades of experience and a reputation for his connections across Wisconsin, nationally, and even internationally, which were ties that Gard believes will directly strengthen recruiting efforts and expand reach.
When longtime staffer Kyle Blackbourn left for a head coaching job at Rockhurst University, Isaac Wodajo was hired as Director of Recruiting and Scouting in his place, giving Wisconsin someone uniquely skilled in evaluating talent and reconstructing rosters in the portal era.
Perhaps the most noteworthy evolution came with Marc VandeWettering, a valuable longtime staffer, being promoted to General Manager. Gard has leaned on him to handle so many of the realities that exist in modern college basketball, such as managing NIL conversations, dealing with agents, helping manage funds, networking with collectives, monitoring the transfer portal, and balancing a roster that requires constant upkeep.
“This job has changed so much with all the other moving parts. You’re more of a CEO than you are a coach now,” Gard said. “There’s so much more that goes into it now that wasn’t a part of it 10 years ago.”
Taken together, the additions of Penney, Stiemsma, Wodajo, VandeWettering, and now Wilke give Gard a staff built to handle the demands of the modern era. College basketball has never looked more like the pros, and Wisconsin is building the infrastructure to match.
Just as important, those hires slot in alongside Associate Head Coach Joe Krabbenhoft and assistant Sharif Chambliss to round out a staff that distributes responsibilities in a way that allows Gard to function as the CEO he needs to be. At the same time, he’s surrounded by a trusted group of people he knows well, which lets him keep his thumb on things.
Despite the uncertain times, the Badgers have adapted and continue to reward the individuals behind the scenes who put in the work needed to make this program what it is. Wilke now joins a growing list of internal hires proving that commitment doesn’t go unnoticed in Madison.
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