MORGANTOWN — Josh Eilert is getting a promotion. Next stop: WVU men’s basketball assistant coach.
Eilert, who had spent the last nine years as the team’s director for basketball operations, is now getting his first opportunity as a full-time Division I assistant, the school announced on Tuesday.
As the director of operations, Eilert’s was charged with scheduling and his efforts during 2020-21 were critical in WVU playing a full schedule that season.
With COVD-19 wreaking havoc on the sport that season, Eilert found ways to find replacement opponents at the last minute whenever there was a cancellation.
Eilert has been at WVU for 15 years, spending his first six seasons as the team’s video coordinator.
He also spent one season under WVU head coach Bob Huggins at Kansas State as a graduate assistant.
“Obviously, Josh has been an integral part of Mountaineer basketball for the last 15 years,” Huggins said. “He has a great basketball background as a player, in basketball operations and as a coach.
“Josh will be able to open up new recruiting avenues as he was a successful junior college basketball player in Kansas, which houses some of the best junior college basketball leagues and players in the country. He has conducted many of our camps and clinics and has met many coaches in West Virginia and in the surrounding areas. He is well-suited and capable of doing a great job for us.”
Eilert takes over for Erik Martin, who became the head coach at South Carolina State last week.
“I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to move into an assistant coach role here at West Virginia,” Eilert said. “I’ve been lucky to work for a Hall of Fame coach for the past 15 years while patiently waiting to get back on the floor. I look forward to continuing to work with Coach Huggins, Coach (Larry) Harrison and Coach (Ron) Everhart, and certainly wish Coach Martin and his family all the best at South Carolina State.
“I’m excited to continue to build relationships on the recruiting trail, while representing this great state on and off the floor. I’m eager to get back on the floor to coach, scout and help develop our post players.”
A native of Osborne, Kan., Eilert earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kansas State in 2004. He earned his master’s degree in College Student Personnel/Intercollegiate Athletics from Kansas State in 2007.
Eilert and his wife, Brandi, have two sons, Brendan and Tristan, and a daughter, Emri.
TWEET @bigjax3211
