By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – The Illinois State women’s basketball program has named Katie Ehlen its new Director of Basketball Operations, it was announced Wednesday by head coach Barb Smith.
Ehlen previously worked with the ISU Event Management staff as a graduate assistant, starting in July 2014. She worked primarily with soccer, gymnastics, softball and track & field, as well as assisting with all remaining home athletics’ events. Ehlen then left the Redbirds to pursue an assistant coaching position at her alma mater, UW-La Crosse, for the 2015-16 season.
“We are so lucky to have Katie rejoin the Redbird family,” Smith said. “Katie has worked with and knows so many people already within the athletic department and across campus. She is very familiar with Redbird Athletics, has a tremendous work ethic and is very organized. She will be a great addition to our staff.”
A two-year letter winner for the Eagles, Ehlen started 50 of 51 games at UWL, after transferring from Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She started 25 of 26 contests in 2011-12, averaging 7.2 points and team-leading 7.0 rebounds per game. After missing the 2012-13 season due to injury, Ehlen started all 25 games in 2013-14 and was named to the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Sportsmanship Team, as she averaged 5.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game that season.
The Cambridge, Wisconsin, native has worked at numerous basketball camps, including the Marlene Stollings’ Basketball Camp at the University of Minnesota, the Lil Eagles Camp at UWL and Hoops For All at Viterbo (Wis.) University. Ehlen also served as an instructor for the Cambridge High School Girls’ Basketball Camp and the Wesley Matthews Skills Academy.
“I want to thank Coach Smith and her staff for giving me the opportunity to join the Illinois State Women’s Basketball program,” Ehlen said. “I feel truly honored and blessed to return to Illinois State and be part of such a great university. I accept this role with great excitement and pride, and I cannot wait to begin working with our student-athletes.”
Ehlen earned her bachelor’s degree in sport management at UWL in 2014 and is set to graduate with a master’s degree in sports management from ISU later this month.
