Josh Eilert Named Assistant Coach for the Runnin’ Utes
Craig Smith, Utah’s head men’s basketball coach, has added Josh Eilert as an assistant coach.
“We’re thrilled to have Josh and his wonderful family join the Utah men’s basketball program,” Smith stated. “Josh is an exceptional coach in all areas. He is well-versed in all aspects of the game and articulates it clearly and concisely. Josh has extensive experience in player development and will focus on the ‘bigs’ in our program. He also has extensive understanding of the Big 12, having played and coached in it for nearly two decades; this will be extremely beneficial as we enter the conference this season.”
Eilert joins Salt Lake City after spending the previous 17 seasons at West Virginia (2007-24) in various positions, most notably acting as interim head coach for the 2023-24 season. During his tenure in Morgantown, the Mountaineers advanced to the NCAA Tournament 11 times, including a Final Four appearance in 2010 and five NCAA Sweet 16s.
“I would like to thank Coach Smith and the University of Utah administration for this incredible opportunity,” Eilert stated. “I have a lot of respect for Coach Smith because of how he handles his program and how successful he has been. I am delighted to remain a part of the Big 12 Conference, where I have spent the previous 17 years. My family and I am excited to join the Salt Lake City community and represent the University of Utah and its legendary basketball program! “Go, Utes!”
Eilert has been involved in every aspect of the program during his time at West Virginia University, including on- and off-campus recruitment, scouting, film prep, scheduling, day-to-day internal operations, travel, camps, film exchange, fundraising, and several other special projects.
In addition, Silver Waves Media nominated him to its Top-50 Notable Division I Support Staff list for 2021.
The Kansas native was formally promoted to assistant coach for the 2022-23 season before being named interim head coach for the 2023-24 season following the departure of long-time head coach Bob Huggins.
Eilert previously worked as a graduate assistant at his alma school, Kansas State, from 2005 to 2007. He spent his first season as a GA under head coach Jim Wooldridge before joining Huggins for the 2006-07 season.
Eilert is no stranger to the Big 12, having played two seasons at K-State from 2002-04 after transferring from Cloud County Community College, where he was a two-year letterwinner and one-year starter. Eilert was also a standout in the classroom, garnering Academic All-Big-12 honors as a senior, as well as four consecutive Big-12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll choices, and receiving the Keith Amerson Academic Award. In addition, the former forward was named to the KJCAA Academic All-America team during his second year at Cloud County Community College.
