Denise Jilka has been appointed director of basketball operations for the Lady Vols, taking over from Catherine Greene, who departed the role to assume a position with the Atlantic Coast Conference.
A decade of service
Jilka first joined the University of Tennessee in 2014 as an assistant academic counselor, a role that introduced her to the inner workings of the athletics department.
Two years later she was promoted to academic counselor and tutor coordinator, and in 2021 she became the assistant director of academic services, expanding her oversight to include a broader range of student‑athlete support.
Academic and athletic credentials
Her professional journey is complemented by athletic experience as a softball player at Bradley University, where she graduated in 2011, followed by graduate studies that culminated in a master’s in sport and performance psychology from the University of Denver in 2013 and a master’s in sport management from the University of Tennessee in 2017.
Collaboration with Stanley
Jilka will work closely with Maggie Stanley, the newly promoted assistant director of basketball operations, who previously served as the director of basketball operations at Marshall under head coach Kim Caldwell. Stanley’s ascent within the program reflects a shared history and a mutual commitment to continuity.
The appointment comes as the Lady Vols look to build on recent momentum, with Caldwell emphasizing the value of internal promotion and the institutional knowledge that Jilka brings to the role.