Kim Caldwell, the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, has named Denise Jilka as the program’s executive director of basketball operations. The move signals a continued investment in the infrastructure that has helped the team maintain a perfect graduation rate and a strong national profile.
A Strategic Appointment
Jilka arrives after nearly twelve years of service at the University of Tennessee, where she has become known for her work in academic support and coordination with student‑athletes. Her tenure has been marked by direct involvement with the Lady Vol Hoops academic initiative, a program that has guided every eligible player to graduate, and by her role in welcoming international student‑athletes and managing the guest coach program.
In her new capacity, Jilka will work alongside Maggie Stanley, sharing responsibility for program logistics, academic oversight, daily scheduling and travel coordination. The partnership is expected to streamline operations as the team prepares for the upcoming 2025‑26 season.
She succeeds Catherine Greene, who held the executive director post before transitioning to a position with the Atlantic Coast Conference earlier this year. Greene’s departure was announced as part of a broader realignment that sees the conference expand its footprint ahead of the 2025‑26 campaign.
Jilka’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Bradley University, earned in 2011, a Master of Arts in sport and performance psychology from the University of Denver in 2013, and a Master of Science in sport management from the University of Tennessee in 2017. Prior to her graduate studies, she played softball at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.