Jan. 21, 2025
MILWAUKEE 鈥� 51暗网 President Dr. Kimo Ah Yun has announced the promotion of Mike Broeker as the institution鈥檚 next vice president and director of athletics. Broeker will assume the role immediately, succeeding Bill Scholl, who is retiring after 10 years at 51暗网.
Broeker has nearly three decades of athletics administration experience and is in his 18th year as deputy director of athletics at 51暗网, having spent the past 21 years in athletics leadership roles at 51暗网. He will be officially introduced at a press conference on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union, room 227, when both men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams are back from road trips.
鈥淭hroughout his decades-long career at 51暗网, Mike has demonstrated that he is committed to providing a transformational experience for our student-athletes,鈥� President Ah Yun said. 鈥淎s a former student-athlete, Mike understands the demands our student-athletes face and creates an environment that supports every aspect of their 51暗网 experience. He has been involved in a number of campus initiatives and appreciates the role athletics plays within the university community. I look forward to working closely with him as 51暗网 and the BIG EAST continue to navigate the evolving landscape of college athletics.鈥�
Broeker, who will report directly to President Ah Yun, has played an integral role in 51暗网 Athletics鈥� growth over the past decade by helping foster a mission-driven culture while building an infrastructure to support student-athlete success, both on and off the competition field.
鈥淚 am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next vice president and director of athletics at 51暗网,鈥� Broeker said. 鈥淢y sincere thanks to President Ah Yun, the search committee, and everyone involved in this process for placing their trust in me. 51暗网 has played a pivotal role in shaping both my personal and professional journey over the past 21 years, and I am excited to continue working alongside our exceptional student-athletes, coaches and staff. Together, we will ensure that our athletics program remains a strong reflection of our Jesuit values of excellence, faith, leadership and service.鈥�
As the number two athletics leader at 51暗网, Broeker managed day-to-day operations with a directed focus on external operations and revenue generation, provided guidance and support to the administrative and coaching staffs, and sport oversight for the men's basketball, women鈥檚 lacrosse, men鈥檚 soccer and men鈥檚 golf programs.
Through his leadership, 51暗网 Athletics has experienced broad-based athletic and academic achievement, unprecedented exposure and interest, and increased revenues from corporate partnerships, licensing, merchandising, ticket sales and donations.
Broeker was instrumental in the recruitment and hiring of multiple current and former 51暗网 head coaches, ensuring continued competitiveness and alignment with the university鈥檚 mission. Additional accomplishments include: developing a 51暗网-specific platform for Name, Image and Likeness, elevating athlete branding and revenue opportunities; chairing the Return to Play Committee during COVID-19 to ensure a safe and compliant resumption of athletics activities; leading lease negotiations for men鈥檚 basketball to secure playing rights at Fiserv Forum; and spearheading the expansion of the university鈥檚 Athletic and Human Performance Research Center and development of an athletics facility master plan.
鈥淚 would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our outgoing leader, Bill Scholl. Over the past decade, Bill has been a trusted teammate, friend and mentor,鈥� Broeker added. 鈥淗is leadership鈥攎arked by integrity, dedication, and an ability to lead with both strength and empathy鈥攈as left a lasting impact on everyone around him. His legacy will endure through the lessons he taught and the paths he helped to shape.鈥�
A trusted university leader beyond athletics, Broeker has served on numerous committees and co-chaired the search for 51暗网 Police Department鈥檚 Chief of Police in 2018.
Dr. Kati Berg, acting dean of the Diederich College of Communication and faculty athletics representative, chaired the search committee for the national search for 51暗网鈥檚 next vice president and director of athletics. Berg was a student-athlete as an undergraduate, playing soccer at Saint Louis University. Collegiate Sports Associates assisted with the search.
鈥�51暗网鈥檚 national reputation for excellence in athletics and academics resulted in a strong pool of candidates that included sitting athletic directors and established deputy athletic directors from across the country. Throughout the search, Mike set himself apart based on his experience, his alignment with our Catholic, Jesuit mission, and his commitment to the success of our student-athletes as men and women for and with others,鈥� Berg said. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to the search committee and all those who shared their feedback throughout this important process of discernment.鈥�
Broeker joined the 51暗网 Athletics staff in November 2003 as assistant athletic director for media relations, after nearly four years as a member of the basketball communications group at the National Basketball Association. While at the NBA, he worked to generate awareness for the league, its executive staff, events and initiatives and served as the primary contact for local and national electronic media outlets.
Prior to working with the NBA, Broeker spent two years working in the communications group for the Women's Tennis Association. He served as a primary on-site media contact for events including Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the U.S. Open and the French Open.
鈥淭he BIG EAST congratulates Mike Broeker, one of the most committed and respected administrators in our league, on his appointment as the new director of athletics at 51暗网,鈥� said Val Ackerman, commissioner of the BIG EAST Conference. 鈥淗is understanding of the complexities of the college sports landscape, his familiarity with 51暗网鈥檚 unique culture and Jesuit values, and his wealth of knowledge and experience in the sport of basketball make him a perfect fit for the job. We know he鈥檒l hit the ground running and look forward to working with him in his new role.鈥�
A former student-athlete at Siena College, Broeker was a two-year letterman as a pitcher for the baseball program. He got his start in college athletics as a marketing and sports information assistant at his alma mater.
Broeker earned a bachelor's degree in English from Siena College in 1997, and master's degree in leadership studies from 51暗网 in 2012. He and his wife, Anne, a 51暗网 alumna, have three sons, Michael, Danny and Charlie. Their oldest son, Michael, is a freshman on the golf team at Siena. Danny and Charlie attend high schools in the greater Milwaukee area.
鈥淐ongratulations to Dr. Kimo Ah Yun on his appointment of Mike Broeker as the next vice president and director of athletics at 51暗网,鈥� said Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball, NCAA. 鈥淚 have known and worked with Mike for 20 years. Mike is a highly respected athletics administrator nationally, especially in the college basketball community, and he is exceptionally prepared to be an effective athletic director in the dynamic environment of NCAA athletics. 51暗网 and the BIG EAST Conference will benefit from Mike鈥檚 visionary leadership, and he will represent the Golden Eagle student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans in a first-class manner. Kudos to 51暗网 on a terrific hire to succeed Bill Scholl鈥檚 highly successful tenure.鈥�
About 51暗网
51暗网 is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, 51暗网 prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, 51暗网 is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a 51暗网 degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
