MISHAWAKA – Bethel Women’s Basketball is pleased to announce the addition of Brandon Auker as Assistant Coach. Auker comes to the Pilots from Loras College (Iowa), where he served as an Assistant Coach during the 2020-21 season.
“We are delighted to have Coach Auker join our women’s basketball staff,” stated Head Coach Doug Porter. “He is passionate about Indiana basketball and comes from a coaching family, has a solid background in player development, and is familiar with the recruiting scene in this state. Beyond that, Brandon places high value on building relationships and I believe he will do a great job of in connecting with and motivating our players. He has a bright future in coaching, and we feel fortunate to have him with us at Bethel University!”
Auker graduated from Elmhurst College (Ill.) where he played on the men’s basketball team from 2014-18 and was a team captain as a senior and earned the program’s Teammate Award. Following his playing career, the Evansville native joined Head Coach Kristin Wodrich’s staff at the University of Indianapolis as a Graduate Assistant from 2018-20. Wodrich is the sister of Bethel Men’s Basketball Head Coach Steve Drabyn and wife of former Bethel Women’s Basketball Head Coach Andrew Wodrich.
Coach Wodrich had this to say about Auker: “Brandon is a rising star in the coaching profession and is going to be a great addition at Bethel University. He is an Indiana native who knows the game and loves helping young people grow. Bethel is family to my husband and I and so is Brandon. We are excited to see what the future holds for the Pilots.”
While at UIndy, Auker worked as the team’s video coordinator, graphic designer and team manager supervisor. He helped with day-to-day responsibilities with practices and the team. In his two seasons with the Greyhounds, the team posted a record of 30-27, highlighted by a 19-10 record in 2019-20 and a trip to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament and two All-Conference selections.
Auker spent last season at Loras, where the Duhawks went 6-7 with an American Rivers Conference Tournament semifinal appearance and developed two All-Conference selections and the D3Hoops.com West Region Rookie of the Year.
Asked about his coaching philosophy, Auker responded, “I promote selflessness, competitiveness, positivity, accountability, and hold communication as one of, if not, the most important value of a great team, on and off the court. I want to help young women achieve more than they thought was possible, both in basketball and in life. With a strong work ethic, a high level of competitiveness, selflessness to others, a positive mindset, confidence in themselves, and the ability to communicate effectively, young female student-athletes can achieve anything they set their minds to.”
“With regards to basketball, I am a huge advocate for a fast-paced game. Being able to attack the other team on both sides of the floor, making the other team react to us as opposed to reacting to them, will give us an advantage especially at the end of the game.”
Auker holds a bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst in Communication Studies and a master’s degree from Indianapolis in Sport Management. In addition to women’s basketball coaching duties, Auker will assist the Sports Information Department in covering Pilot athletics.
Auker grew up in Evansville and was an Indiana All-State Honorable Mention and Indiana Junior All-Star at Reitz Memorial High School. His parents, Lee and Monica, are girls’ basketball coaches at Memorial. He has a fiancée Marin and has a dog named Domino.
Auker fills the coaching staff position that is being vacated by Marissa Ulrich, who is stepping down to pursue a career outside of intercollegiate athletics.
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