Marquette University President Dr. Kimo Ah Yun has announced the promotion of Mike Broeker as the institution’s next vice president and director of athletics. Broeker will assume the role immediately, succeeding Bill Scholl, who is retiring after 10 years at Marquette.
Broeker has nearly three decades of athletics administration experience and is in his 18th year as deputy director of athletics at Marquette, having spent the past 21 years in athletics leadership roles at Marquette. He will be officially introduced at a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. in AMU 227, when both men’s and women’s basketball teams are back from road trips.
“Throughout his decades-long career at Marquette, Mike has demonstrated that he is committed to providing a transformational experience for our student-athletes,” President Ah Yun said. “As a former student-athlete, Mike understands the demands our student-athletes face and creates an environment that supports every aspect of their Marquette 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 Marquette and the BIG EAST continue to navigate the evolving landscape of college athletics.”
Broeker, who will report directly to President Ah Yun, has played an integral role in Marquette Athletics’ 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.
“I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the next vice president and director of athletics at Marquette University,” Broeker said. “My sincere thanks to President Ah Yun, the search committee, and everyone involved in this process for placing their trust in me. Marquette 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.”
As the number two athletics leader at Marquette, 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’s lacrosse, men’s soccer and men’s golf programs.
Through his leadership, Marquette 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 Marquette head coaches, ensuring continued competitiveness and alignment with the university’s mission. Additional accomplishments include: developing a Marquette-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’s basketball to secure playing rights at Fiserv Forum; and spearheading the expansion of the university’s Athletic and Human Performance Research Center and development of an athletics facility master plan.
“I 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,” Broeker added. “His leadership — marked by integrity, dedication, and an ability to lead with both strength and empathy — has left a lasting impact on everyone around him. His legacy will endure through the lessons he taught and the paths he helped to shape.”
A trusted university leader beyond athletics, Broeker has served on numerous committees and co-chaired the search for Marquette University Police Department’s 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 Marquette’s next vice president and director of athletics. Berg was a student-athlete as an undergraduate, playing soccer at Saint Louis University.
“Marquette’s 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,” Berg said. “I’m grateful to the search committee and all those who shared their feedback throughout this important process of discernment.”
Broeker joined the Marquette 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.
“The 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 Marquette University,” said Val Ackerman, commissioner of the BIG EAST Conference. “His understanding of the complexities of the college sports landscape, his familiarity with Marquette’s 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’ll hit the ground running and look forward to working with him in his new role.”
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 Marquette in 2012. He and his wife, Anne, a Marquette 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.
“Congratulations to Dr. Kimo Ah Yun on his appointment of Mike Broeker as the next vice president and director of athletics at Marquette University,” said Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball, NCAA. “I 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. Marquette and the BIG EAST Conference will benefit from Mike’s visionary leadership, and he will represent the Golden Eagle student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans in a first-class manner. Kudos to Marquette on a terrific hire to succeed Bill Scholl’s highly successful tenure.”
