Head Coach - Chip Wilde

Chip Wilde is in his first season at Eureka. He was hired as the 15th head coach in Eureka's 86-year men's basketball history in April. He also serves as an assistant professor of physical education. A Macomb, Ill. native, Wilde worked as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University last season after spending two years as coordinator of basketball operations at Rutgers University.

Wilde has nine years of head coaching experience, both as a women's (three years) and men's (six years) basketball coach at Concordia University (MI). In 2001, he led the Concordia men's team to the NCCAA National Tournament and was named NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year. Wilde also served as the school's Director of Athletics from 1997 to 1998.

Wilde earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from Western Illinois University in 1991 and 1994 respectively. His career has included assistant coaching positions at Western Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas, where his team finished ranked second in the nation in NJCAA.

Always involved in teaching the game, Coach Wilde ha already conducted a boys basketball summer camp and fall hoops festival at Eureka prior to this season. Chip and his wife Darby reside in Normal.

cwilde@eureka.edu

Assistant Coach Nick Birkey

Nick Birkey is entering his first year as the Assistant Men's Basketball coach for the Red Devils Basketball program at Eureka College.

Birkey works directly with Head Coach Chip Wilde in many areas concerning the men's basketball program at EC. His responsibilities include everyday administrative responsibilities and organization. He also works day-in and day-out with the players in practices, individual workouts, and in the weight room. Coach Birkey will also assist in recruiting, player development, and maintaining a high-level of excellence within the Red Devils Basketball program.

Coach Birkey became a part of coach Wilde's coaching staff after graduating from Olivet Nazarene University and deciding to continue to coach basketball at the collegiate level. Birkey's interest in coaching basketball at the collegiate level comes from an extreme passion and love for the game. He also fully appreciates the college game and what it demands.

Birkey comes from a strong line of Olivet basketball coaches. He studied under and coached with one the finest NAIA Division 1 coach's, Ralph Hodge. Coach Hodge has accumulated over 575 wins in 28 years. Birkey has learned much and taken more from his experience at ONU over the last 4 years, mainly taking from the Tigers success making the NAIA National Tournament the past two seasons and reaching the Elite Eight in 2006. Birkey also served as the Administrative Assistant to the Athletic Director for the past two years.

Besides his playing experience and current coaching position, Coach Birkey also was the ONU Junior Varsity Head Coach last season and was asked to do many of the same things he will be expected to do at Eureka. Birkey has helped at many camps including the University of Illinois, numerous Olivet Nazarene basketball camps, and Mount Zion High School camps.

Birkey will also be the Head Golf Coach here at Eureka College. Coach Birkey graduated with his undergraduate degree in business administration and sports management from Olivet Nazarene University in May 2007.

nbirkey@eureka.edu

Assistant Coach Dirk Welch

Dirk Welch is in his first year as an assistant coach at Eureka. A Pekin, Ill. native, Welch lettered in both basketball and baseball at Taylor University in Indiana. In his senior season in 1996, his team advanced to the NAIA National Basketball Tournament. He graduated from Taylor later that year with a degree in business administration.

Welch was an assistant softball coach at Bradley University for three seasons as the Braves posted multiple 20-win seasons. He took on head coaching duties of the Butler University softball program for three seasons beginning in August of 1999. He led the Bulldogs to a 2002 Horizon League Tournament runner-up finish in 2002, the highest finish in school history. He also served as a 2002 Mideast Regional Advisory Committee member.

Coach Welch has worked as a marketing and sales representative the last four years. He currently lives in Peoria and works for Englander Bedding Company as a sales representative.