CJ Rivers Named Men's Basketball Assistant Coach

The Marquette University men's basketball program has announced the hiring of CJ Rivers as an assistant coach, Bo Zeigler as program assistant and the promotion of Kenny Wilka to Assistant AD/Sports Medicine.

Rivers arrives on campus after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Colorado State (2023-24) under head coach Niko Medved. The Rams concluded the season 25-11 overall and participated in the NCAA tournament, earning a victory over Virginia.

The Cahokia, Illinois native also spent two seasons (2019-21) with CSU as a graduate assistant and in between his stints in Fort Collins he worked as the video coordinator at Loyola (2021-22) and an assistant coach at Illinois-Chicago (2022-23).

Rivers helped the Ramblers to a 25-8 record, a second-straight conference title and a trip to the NCAA tournament. UIC competed in its first season in the Missouri Valley Conference during his lone year with the team and he helped develop second team all-conference selection Jace Carter.

In his first two years with Colorado State, the Rams posted back-to-back 20-win campaigns and a trip to the National Invitation Tournament in 2020-21.

As a four-year starter at Drake, Rivers helped the Bulldogs to their first postseason appearance in 10 years.

Rivers played professionally for a season for the Sturt Sabres of the Premier League NBL 1 in Australia, where he led the team in assists and steals. He earned his bachelor's degree in broadcast news journalism from Drake in 2018 and master's degree in human resource studies at CSU in 2021.

"CJ has the potential to become a phenomenal basketball coach," head coach Shaka Smart said. "He's highly intelligent, can relate to a variety of people and has a passion for winning."

In his role, Zeigler will assist with the day-to-day operations of the program, including a focus on player development.

The Detroit native arrives at Marquette after spending two years at his alma mater Detroit Community High School, teaching and coaching basketball.

Zeigler played professionally for three seasons (2019-21) in Scotland and Finland after a collegiate career that included stops at the University of South Florida (2014-17) and George Washington (2017-18). He earned his bachelor's degree in communications from USF in 2017.

"Bo possesses many of the qualities we work to cultivate in our guys," Smart said. "He's hard working, team oriented and driven to help others succeed."

Wilka recently completed his sixth season at Marquette and was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Trainer prior to the 2023-24 campaign, working with men's basketball and women's soccer. In his new role as Assistant AD, he will oversee the entire sports medicine department and be the primary athletic trainer for the men's basketball program.

Wilka received a bachelor's degree in exercise sport science from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska before earning a master's degree in education from Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. In 2024, he was presented the Athletic Trainer Service Award by the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

"Kenny has a tremendous way with our guys and has quickly earned their trust," Smart said. "He's an energy giver, a tireless worker and most importantly, he aligns extremely well with our culture."

Keep up with the Marquette men's basketball program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteMBB) and Instagram (@marquette.basketball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMensBB). Fans interested in tickets can contact the Marquette Ticket Office online or at 414-288-GOMU (4668).

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