Weber State Athletics announced today that Eric Duft will transition from his role as head men’s basketball coach into an executive position within the department. Duft will serve as the President of Basketball Operations and Development for the men’s basketball program.
In this role, Duft will work strategically with General Manager Damian Lillard and Weber State’s athletic administration. His focus will center on roster management, player mentorship, and alumni relations. Additionally, he will serve as a key liaison between the basketball program, the community, and external partners.
“A big part of me coming on as General Manager was getting to work closely with coach Duft in building the basketball program back to the top of the Big Sky,” Lillard said. “I’m excited to still be able to do that with him going forward.”
Duft’s tenure at Weber State spans 20 seasons, including the last four as the head coach. Throughout those two decades, he has mentored and influenced countless student-athletes and was instrumental in the development of many standout players, including Lillard, an All-American and NBA legend, Dillon Jones, a Big Sky MVP and NBA first round draft pick, and many others.
“Eric Duft has been a cornerstone of Weber State basketball for two decades,” said Tim Crompton, WSU Director of Athletics. “His loyalty to this university and his deep understanding of our program’s culture are unique. As the landscape of college athletics continues to shift, having Eric’s experience in this capacity is important to our success. We are thrilled to keep him in the Wildcat family.”
Prior to his head coaching tenure, Duft was an assistant coach under Randy Rahe for 16 seasons. During that era, he helped guide the Wildcats to five Big Sky Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. In total, Duft has been on the bench for nearly 650 games at Weber State.
“We are grateful for Eric’s dedication to our student-athletes and this institution,” Crompton added.
Weber State Athletics will immediately initiate a national search for the program’s next head coach.
