Illinois head basketball coach John Groce announced the hiring of James Haring as director of basketball operations.
Haring has been elevated to the role after serving the last two years on Groce’s staff as a graduate manager. He will perform a variety of administrative functions for the Fighting Illini including team travel, housing, weekly scheduling, summer camps, budget management, supervision of student managers and liaison for State Farm Center.
“We are thrilled to officially add James Haring to our program in a full-time capacity,” Groce said. “He is a trusted member of our staff and a dedicated, tireless worker. James did an outstanding job serving our players and coaches as a graduate manager and is fully prepared to handle the many administrative duties involved with the day-to-day running of our program.”
Prior to arriving at Illinois, Haring was a student manager for the West Virginia basketball program, under the direction of coach Bob Huggins, for four seasons from 2011-14. He earned the title of head manager during his senior year in 2014. He also served on the event staff of the LeBron James and Kevin Durant skills academies in the summer of 2013, and was named ProCamps Intern of the Year in the summer of 2012.
A native of New Lenox, Illinois, Haring graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in 2014 and earned a master’s degree in educational policy studies from the University of Illinois in 2016.
