Aemilia “Emili” Leyden was promoted to director of operations by head coach Robin Pingeton in May 2025. In this role, she oversees all day-to-day program operations, including team travel, scheduling, budget coordination, and logistical support for the coaching staff. She also leads planning for the Badger Girls Summer Basketball Camps and supports recruiting operations.
Previously, Leyden served as the director of recruiting beginning in March 2023, managing recruiting oversight, on-campus visits, recruit communication, and travel arrangements.
From 2018–2023, she worked as the program assistant, where she ensured operational efficiency across the program and supported the director of operations in areas such as travel coordination, business office functions, and various administrative tasks.
A native of Nashotah, Wisconsin, Leyden graduated from the University of Wisconsin in May 2018 with degrees in history and legal studies, along with a certificate in gender and women’s studies. As an undergraduate, she was a student manager for the women’s basketball team for three seasons.
Before enrolling at UW, Leyden was a student manager for the girls basketball team at Hartland Arrowhead High School. She comes from a proud Badger family: her parents, Rory and Jacki Leyden, are Wisconsin alumni; her sister, Abby, also served as a manager with the program; and her youngest sister, Molly, currently attends UW.
