Bobby Gikas is in his first year as graduate manager for the Fighting Illini.

Gikas spent the previous four years as an on-court student manager at Illinois. He served as head manager last season, when the Illini went 24-7 overall and 16-4 in conference play followed by the Big Ten Tournament championship, earning an NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed.

A native of Lockport, Illinois, Gikas was an Evans Scholar and graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology in May 2021.

Gikas is enrolled in the master’s program in health administration.