Karla Bothast was named administrative assistant for women's basketball in May 2011 and came to Bradley after working the previous six years as office manager for a local primary care physician. 

Born in Dubuque, Iowa, Bothast and her family moved to the Peoria area with her family, which includes five brothers at the age of five and is a graduate of Richwoods High School.

She went on to attend Bradley and was a two-year member of the softball team in the mid 80's.  She was a jewelry and women's accessory buyer for "Just Ears", a retail company throughout the United State after her time at BU.

Bothast married her husband Brian in 1989 and they have three children: Britt (21), Morgan (19) and Bryce (16).