Breaking: CMU hires new men's basketball head coach
Ferris State's Andy Bronkema named the 22nd men's basketball head coach
After departing ways with previous head coach Tony Barbee, CMU officially hired Andy Bronkema just 11 days later.
Bronkema, the architect of Ferris State’s national championship run, has been named the 22nd head coach of the Central Michigan men’s basketball program, the university announced Monday afternoon.
A Michigan native, he comes to Mount Pleasant after 12 seasons at Ferris State, where he compiled a 278-105 record, won the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship, captured nine conference titles and led the Bulldogs to nine NCAA tournament appearances.
“Andy’s ability to raise a program to excellence and sustain it at the highest level is impressive,” said Director of Athletics Amy Folan. “He is the perfect fit for what we need at Central Michigan and at this time in intercollegiate athletics.”
Bronkema inherits a Chippewas program in transition, following Barbee's departure earlier this month. Known for his ability to build a winning culture and develop student-athletes both on and off the court, Bronkema said he’s ready to hit the ground running in Mount Pleasant.
“I want to thank Amy and (CMU) President (Neil) MacKinnon for the opportunity,” Bronkema said. “Through the process, our visions aligned well and I look forward to working with them. I’m excited about becoming a member of the Mount Pleasant community and putting a team on the floor that everyone can be proud of and enjoy.”
Bronkema led Ferris State to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 25-9 overall record and a 14-6 record in the GLIAC this past season. His tenure in Big Rapids featured a dominant 2017-18 campaign, when the Bulldogs went 38-1 en route to capturing the school’s first national championship and earning him National Coach of the Year honors.
“Coach Bronkema clearly understands how to create and sustain a winning culture that prepares student-athletes for tremendous success on the basketball court, in their educational careers and for life after the game,” MacKinnon said. “We are Fired Up to welcome him and his family to our community.”
A former All-American player at Cornerstone University, Bronkema has deep roots in Michigan, having also starred at McBain High School. His coaching career began at Ferris State as an assistant in 2007 before taking over as head coach in 2013.
He will be formally introduced to the CMU community during a "Fired Up to be a Chippewa" event at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the John G. Kulhavi Events Center/McGuirk Arena. The event is open to the public and will be streamed live on CMU's official athletics website.
