DAN BARTHOLOMAE

I told Dan that I would,” he said when asked if he’d consider bringing the Spartans to Read Fieldhouse. “I think that’s why we got along so well at Michigan State; I think that’s why we had so much success. The Golden Eagles went 14-15 the season before Crean’s arrival, and Stephens said he wants to bring that kind of turnaround to Kalamazoo. “He took that program from .500 to a program that was in the Final Four in my last year,” Stephens said. “The transfer portal is something that I think can be very helpful if you’re trying to turn your program around overnight,” he said.

KALAMAZOO, MI – Dwayne Stephens paid his dues for nearly two decades on Michigan State’s bench alongside hall of fame men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo. Western Michigan announced the hire of Stephens as the Broncos’ new men’s basketball coach Monday afternoon, bringing an end to its month-long search following the resignation of former head coach Clayton Bates. “Dwayne has been more than ready to run his own program for a long time, and I think Western Michigan is getting an all-star. Dwayne is a terrific basketball coach and a great person, who will be a tremendous leader for their program and community. “I’ve spent nearly 20 years at Michigan State, working under a Hall of Fame Coach in Tom Izzo,” Stephens said.

Western Michigan men’s basketball head coach Clayton Bates is stepping down after two seasons with the program.

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Western Michigan men’s hockey team removed Paul Washe from its roster Monday afternoon, providing some clarity as to the former captain’s status with the Broncos following last week’s arraignment on sexual assault charges. Washe played in WMU’s games against Nebraska Omaha on Dec. 10 and 11 and against Michigan State on Dec. 29, before the start of his suspension in January. As to why it took so long to remove Washe’s name from the roster when he wasn’t part of the team, Bartholomae said, “I can’t speak to that. Bartholomae said he and Ferschweiler first learned of the previous Title IX investigation into Washe at the same time they learned of the current charges against him. Washe faces 15 years in prison if convicted on third-degree criminal sexual conduct charges, and his next court appearance is set for March 9.

KALAMAZOO, MI – In one of his first major moves since becoming Western Michigan’s athletic director, Dan Bartholomae stamped his approval on the Bronco football team’s 8-5 2021 season by giving head coach Tim Lester a contract extension through 2025. In his five years as WMU’s head coach, Lester holds a 32-25 overall record and a 22-16 mark in the Mid-American Conference, including MAC West runner-up finishes in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Follow along below to see more incentives and buyout information for Lester’s contract, which runs through the 2025 season. 3 WMU hockey to hold Lawson Arena watch party, open skate for series opener at No. 7 Minnesota DuluthStatus of WMU hockey captain Paul Washe uncertain amid indefinite suspension‘No excuses’ for No.

KALAMAZOO, MI – Western Michigan athletic director Dan Bartholomae made the biggest move of his early tenure in Kalamazoo Tuesday by announcing a two-year contract extension for head football coach Tim Lester. The agreement keeps Lester in Kalamazoo through the 2025 college football season. “Tim Lester has represented Western Michigan University in a first-class manner as a student-athlete, alum, and as our head football coach,” said Bartholomae, who took over for former athletic director Kathy Beauregard on Jan. 1, 2022. In his five years atop WMU’s football program, Lester holds a 32-25 record, including an 8-5 finish in 2021, which ended with the second bowl win in program history and marked his most successful season as the Broncos’ head coach. “I am thrilled and grateful to agree to a two-year contract extension with Western Michigan University which is so special to me,” Lester said in a press release.

Long-term implications of this name, image and likeness (NIL) policy are uncertain, but if EMU boosters are offering that kind of cash, it’s clear that all college athletic departments need to be prepared for a new era. New Western Michigan athletic director Dan Bartholomae shared insight on how the Broncos athletic department will handle NIL during Thursday’s introductory press conference, and the former Oregon State executive deputy athletic director said it revolves around educating student-athletes. “We put together a plan at Oregon State that was focused on education, was a collaboration with the college of business. Gretchen Whitmer signed in December 2020 bi-partisan legislation – House Bill 5217, which is set to take effect on Dec. 31, 2022 – allowing college student-athletes to use agents and receive endorsement money. “Anybody who was applying for this job looked at that and said, ‘Wow, what a foundation,’” he said.

In an introductory press conference at the Seelye Athletic Center, new WMU athletic director Dan Bartholomae stressed his desire to bring “comprehensive excellence” to Bronco athletics. Bartholomae used the term frequently throughout his press conference, and in addition to student-athlete success, he added engagement with alumni, fans and donors to his definition of comprehensive excellence. “Comprehensive excellence means that our student-athletes will leave this great university not only with their degrees, but also holistically prepared to pursue their passions in life. Western Michigan is going to be a place our student-athletes want to come back to, and we will create an environment that welcomes them with open arms. “We will need you, and I promise you, you will feel a sense of pride in what is happening in athletics at Western Michigan,” he said.

Currently Oregon State University’s executive deputy athletic director and chief operating officer, Bartholomae succeeds longtime Western Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard, who served 25 years at the helm of Bronco Athletics, the release said. WMU’s new athletic director began as deputy athletic director at Oregon State in 2017. He ended his 15-year stint with Pittsburgh as the deputy athletic director responsible for internal affairs, the release said. The donation was part of a record-breaking $550 million “Empowering Futures” gift set to support WMU, the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. She served as an associate athletic director from 1988 to 1993, when she received a promotion to senior associate director, before becoming WMU’s first woman athletic director on Sept. 29, 1997.