After he took the job following Hawkins' departure, the Broncos lost two star players to the transfer portal. Western Michigan was 13-39 under Bates, including 8-23 this past season. Western Michigan used the DHR Global search firm to identify candidates, and among those interested were several who had taken teams to the NCAA Tournament. "However, it was his sincere and authentic personality, coupled with his commitment to the holistic development of our student-athletes, that made him the best fit for our position." "His reputation as one of the nation’s most elite recruiters and his experience in developing some of the world’s finest basketball athletes separated him as one of the country’s most outstanding basketball coaches. “From our earliest conversations, DJ rose to the top of an incredibly competitive candidate pool as the right choice to lead our men’s basketball program to excellence," Bartholomae said in a statement about his first major hire since taking over AD in January (his first major move was extending football coach Tim Lester).
With a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the nation - "He understands the importance of recruiting and what it takes to build a successful program," MSU football coach Mel Tucker said - Stephens, 50, has coached in 20 straight NCAA Tournaments, including the 2003 Final Four with Marquette and the 2005, 2009, 2010, 20 Final Fours with Michigan State.Īt Marquette, he worked under then-head coach Tom Crean, another former Spartans assistant who called WMU's selection of Stephens "an absolute home run hire." At Michigan State, Stephens also helped guide Spartans to six Big Ten championships and four Big Ten tournament titles. He’s also helped develop players like three-time NBA champion Draymond Green and current Memphis Grizzlies reserve Xavier Tillman. The former Spartans standout from Ferndale - he was high-school teammates with Cornell Mann, who just was named head men's coach at Grand Valley State - has primarily been responsible for coaching Michigan State’s big men, including first-round NBA Draft picks Adreian Payne, Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. "I know his goal will be to bring Western Michigan to an elite level. I can’t tell you how much we will just miss his presence here, but this is a great opportunity for him and we are so happy for Dwayne and his family. Western Michigan is getting a great man, a wonderful family and a coach who I think will be a perfect fit to take their program to new heights.” "He gets it, he understands it, he’s both analytical and has a great understanding of the X’s and O’s," Izzo said as part of WMU's news release. Stephens just finished his 19th season at Michigan State and 10th as associate head coach under Izzo. New WMU athletic director Dan Bartholomae talked to Stephens again over the weekend at the Final Four in New Orleans. Western Michigan talked to Stephens and Washington on the same day early in this search, a source said, before Washington pulled out of the running. With the school's finances in better shape now, past the COVID-19 uncertainty and with the help of a recent $55 million donation to the athletic department, Stephens was among the top targets early in Western Michigan's search this time around, along with Michigan assistant and WMU alum Saddi Washington.įor the second time in two years, Washington decided to stay at Michigan, and will sign an extension to remain on Juwan Howard's staff. Washington makes $330,000 under the deal that expires at month's end. Stephens interviewed with then-athletic director Kathy Beauregard, but in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the university went into an outside hiring freeze and thus decided to promote Hawkins' assistant, Bates. Izzo made a strong push for Stephens to get the job two years ago, after Western Michigan moved on from longtime head coach Steve Hawkins. "I’m so very happy for this opportunity and can’t wait to get started."
I will expect my staff and our student-athletes to carry the same work ethic and dedication, both on and off the floor, into making our school and the Kalamazoo community proud of our program. "I consider myself a blue-collar coach, who is a grinder and I will work tirelessly to make Western Michigan one of the best in the Mid-American Conference and take the program to new heights.
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