BasketballMACResignation

Clayton Bates stepping down after two seasons as head coach at Western Michigan

Clayton Bates is stepping down as the head coach at Western Michigan after two seasons. Bates was 13-39 overall and 8-23 (4-16) this season, finishing last in the MAC and missing out on the MAC Tournament for the second-straight year.

“These past two years as the head coach of the Broncos have been a special experience for my family and me” Bates said in a statement.  “My most sincere appreciation to all members of the Western Michigan University Athletic Department for their efforts and hard work on behalf of the men’s basketball program. Thank you to our loyal dedicated coaching and support staff, who worked tirelessly to help the young men in our program grow and develop, both on and off the court.  Most importantly, thank you to the student-athletes. It has been an honor and a privilege to be a member of your team.  We wanted every day we took the court to be the best two hours of our day.  It always was for me, and I am grateful for our time together.  Thank you for giving your very best.  Bronco Basketball is positioned for great success in the coming years.”

Bates was promoted in March 2020 after spending seventeen of the prior twenty seasons on the WMU staff. He had been associate head coach from 2018-20.

“We will immediately begin a national search for the next leader of our men’s basketball program” said AD Dan Bartholomae. “That candidate will share our vision of a program that centers on the development of the student-athlete, energizes the community in support of our team, and competes at a championship level. Bronco men’s basketball is uniquely situated to fulfill that vision, and I look forward to the program’s future.”

 

credit to Western Michigan Athletics for the image