We tabbed Williams head coach Mike Maker as the leader for Marist yesterday – it’s now official…

Marist College has hired Mike Maker as its head men’s basketball coach, it was announced Tuesday by Director of Athletics Tim Murray. A press conference to introduce Maker as the 11th head coach in program history will take place on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at McCann Arena.

“We believe Mike Maker is a great fit for Marist,” Murray said. “Mike has a terrific track record as a head coach, and strong experience at different levels of Division I. He’s worked under proven coaches and quality people. I know he will put his heart and soul into establishing a successful Marist basketball program.”

In his most recent position, Maker posted an impressive record of 147-32 (.821) in six years as head coach of Williams College. During his tenure at Williams, the Ephs reached the Final Four on three occasions, including two berths in the Division III national championship game. His 16 NCAA Tournament victories at Williams are a school record.

Last season, Maker led Williams to a berth in the 2014 Division III national championship game for the second time in five seasons. The Ephs posted a record of 28-5 overall, and ranked in the nation’s top 10 in seven statistical categories.

“It is with great pride and humility that I accept the head men’s basketball coaching position at Marist College,” Maker said. “Together, our staff and players will embrace the overall mission of Marist and recognize the responsibility we share to represent our institution, program and community, on and off the court, with class, enthusiasm and excellence. We will implement a team first approach and unique style of play that highlights character, intelligence and skill, a direct reflection of our student body as a whole.”

“I deeply appreciate the support of the Marist administration and committee, in particular Tim Murray. It’s a great day to be a Red Fox!”

At Williams, Maker won at least 17 games in all six seasons, and won at least 26 games four times. In 2010, the Ephs reached the Division III national championship game, finished 30-2, set a school record with 21 straight wins and led the nation in four statistical categories. That season, Maker was named Basketball Times Co-National Coach of the Year, D3hoops.com Northeast Region Coach of the Year and NESCAC Coach of the Year.

Following a second straight trip to the Final Four in 2011, Maker was a finalist for Glenn Robinson Division III Coach of the Year. In 2013, he was named D3hoops.com Northeast Region Coach of the Year, and was a finalist for Glenn Robinson Division III Coach of the Year after an Elite Eight appearance.

Executive Vice President Dr. Geoffrey Brackett indicated the search committee “unanimously endorsed Coach Maker, whose history of success at Williams, Dartmouth, West Virginia, Creighton and elsewhere has been built upon the role of the student-athlete that is so important at Marist—evidenced by 12 overall and 30 total Commissioner’s Cups to date and 103 MAAC championships. I’d like to thank Tim and the committee members for their dedication and focus in the process.”

Maker comes to Marist with 26 years of coaching experience, including 17 as an assistant at the Division I level. Prior to becoming head coach at Williams, Maker worked under current Oregon head coach Dana Altman at Creighton in the 2007-08 season, during which the Bluejays reached the second round of the NIT. Maker served as an assistant at West Virginia under head coach John Beilein from 2005-07. The Mountaineers reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2006, and won the Postseason NIT in 2007. West Virginia posted a record of 49-20 in his two seasons there.

Before arriving at West Virginia, Maker had a three-year stint as assistant coach at Samford (2002-05) under head coach Jimmy Tillette. Prior to that, he spent 11 years at Dartmouth (1991-2002), where he earned the title of associate head coach, and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator and director of scouting.

Maker’s first head coaching position came during the 1990-91 season, when he guided the Hartnell College women’s basketball program. He started his coaching career as assistant coach and head junior varsity coach at California Baptist from 1988-90.

A native of Salinas, Calif., Maker is a member of the North Salinas High School Hall of Fame. He began his collegiate playing career at Hartnell College (1984-86), where he was a two-year captain, an honorable mention all-conference selection and earned an associate of arts degree in general education. He then played at California Baptist College (1986-88), where he was once again a two-year captain and earned Academic All-America honors. Maker graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from California Baptist in 1988, and earned a Master of Arts degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University in 1990.