Head men’s basketball coach Rob Summers has announced the addition of Michael Hunter to his inaugural coaching staff at Cleveland State as an assistant coach. Hunter brings over a decade of head coach and assistant coach experience to his new role in Cleveland.
“We’re excited to welcome Michael Hunter to our basketball staff,” said Coach Summers. “As a former head coach with deep roots in the great state of Ohio, Michael brings a unique blend of leadership, experience, and regional insight that will be invaluable to our program. His understanding of the game, ability to connect with players, and success recruiting in Ohio and beyond reflect the values we prioritize—commitment, integrity, and a team-first mentality. He’s a tremendous addition to our team.”
Hunter comes to Cleveland State after two successful seasons as the head coach at NAIA Shawnee State University. Hunter led the Bears to a 21-10 record in 2023-24, the first 20-win season in four years, and an appearance in the national tournament. He registered 37 total victories in his two seasons as head coach and won the River States Conference East Division Championship this past season. His 21 wins in his first season are the second-most in program history by a first-year head coach.
Prior to Shawnee State he spent a season at Saint-Mary-Of-The-Woods. His first stint as a head coach came at Lakeland Community College. Hunter led the program from 2019 to 2022 and finished his tenure with a 48-9 overall record as well as an Elite Eight appearance in 2021-22.
Prior to his head coaching time at LCC, he served as an assistant in an initial stint at Shawnee State, along with Urbana College and Goshen.
Hunter was a student-athlete at Columbus State for two seasons before transferring to NCAA Division III Ohio Northern for his final two seasons. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio Northern in 2008 before earning a master’s degree in education from Heidelberg in 2011.
Hunter is joined in Cleveland by his wife Kerrie along with his two daughters, Kendall (age 11) and Mikayla (age 2).
Hunter departs Shawnee State; Named Assistant Basketball Coach at Cleveland State
