The Bard College Department of Athletics and Recreation has hired Michael Lenahan as Head Men’s Basketball Coach.
A longtime NCAA Div. I and Div. III assistant coach, and a member of the 2019 National Association of Basketball Coaches Under Armour 30-Under-30 Team, Lenahan is leaving the West Coast for the East Coast for his first head coaching role.
“I am humbled and thrilled to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on a place as special as Bard College,” Lenahan said. “I would like to thank (Interim Athletic Director) David Lindholm and (Vice President for Student Affairs) Dumaine Williams and the search committee for making this a reality.
“Bard first drew my attention because of its national reputation as an elite academic school, and its purpose, as a ‘private college for the public good,’ ” he continued. “The more I learned about Bard, the more excited I became about the opportunity, and after hearing the passion for the school and the Men’s Basketball program shown by the current student-athletes and alumni of the program, I realized Bard is the place where I want to be.”
Lenahan most recently was the Associate Head Coach at University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif. That was preceded by a second stop at Whitman College, where he was an Assistant Coach from 2019-20 as the Blues went 20-8, won the Northwest Conference title and went to a fifth straight NCAA Tournament. During his first stop at Whitman, in 2014-15, he recruited a class that went 112-10.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike into our department and have him join our team,” Lindholm said. “He stood out in a crowded field of candidates as a talented coach, recruiter, and mentor for students, and we’re excited to add him to our staff. He made a great impression on staff, students, and alumni with his experience, enthusiasm, and knowledge. His work will benefit the students currently on the team and the program as a whole for years to come.”
From 2017-19, Lenahan was the Basketball Recruiting Coordinator and Director of Analytics at Div. I Cal-Irvine, and in 2019, the Anteaters won the Big West title, then won a first round game in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the school’s history. He also worked at Div. I Cal-Berkeley from 2007-11 as an Assistant Video Coordinator.
Lenahan replaces longtime Bard coach Adam Turner ’06, who left for the private sector this past spring. Turner left a youthful roster of 20.
“I look forward to building a program on the strong foundation left by Adam Turner,” Lenahan said. ” We will strive to be successful on the court and in the classroom while being engaged with and adding value to the greater Bard community. We want the Men’s Basketball student-athletes to have a positive, life-changing experience at Bard that prepares them to reach their goals here and beyond, while having a ton of fun playing basketball.”
