The Northwood University men’s basketball program has announced the hiring of Matt Bullinger as an assistant coach.
“I’m extremely excited to add Coach Matt Bullinger to my staff,” said Tom Church, who was hired as the head coach for Northwood earlier this year. “Matt is a high energy, knowledgeable and well-connected coach that will fit perfectly here at Northwood. He has been a consistent winner and will be a role model for our players with his character and hard work approach.”
Bullinger comes to Northwood after serving as the Graduate Assistant at Wayne State University from 2022-24. In his two seasons in Detroit, the Warriors improved both its overall and conference win totals from the previous year. Bullinger coached two All-GLIAC selections, one All-Defensive selection, and the 2024 GLIAC Freshman of the Year. Matt also helped the 2022-23 team earn the NABC Academic Team Excellence Award.
Before Wayne State, Bullinger served as the Associate Head Coach at Kalamazoo Valley Community College from 2018 until 2022. In 2017-18, the year before Coach Bullinger’s arrival, Kalamazoo Valley finished 8-22. In Matt’s final year, 2021-22, the Cougars finished 23-9. While at KVCC, Bullinger coached two All-Region XII players, nine Academic All-Conference players, and helped eight student-athletes earn scholarships to four-year schools.
Prior to his time with the Cougars, Bullinger was a summer coach at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida in the summer of 2018. He has coached at multiple NCAA Division II Elite Camps as well as high-level prospect camps in the state of Michigan.
Bullinger’s collegiate career saw him play two seasons at Jackson Community College as well as Indiana University – South Bend. Bullinger finished his collegiate career with more than 900 points and 400 rebounds. He was also a standout in high school at Jackson Lumen Christi, where the Titans set the school wins record on their way to a MHSAA Regional Championship in 2012-13.
A native of Jackson, Michigan, Bullinger earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts & sciences from Indiana University-South Bend in 2019 and his master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 2024.
“I am really excited to join the Northwood Family,” said Bullinger. “I want to say thank you to Athletic Director Jeff Curtis and to Head Coach Tom Church for giving me a chance to work at a school set up so well for success. I look forward to helping build a program that the students, administration, and alumni can all be extremely proud of for years to come!”
https://www.gonorthwood.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/releases/20240605mmwpf5
