We had this as a rumor yesterday – it’s now official…

Daemen College President Dr. Gary A. Olson and Director of Athletics/Special Assistant to the President Bridget E. Niland introduced Mike MacDonald today as the sixth head coach in the history of the Daemen men’s basketball program. The announcement was made at a press conference held in Rosary Hall.

"Mike MacDonald brings significant NCAA head coaching experience and a strong commitment to the welfare of student-athletes, both athletically and academically," Olson said. "He will help us make a strong entry into NCAA Division II membership."

MacDonald comes to Daemen with 26 years of collegiate coaching experience under his belt, including 17 as a head coach. He most recently spent the last eight years leading the men’s basketball team at Medaille College where he transformed the program into a regional contender at the NCAA Division III level. Inheriting a program that went 4-46 in the two years prior to his arrival, MacDonald’s version of the Mavericks averaged 18 wins a season, while advancing to the postseason six times.

Medaille’s emergence as a Division III power in the Northeast was cemented in the last five seasons, as MacDonald led the Mavericks to more wins than any other Division III team in New York State, while ranking 17th nationally in wins during the same time frame.

MacDonald was named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year on four occasions (2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12). He leaves Medaille as the school’s all-time leader in wins (149) and winning percentage (.671).

Prior to his stint at Medaille, MacDonald served as the head coach at Canisius College from 1997-2006, guiding the Golden Griffins to 108 wins which ranks him third in program history for coaching victories. While there, he was one of only five coaches to orchestrate a 20-win season, and was named the 2000-01 Basketball Coaches Association of New York Co-Coach of the Year.

In 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach, MacDonald has achieved a record of 257-225 (.533 winning percentage). Also, 68 of the 69 seniors he has coached have graduated.

Before being elevated to the head coaching post at Canisius, MacDonald had been the Golden Griffins’ top assistant coach under John Beilein. In that role, MacDonald helped Canisius reach the 1996 NCAA Tournament in addition to two National Invitation Tournament appearances.

"Coach MacDonald’s background connects well with each part of the model for NCAA Division II athletics," Niland said. "We are excited to welcome him and his family to the Daemen community."

"I would like to thank Dr. Olson and Bridget Niland for this opportunity," MacDonald said. "Daemen has established a strong reputation in Western New York and I’m looking forward as we move to enhancing that reputation for the student-athletes as move towards full NCAA Division II membership. I am excited for the challenges that lie ahead."

In addition to his coaching accomplishments, MacDonald brings a strong connection to the local community. His teams have been active with a number of community organizations in the greater Buffalo community and beyond, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo, Blessed Sacrament Athletic Club and Coaches vs. Cancer. MacDonald and several of his players have also worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Mayor Byron Brown’s office on the "Game Changers" program which provides academic and athletic opportunities for inner-city youths during the summer months.

MacDonald inherits a program at Daemen which has won 68 games over the previous three seasons, including a 35-game home winning streak which ranks as the second longest such streak in the country across all divisions. The Wildcats are coming off a 21-7 campaign last season which included a 17-3 mark in the East Coast Conference, winning the league’s regular season championship during the program’s first season as a member of the NCAA Division II conference.

The new head coach also announced that the existing coaching staff – associate head coach Mike Miranto and assistant coach David Johnson – would remain intact moving forward.

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