After completion of his second season as an assistant men’s basketball coach with the University of Mary Marauders, Mike Annese is leaving the college coaching profession to become a consultant for a health and wellness company in Colorado. University of Mary Head Men’s Basketball Coach Joe Kittell says a national search will begin immediately to replace Annese.
“I want to thank Mike for believing in our program and working his tail off to move it forward,” said Kittell. “Replacing Mike won’t be easy because he’s made a major imprint on all aspects of what we do. We’ll always be grateful to Mike for his impact on our program during his time here, and I know he will be cheering us on from Colorado.”
Annese’s college basketball career began at Colorado State where he played under UMary alum and Hall of Famer Tim Miles and then assistant coach Kittell. He joined back up with Head Coach Kittell at the University of Mary after helping lead Truman State to two straight NCAA Division II National Tournaments as an assistant coach from the 2016 through 2018 seasons.
“I want to thank Coach Kittell for giving me the opportunity to coach at the University of Mary the past two seasons,” said Annese. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to be coached by him as a player in college, and also coach alongside him at UMary. I also want to thank the players that I have coached at UMary. They are an amazing group of men that I have learned so much from personally and professionally. I will continue to support and build those relationships that I have developed. The Marauders Men’s Basketball Team has a bright future under Coach Kittell, and I look forward to supporting and watching the program continue to grow and succeed in the upcoming seasons.”
Annese played an integral role in the career development of many Marauders men’s basketball players. Guard Jaylan White became only the sixth Marauders player to crack 300 career assists and now ranks 17th all time in school history with 1,064 career points. And Matthew Kreklow broke UMary’s NCAA record for most career blocks with 55. Six players were also named to the 2020 NSIC All-Academic Team.
“I am extremely grateful for my time at the University of Mary,” said Annese. “Thank you to the faculty and staff that I have worked with the past two years. It is a very special campus, and it will always have a place in my heart.”
Annese’s new position will be as a coach/membership consultant at OsteoStrong in his home state of Colorado.
