Gilbert Search Firm: Replacing Andy Bronkema
After a slow start to the hiring cycle, the esteemed Gilbert Search Firm is on a heater. Identifying two of three finalists for the Central Michigan job, including the eventual choice in Andy Bronkema. With my services now in high demand, let’s attack the new Ferris St opening. Following the usual the procedure of the analyzing the job. Then breaking down the candidates into categories.
The Job
Just like any job, there are definite negatives. However, I don’t see how anyone could argue that it’s a bad job with a straight face. As Bronkema, football coach Tony Annese, and the Hockey program have all shown. You can win, and you can win at a national championship level.
Let’s get the negatives out of the way. The campus is somewhat remote and not by a natural recruiting base (though West Michigan isn’t far) Ferris St is the only Division II lower peninsula program that has to split revenue with Division I hockey. Consequently, I’m not sure how competitive the budget will be in regards to salary. The gym is small. However, it isn’t old and the facilities overall are top notch.
Full disclosure I’m alum of 131 rival Grand Valley St. I graduated in the early aughts. I had an up close look at the Bulldogs in their fallow period. This isn’t a “plug and play” position. Things can go bad. For all the reasons listed above. I can’t see them plucking a sitting Division II head coach from their spot. The type of hire that is going to win here is someone who knows the both the program and area well. So I will start with…
The Ferris Family
Jim Lake (Head Coach UW-Stout) The sitting college head coach who has the most experience in Big Rapids. Has a decade of experience on the Ferris St bench under two head coaches (including Bronkema) Was the top assistant on Ferris’ 2017-2018 national championship squad. Also has deep ties to the Grand Rapids Storm AAU program that has been a pipeline for much of the Bulldogs current roster.
Has been in Wisconsin for quite some time and hasn’t won at the clip that one might have excepted. However those are not huge demerits. If they want to keep it in the family, this is the steady hand hire.
Raymoan McAfee (Assistant Coach Wayne St) Has a resume similar to Lake’s. Took over as the top assistant after Lake departed for UW-Stout. Also had experience coaching in Indiana and deep ties to Detroit. Won a state championship as a player at the storied prep program Detroit Pershing. Now in his third year at Wayne St, so he knows the GLIAC landscape as well as anyone.
The only negative here is the lack of head coaching experience. However, few in the Ferris pool would be as well versed geographically.
Josh Fleming (Current Assistant Ferris St) Technically the “incumbent” candidate. The current assistant will have the shortest resume of anyone on this list. Fleming took over for McAfee after he departed for Wayne St. A native of the Chicago area, Fleming could keep the Windy City pipeline going that Ferris has enjoyed of late.
Fleming’s coaching resume is short and confined to Big Rapids. Do you know who else had a shortncoaching resume with only Ferris St assistant experience? Andy Bronkema.
Outside Candidates
Ted Albert (Head Coach Indiana Tech) If Fleming’s resume is reminiscent of Bronkema. Albert’s bio falls into the same category. Like Bronkema played at nearby Cornerstone. Has been at Indiana Tech since 2017. Winning at an impressive and near national championship standard. Hasn’t just done it with Hoosiers. Has recruited Michigan well.
The negative here is no experience above the NAIA level. If he can overcome that, few candidates would able to to match his winning pedigree.
Jon VanderWal (Head Coach Marietta (OH) Highly successful Division III head coach who just wrapped up his 18th year at Marietta. So why would he leave? I mentioned in the introduction that Ferris St is kind of in the middle of nowhere. VanderWal is from the area in nearby Cadillac.
I’ve been told he is rather happy and content in Ohio. However his success has gotten him mentioned in big time coaching searches before. If anything would cause him to make the jump, this would be the program. A national championship level program close to home might be too hard to pass up. Like Albert, no Division II experience, but the near two decades of winning might obscure that.
Chris Fowler (Associate Head Coach Western Michigan) Former standout player at Central Michigan. Fowler is well versed in the state and was a graduate assistant for Tom Izzo. While in Kalamazoo, has recruited the West Michigan region extremely well. I was told he was in the running for the head spot at his alma mater. So the head coaching itch is already there.
Would he want to jump down a division to do it? Would his lack of experience in the division hurt him? There are some questions here, but the resume is strong.
Hassan Nizam (Assistant Coach Central Michigan) Young coach who has been on a meteoric rise. Was still a high school coach in 2021. Has ran his own program successfully at Macomb CC. Has deep AAU ties from his time coaching Michigan’s EYBL squad, The Family.
The biggest thing working against him is oddly enough— the Bulldogs old coach. Does Andy Bronkema want him to stay on at Mount Pleasant? Coach Niz is young and if he wants to stay in Division I, other opportunities should come up.
Justin Ingram (Associate Head Coach Toledo) You could argue few people outside of the Mitten have recruited Michigan better in the last few years. Why, simply put— he puts the work in. A staple of Saturday showcases and Midwest AAU events. Also has long term relationships that he has built through the aforementioned work and as the son of the longtime head coach at Lansing CC.
The former Lansing Waverly guard is as much a product of Toledo as he is the Capital City at this point of his career. Played there and just completed his eighth year as an assistant. That’s not a bad thing as Ferris has a history of success with players from Toledo as well (see Dennis Springs) Would he want to leave the comfy confines of Division I basketball to come to Big Rapids?
High School… Really?
Do I really think Ferris will go to high school ranks to fill their position? In a word… no. That being said, if things get weird with desired candidates. There is a grouping of high school coaches who would surprisingly fit.
Keith Guy (Head Coach Muskegon) One of the deans of Michigan High School basketball coaching. He is a Ferris alum and has sent countless players to Big Rapids throughout his banner raising career. He has nothing left to prove and might relish the challenge at this point.
On the outside, some might doubt if a high school coach from Muskegon can win at the college level. For those in Big Rapids still polishing their gridiron championship trophies, it’s not a stretch. They have seen it with former Big Red football coach Tony Annese.
TJ Meerman (former head coach Grand Rapids Catholic Central) Like Guy a state championship winning West Michigan head coach. Knows how to “build” a program. I’m old enough to remember when Catholic was just a “football” school.
A former player at Central Michigan. Has relationships that extend beyond the region. Speaking of relationships, his nephew is currently on the team. Two other former players are currently on the squad as well. His most prominent former player is currently in the transfer portal. I’m not suggesting you hire a head coach to get one player. However, the coaching chops are there if Ferris wants to roll the dice.
Thad Shank (Head Coach Ludington) Going to go WAY off the board for the last entry. The surface case is short and not overly strong. One of best pure “ball coaches” you will see. Has won a ton of games with nary a college recruit on his roster. No state championship but multiple trips to the Breslin Center and quarterfinal round. I’ve watched it up close and personal for years.
You know else watched it up close and personal? The man making this hire, Ferris St athletic director Steve Brockelbank. Before his administration career commenced Brockelbank served not one, but two stints as the head football coach at Ludington (1999-2004 and 2007-2014) One again the “Annese” factor here is in play. Probably a thousand AD’s would not consider this. But a former high school football coach, who employs a championship winning former high school football coach, who worked with said successful high school basketball coach. You have to squint real hard to see it, but there is a glimpse.
Recommendation
A tough call, but this is why they pay me the big (no) bucks. I would give Jon VanderWal a shot. He has the longest winning resume. Allow him to construct a staff to make up for the lack of immediate recruiting ties to the region. He’s the closest facsimile to Bronkema in terms of winning. The local ties should resonate in a job where booster support is important.
