CBU Alum Named DI Head Coach
6/26/2014 9:46:00 AM | Men's Basketball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Just after California Baptist University made the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, another Lancer is making a division change.
Marist, an NCAA Division I program, announced former Lancer hoopster Mike Maker as its 11th head men's basketball coach. Maker makes the transition from NCAA Division III action, after six years at the helm of Williams College. During his time with the Ephs, Williams posted an impressive 147-32 record and reached the Final Four on three occasions, including two berths to the title game.
"I'm a small college guy, I get questions about 'can I make the jump from Division III to Division I?'" said Maker in the Marist press conference. "I think I'm fully prepared for this opportunity and I embrace the academic standard of the college and I can't wait to get started."
Maker played for the Lancers from 1986-88, where he captained the squad his final two years and earned Academic All-America honors. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and went on to begin his coaching career as an assistant for his former team, from 1988-90.
With 26 years of coaching experience, including 17 as an assistant at the Division I level, Maker looks to hit the ground running with the Red Foxes--a team that finished last season 12-19.
"I have high expectations for [Marist's] performance in many ways," said Maker. "I will be very demanding without being demeaning with the way we conduct our business. There are no shortcuts. We are going to run a first-class basketball program."
