KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Kalamazoo College announced the hiring of former Western Michigan University men's soccer assistant coach Mike Haines. Haines will be Kalamazoo's next men's soccer head coach, the program announced.
"Congratulations to Coach Haines and Kalamazoo College on a fantastic hire. Mike has been an instrumental part of our success over the past three seasons. There is no doubt his leadership, experience, and work ethic have taken our program to new heights both on and off the field," said WMU men's soccer head coach Chad Wiseman.
Haines received his bachelor's degree from Kalamazoo College in 1993. He lettered four seasons for the Hornets (1989-92), earning All-MIAA Second Team honors twice and captaining the 1992 squad.
Haines coached the WMU women's soccer team from 1998 to June 2009 and led the program to their first-ever Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship in 2003. The Broncos defeated No. 7 Illinois in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, also a program first.
Over the past three years, Haines has helped lead the WMU men's soccer program to an impressive record of 45-7-12.
Highlights of those 45 wins include: A Mid-American Conference tournament championship in 2022, Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles in 2023, and a program record three consecutive NCAA Tournament second-round appearances. In the three trips to the NCAA Tournament, Haines was a crucial part in the Brown and Gold reaching the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, WMU outscored their opponents 94-26 en route to achieving their second and third-ever appearances in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. From the 2023-24 seasons, Haines was a catalyst in WMU's program record-breaking unbeaten streak, in which the men's soccer team captured a 37-game unbeaten run spanning from August 27, 2023 - October 22, 2024.
Haines helped produce six MLS SuperDraftees: In the 2023 draft, Daniel Nimick was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the 42nd pick. Later with the 51st pick, Hunter Morse was drafted by FC Cincinnati. WMU's all-time leading goal scorer Charlie Sharp was also drafted with the 61st pick in the 2023 draft by Toronto FC.
The following year, Broncos Ethan Brandt, Jonathan Robinson, and Carson Hodgson were selected in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Brandt was selected by LA Galaxy with the 46th pick, Robinson was selected by Sporting KC with the 80th pick, and Hodgson was chosen by CF Montreal with the 83rd pick.
As he returns to Kalamazoo College, Haines brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and a proven ability to elevate programs to new heights.
"Coach Haines brings a championship-level pedigree with him, and that has to excite Hornet fans who will be looking for their first since 2002. We thank him for the time he spent with WMU Men's Soccer and want to wish him and his family nothing but the best with their new opportunity," concluded Wiseman.
For all things WMU men's soccer, make sure to follow the team on Instagram, @wmu_menssoccer, X, @WMUMensSoccer, and Facebook at @westernmichiganuniversitymenssoccer.
