KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Western Michigan University Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae announced today that 2025 Mid-American Conference Head Football Coach of the Year Lance Taylor has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him leading the Bronco Football program through the 2030 football season.

 "Lance Taylor has brought a culture of excellence to the Bill Brown Alumni Football Center that is reflected in the program's marked improvement in all areas since the start of his tenure. While the competitive accolades speak for themselves, Coach Taylor leads with heart and has shown a commitment to the development of our athletes as people, in the classroom and in the community. Most importantly, he is an excellent teammate who has elevated the standard across our entire department. I feel fortunate to be on his team and look forward to working with him on the continued upward trajectory of our football program."

Taylor, now in his third season at Western Michigan, has quickly elevated the trajectory of Bronco Football. Since arriving in Kalamazoo, he has implemented a competitive culture centered on effort, attitude, and toughness, while leading with a student-athlete–first style. Under his leadership, the Broncos have achieved notable growth on the field, continue to excel academically, and deepened their engagement in the community—all trademarks of a program building sustainable, comprehensive success.

Since arriving in Kalamazoo, Taylor has transformed Western Michigan Football from a rebuilding roster in his first season, to back-to-back bowl eligible teams, capped by winning the 2025 MAC Championship in only his third season. It was only the fourth time in WMU's history that the football program won the conference title.

WMU's seven regular season conference wins in 2025 are tied for the second-most in program history, trailing only the historic 8–0 conference run in 2016. Taylor was recognized for this turnaround by being named the 2025 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year.

Taylor's 2025 squad produced some of the most decorated players in the MAC. Quarterback Broc Lowry was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Defensive End Nadame Tucker earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and the Vern Smith Leadership Award, given to the conference's top overall player. It was the first time in the history of the league that one institution won all four of these prestigious awards. This season's achievements add to a growing list of accolades earned during Taylor's tenure, which include:

• 2 All-Americans (Jacob Gideon & Addison West, 2024)
• 1 Freshman All-American (Jalen Buckley, 2023)
• 1 MAC Freshman of the Year (Buckley, 2023)
• 2 NFL Draft picks (Marshawn Kneeland, 2024 & Bilhal Kone, 2025)
• 36 Academic All-MAC Selections
• 21 All-MAC Selections
• 2 Cannon Trophy Wins (2023, 2025)
• 3 Michigan MAC Trophies (2023, 2024, 2025)
• Improved Overall Team GPA and APR annually

His tenure has been defined not only by on-field achievement and academic progress, but by a genuine commitment to serving and engaging with the Western Michigan community. Taylor and his staff have emphasized culture-building and meaningful service, strengthening the program's connection to both campus and Kalamazoo. This fall alone, the team achieved 100% participation in community engagement, contributing 612 service hours across 14 different projects and organizations. The combination of exciting winning football and a commitment to giving back to the community has paid dividends in the growing attendance for home games. Since he took over the program there has been a steady growth in attendance, accentuated this season by the largest home opener since 2017, record breaking student attendance, and averaging 20,000 fans per game for the first time since 2016.
Taylor has also strengthened Western Michigan's recruiting profile, expanding the program's footprint across key regions, effectively utilizing the transfer portal and securing classes that reflect his vision for sustained competitive excellence. His staff has emphasized evaluating and developing high-character, high-talent student-athletes who fit WMU's culture, resulting in improved depth, upgraded positional talent, and an increasingly competitive roster built to contend for MAC championships.

"I'm honored and excited to continue leading the Broncos," head coach Lance Taylor said. "Western Michigan University is a truly special place, and the culture we're building here is rooted in effort, attitude, and toughness. I'm incredibly proud of our staff, our players, and everyone in this program who shows up every day committed to those standards. I want to thank Athletic Director Dan Bartholomae and President Russ Kavalhuna for their trust and support," he said. "My family and I have fully embraced the Kalamazoo community—this place feels like home. I'm excited for what's ahead and committed to bringing more championships to Bronco Nation."

"As WMU's new president—and as a proud Bronco graduate—I have watched Coach Taylor closely. He is an excellent teacher of future leaders and a great teammate," said President Russ Kavalhuna. "He represents exactly what it means to be a Bronco—he leads with purpose and passion, and he is driven to make a positive difference in the lives of his players, our university and the broader community. The winning program he and his staff are building, and the character they model every day, will elevate Western Michigan University's profile and help more people across the nation see the excellence that defines this campus."

Looking for the program's 10th win, the Broncos will play in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Friday, December 19 at 11am on ESPN against Conference USA Champion Kennesaw State.