Dear Bronco Nation:
 
What an historic year, with an historic team of coaches, staff, student-athletes, alumni, fans and supporters.  A year that began with multiple national championships, and ended with only the fourth football conference championship in our history.  A year where we set numerous championship records in athletic competition, community impact, revenue generation, fundraising and academic achievement.  And as I shared in all of these moments with all of you, it dawned on me that our success was a result of an entire community that bought into a vision, supported it and lifted the Western Michigan University Athletic Department to national prominence.  Kalamazoo has moved well beyond the 'wait, where?' moments that would require a geography lesson when mentioned in press conferences.  Kalamazoo is the CITY OF CHAMPIONS.
 
Our student-athletes in the City of Champions have inspired and delivered beyond anything imaginable.  Just this past Fall, they set a new Fall semester record with a 3.41 Fall Grade Point Average, with ALL programs finishing above a 3.0.  Their championship contributions to the surrounding community were nationally recognized in 2025 with a Top 3 recognition for Community Impact by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, and a third consecutive #1 finish in service hours in the Mid-American Conference.  Athletically, we have now won 32 conference championships since 2022, national championships in men's ice hockey and dance, and only our third bowl championship in history.  Finally, we set a new institutional record this Fall with all of our team sports competing in their Conference Championship final, winning 3 of 4.  The City of Champions is real!
 
Championship ambitions require a championship experience for our student-athletes and championship resources deliver that experience.  We are thankful for the support of our Bronco community in securing record breaking funding to continue to support our programs.  As we shared in our recent Value Study – athletics will fail without ambitious external support and we deliver a powerful value proposition for our campus and communities.  The financial support WMU athletics receives directly from our campus administration is comparatively in the bottom third of the Mid-American Conference, millions of dollars behind our peers at Eastern and Central Michigan.  While our MAC peers rely on external revenues to cover only 25-30% of their budgets, external support now must cover over 50% of ours.  This is a reality we have to face and thanks to your support we have.  In addition to record breaking numbers in tickets and sponsorship, we have seen a 256% increase in giving from the 6 years previous to FY22, and FY26 has already set the record for annual giving.  These funds are crucial, as they support the student-athlete experience, the advent of revenue sharing in revenue sports, and key ongoing facility upgrades that benefit all sports.  And there is no question that without the increased support outlined above, we would not be competing at the championship level we have all come to enjoy.
 
Of course – there was no greater celebration of the value proposition and partnership between WMU and the surrounding community then seeing the Lawson Lunatics lead the groundbreaking of the finest intercollegiate hockey and basketball facility in the country at the Kalamazoo Event Center site.  With a roof already in place on the building, the entire City of Champions is witnessing this transformational project come to life before our eyes.  And before you know it, our basketball and hockey programs will move into the best training facilities in the country and compete in front of our entire region right here in the heart of the City of Champions.  You can expect sales plans and premium seating options to be unveiled in 2026 that provide the best seating and fan experiences in the country.  With your support, they will be a hard ticket to get, and we will prioritize sales based on the donation levels of our loyal supporters.
 
The City of Champions designation is not one we intend to celebrate for only one year.  It is a responsibility we all now must steward.  Far too often, we see Group of Five programs experience "flash in the pan" success – a result of stagnant commitment in a competitive environment.  As I have challenged my staff – I am challenging everyone invested in our success to rise to the challenge.  WMU can be a destination and elite Group of Five program that competes annually on a national stage.  The proof is right before our eyes.  But we all must continue to advance.  If you are a new fan, engage with us on social media or television and become one of the 50 million people who viewed our content this year.  If you are thinking about coming to a game, buy a ticket and become one of the 225,000 people who walked onto our campus to enjoy an athletic event.  If you already buy tickets, bring a friend.  And if you are able, please consider investing in a department that is a significant economic driver to the institution and southwest Michigan, whose student-athletes lead the way as citizens in our community and as students in our classrooms, and that wins at the highest levels of Division 1.  And if that inspires you, also know that for every $1 you contribute to WMU Athletics, we return over $5 in value to our campus and community.
 
Join us in 2026 in the City of Champions!
 


Dan Bartholomae
Vice President/Director of Athletics
Western Michigan University