KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan University Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae has announced that head men's basketball coach Dwayne Stephens will not return for the 2026-27 season. Stephens recently completed his fourth season as head coach of the Broncos.
 
"Coach Stephens has elevated our men's basketball program in many ways during his tenure as our Head Coach," Bartholomae said. "He has represented our Broncos with integrity and class, and we are grateful for his contributions. As the world of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve, and as we anticipate the opening of the finest basketball training and competition venue in the Country, we believe it is in our best interests to seek new leadership and direction for our program. These decisions are challenging, and we will move forward with a focus on championship level success in an exciting new home environment."
 
Stephens became the 15th head coach in program history when he was hired in April 2022. During his tenure, his teams qualified for the Mid-American Conference Tournament in back-to-back seasons (2023–24 and 2024–25), marking the program's first consecutive appearances in Cleveland since 2013–14 and 2014–15. Stephens concludes his time at Western Michigan with an overall record of 42-84.
 
Off the court, the program made significant strides under his leadership. The Broncos steadily improved their academic performance, including earning a program-record 3.59 team GPA during this past fall semester. The team was also recognized nationally for its impact beyond the court, ranking No. 6 in the nation among Division I men's basketball programs in community service last year. His teams were deeply engaged in the Kalamazoo community, consistently ranking among the department's leaders in community service hours and demonstrating a strong commitment to representing Western Michigan University.

Glenn Sugiyama, Managing Partner of the DHR Global Sports Practice, will assist in the Western Michigan coaching search.