KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Western Michigan University Vice President and Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae has been named to the 2026 Silver Waves Media Top Athletic Directors in America list, a national recognition honoring athletic directors who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact across collegiate athletics. Bartholomae was the only athletic director from a Mid-American Conference institution named to the list.

The annual list recognizes leaders from around the country who are advancing their institutions through competitive success, academic achievement, student-athlete development, community engagement, and visionary leadership.
Since arriving at Western Michigan in 2022, Bartholomae has overseen one of the most successful eras in Bronco Athletics history. His leadership has resulted in Western Michigan capturing 37 conference championships, raising academic performance, expanding community engagement, and increasing the department's national prominence, directly benefiting student-athletes and the university community.

Among the department's accomplishments during Bartholomae's tenure:

• Captured the 2025 NCAA Men's Ice Hockey National Championship, Western Michigan's first NCAA national championship since 1966
• Guided Western Michigan to one of the most remarkable years in collegiate athletics history in 2025, becoming just the third institution in NCAA history to win both an FBS football conference championship and a Division I men's ice hockey national championship in the same calendar year.
• Led a department that has won 37 conference championships since 2022. During the fall of 2025, every Bronco program with an opportunity to compete for a conference championship advanced to its respective title game, resulting in four conference championships.
• Finished 1st in the MAC in the Learfield Directors' Cup Standings in 2023-24 and 2024-25.  
• Established new standards for academic achievement, highlighted by a department-record 3.42 cumulative GPA during the 2025-26 academic year.
• Elevated the department's commitment to service and community impact. For the fourth consecutive year, Bronco student-athletes set a new departmental record for community service. This past year the Broncos contributed 7,416 hours through 145 service opportunities benefiting 76 organizations. Western Michigan also finished 6th in the Nation and 1st in the MAC for community service.
• Generated unprecedented philanthropic and revenue growth, increasing athletic giving by 260 percent since 2022, including a 40 percent increase in 2025 alone. The department has already surpassed its previous annual fundraising record in FY26 while adding more than $13 million in new external operating revenue during Bartholomae's tenure. 
• Spearheaded transformative facility and strategic growth initiatives, including the planning and development of the new downtown Kalamazoo Event Center. These projects are positioning Bronco Athletics for sustained success by providing enhanced experiences for student-athletes and fans, thus supporting long-term goals.

Earlier this year, Bartholomae was also named a finalist for the prestigious Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year Award, further recognizing Western Michigan Athletics' success and national momentum.
Under Bartholomae's leadership, WMU Athletics has embraced the department's Broncos REIGN strategic vision, focused on enhancing the student-athlete experience, achieving comprehensive excellence, strengthening community impact, and building a sustainable foundation for future success.

This recognition from Silver Waves Media further underscores Western Michigan's emergence as one of the nation's premier athletic departments. As the Broncos continue to build upon their success, the department remains committed to developing champions in competition, the classroom, and the community.