Dear Bronco Nation,

As another record setting academic year for Western Michigan Athletics comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what this community has accomplished together. And I remain proud of a vision we all established for the Bronco Athletic Department – one where every student-athlete graduates holistically prepared to pursue their life's passions; makes a high quality connection with our community that lasts beyond their eligibility; and wins championships at the highest level. To pursue that vision and succeed in this dynamic Division I environment - while establishing ourselves as one of the elite Group of Six Division I Athletic Programs in the country – is worthy of reflection, celebration, and gratitude.

Our student-athletes continue to shine. Once again, we set a new record for cumulative Grade Point Average and set a new standard with ALL programs finishing the year above a 3.0. Our athletes once again made their mark in the community, breaking a service hour record and leading the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in community impact for a fourth straight year. And after another competitive season filled with team and individual championship moments, your Broncos finished atop the Learfield Director's Cup in the MAC for the third straight year – after never having previously secured the top spot prior to this run.

I am proud of these accomplishments and even more proud that we continue to focus our priority on serving the University as great students and great community partners. While that might be lost at other places, it cannot and will not happen at Western Michigan University. We are living proof that you can win at the highest levels while establishing a culture that follows those priorities. And we are living proof that this culture is one you want to stay and be a part of.  For example, football and hockey did not lose any offensive or defensive starters to the transfer portal 2026-27, and the numbers look similar across the overwhelming majority of our programs.

What is extra special this year is that the community stepped up in a BIG way – a record breaking way! We recently announced our record breaking fundraising year with unprecedented support from Bronco Nation. In addition, we saw a sharp rise in our corporate partnerships, setting a new record in gross sponsorship and eclipsing the $2M mark for the first time in school history. Additionally, we saw a significant increase in fan attendance and a 27% increase in ticket revenues. This includes record breaking sales in hockey, our largest football number in a decade, and the largest men's basketball single game crowd since 2005. Finally, we continue to serve our students in making Western Michigan University THE place to have THE BEST student experience, with over 5000 students regularly attending our football games, and a new student attendance record from the Lawson Lunatics.  And those tickets remain complimentary for all students.

This type of support is to be celebrated and we are thankful to all of you for being a part of it.  It is also a baseline that we must now establish if we choose to pursue our most ambitious goal of becoming a Destination Group of Six program and a National Hockey Power. Quite simply, the Division I landscape has changed and the programs that will succeed are those that find the best way to maximize their resource base in new and innovative ways. Those resources must include a commitment to revenue sharing and NIL opportunities with our athletes, where we strive to invest at a rate that will constantly place us in the top third of our leagues. There is an added expense to roster retention in many of our marquee sports, and we intend to be great at it. It won't be the only lever that leads to the best and the brightest choosing and staying at WMU, but it will be a part of the whole picture. Those returns can already be seen in the retention data I shared earlier.

This next year, we are so fortunate to be preparing ourselves to move into one of the finest training and competition venues in the country and without question the leader amongst our peer set. The Kalamazoo Events Center will have world class fan amenities that will make for the best fan experience in the country. Our students continue to be front of mind as we finalize easy transportation and parking options for them, and a student concourse that they developed themselves. We will have premium and community spaces that will elevate the profile of WMU and all of Kalamazoo – and your Broncos will be the center piece of the facility. We want to make the transition as easy as possible for all of you, and expect more information on tickets and pricing in the Fall. And I will continue my promise that our prices will not be at the top of our leagues.  In fact, I can promise today that the lowest price points in Lawson will remain as such in the Kalamazoo Events Center. 

The momentum we have built over the past year gives us an extraordinary opportunity—but realizing our vision will require every member of Bronco Nation to continue stepping forward. Whether you have been with us for decades or recently discovered the excitement of Western Michigan Athletics, there is a place for you in what comes next.

Now, together, let's build the future.

Go Broncos!

Daniel Bartholomae
Director of Athletics
Western Michigan University