Entering his third season at Western Michigan in 2011 is assistant coach Ben Pirmann. Pirmann is involved in all facets of the Bronco program, with his primary responsibilities including the areas of compliance, recruiting, travel, video analysis, camps and scouting.
Pirmann has been part of the rebuilding process at Western Michigan the past two years, which has seen the Broncos return to the upper echelon of the Mid-American Conference. In 2009, WMU doubled its win total from the previous year with a 6-10-1 record and took third in the MAC, going 3-2-1 in league play. Additionally, the Brown & Gold advanced to the conference tournament semifinals for the first time in the last four years.
Western Michigan had one of the most
successful seasons in school history in 2010, reaching the conference
tournament championship for just the third time ever and finishing as
runners-up in the regular season, only behind national champion Akron.
The Broncos posted an overall record of 10-8-2, going 4-2-0 in MAC play, and finished the year ranked No. 10 in the Great Lakes Region.
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Michigan State, Pirmann concluded his career with the Spartans in the fall of 2008, leading MSU to a Big Ten Championship. Pirmann was also part of the Spartan squad that won the conference crown in 2004 and made an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007.
After sustaining a preseason injury in his senior year, Pirmann returned to Michigan State for a redshirt senior season in 2008. Earning a bachelor of arts in communication in May 2008, Pirmann went on to receive a master’s degree at MSU in kinesiology with a concentration in coaching the following year.
A midfielder, Pirmann amassed 13 assists and scored one goal during his career, leading MSU in assists in 2006. He was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and was the Spartans’ recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship award in 2008. Pirmann was also a member of the PDL organizations West Michigan Edge (2007-08) and Indiana Invaders (2005-06).
Pirmann has been a USSF licensed coach since 2006, and currently holds a National B license. He worked as a student assistant coach at Michigan State in his year off due to injury and continued his duties following his final season. He has worked a variety of high school and youth camps across the nation, including those at Michigan State and Notre Dame.
