ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. -- After building a national championship-contending Division II program at Daemen University, Mike MacDonald will join St. Bonaventure's men's basketball as the program's 20^th head coach, Vice President and Director of Athletics Bob Beretta announced Tuesday.
 
A 1988 alumnus of St. Bonaventure, MacDonald returns to the Enchanted Mountains to lead his alma mater in a new era of college basketball.
 
"We are extremely excited to bring Mike back to St. Bonaventure," Beretta said. "As we set out to identify the next leader of our men's basketball program, we developed a list of more than 20 characteristics that we would look for in the person who would succeed Mark Schmidt as head coach. Mike checked every box. 
 
"First and foremost, we searched for an individual who could maintain the championship pedigree of our men's basketball program and build on the legacy of success authored most recently by Mark, and head coaches such as Eddie Donovan, Larry Weise, Jim Satalin, Jim O'Brien and Jim Baron before him."
 
In his last two seasons, Daemen posted a 61-3 record, going undefeated (32-0) in conference play during that span. He led the Wildcats to a Division II Elite Eight appearance in 2025-26 and back-to-back ECC Tournament Championships with five first-team All-ECC honorees, including two ECC Player of the Year winners in Zach Philipkoski and Benjamin Bill. MacDonald was named National Division II Coach of the year in 2024-25, and ECC Coach of the Year in both seasons.
 
His 61 wins over the past two seasons are fourth-most in the NCAA at any level. Daemen's win percentage of .968 during that span is second only behind Division II Nova Southeastern. 
 
Over the last three years, Daemen's win percentage of .887 ranks third in all of NCAA men's basketball. The Wildcats were 18-3 against NCAA tournament teams during MacDonald's last two seasons, and 21-6 during his last three at Daemen.
 
After stints at Canisius and Division III Medaille, MacDonald is the only coach in college basketball history to log 100 or more wins at every NCAA level.
 
"I have complete confidence that Mike can build upon the foundation that Mark built here," said Dr. Jeff Gingerich, university president. "In this transient era of college athletics, to be able to keep a team together and scale the heights that Daemen did really speaks to his ability to create an environment that players want to be a part of. I don't care what level you're coaching at — you're coaching against peer programs. To achieve what Mike has at Daemen is remarkable."
 
MacDonald's philosophy is built upon player and personal development, sports science, data analytics and building a culture of student-athlete retention in the program through strong bonds and lasting relationships. After achieving the No. 1 overall ranking for three consecutive weeks in the 2024-25 season, MacDonald retained 13 of 14 eligible players, including each of the Wildcats' four leading scorers to sustain Daemen's unprecedented success. 
 
Daemen went 33-2 in 2025-26, winning the school's second regional championship over Saint Anselm to reach the Elite Eight. Thirty-one of Daemen's 33 wins were by double digits, with 14 wins by 20-plus points and five by more than 30. The Wildcats' only two losses were to Gannon and Lander, this season's  Division II National Championship finalists. 
 
The Wildcats posted their second straight undefeated season in the ECC and went 20-0 at home for the first time in school history. MacDonald took home ECC Coach of the Year for the second straight season, while Philipkoski was named Player of the Year and Justin Hemphill was named Defensive Player of the Year. Philipkoski, Hemphill and Bill all received first-team All-ECC honors.
 
In 2024-25, MacDonald led Daemen to a 28-0 start before falling in the regional semifinals to St. Thomas Aquinas. The Wildcats won the ECC regular season championship and claimed the program's first conference tournament championship. The Wildcats were ranked first in the AP poll for three consecutive weeks during the regular season, becoming the first Division I or II school in New York state to do so since Syracuse in 2014. 
 
At the end of the season, MacDonald was honored with the Clarence "Big House" Gaines Award, given to the best Division II head coach in the nation.
 
The Buffalo native racked up 265 wins over 12 seasons at Daemen, winning 75 percent of his games in leading the Wildcats to three East Coast Conference (ECC) regular season championships, two ECC tournament championships, six NCAA tournament berths and two NCAA Division II East Regional championships (2026 and 2021). In 29 seasons overall, he boasts a 522-312 (.626) record during head coaching stints at Canisius, Medaille and Daemen.
 
"Mike is a skilled leader with an incredible work ethic and tremendous passion for the game," Beretta added. "He is an elite tactician whose teams play with great purpose and intensity. He is widely respected among coaches at every level for his innovative offensive sets and fierce defenses. Another thing that became readily apparent throughout the search process is the large impact Mike has made not only on his players and assistant coaches, but also those throughout the basketball community. We look forward to welcoming Mike's wife, Maura, and sons Matt, Patrick, Nick and Mark to the Bona family."
 
A news conference to introduce MacDonald will be held on Wednesday, April 8, in the Reilly Center. The time of the event will be announced at a later date.

What They're Saying:
"I am thrilled about Coach MacDonald's appointment as the new leader of our men's basketball program and want to extend my support to him, his staff, our student-athletes and university community. Coach Mac's championship successes and values align perfectly with what has long defined our program under Coach Schmidt and I want to do everything I can to continue assisting the program in identifying and recruiting the best prospects in Canada to our campus. St. Bonaventure allowed me to achieve my goals academically, win an Atlantic 10 championship and become a first-round NBA Draft pick and I know that Coach MacDonald believes in building transformational experiences in what's become an increasingly transactional climate. I am all-in on the Coach MacDonald era at St. Bonaventure!"
Andrew Nicholson
St. Bonaventure Forward (2008-12)
 
"Mike MacDonald is a terrific basketball coach and a wonderful person. I know he will continue the great tradition of success we've enjoyed with coaches like Larry Weise, Eddie Donovan, Jim Baron and Mark Schmidt. Congratulations, Mike, and welcome home."
Jim Satalin
Head Coach, St. Bonaventure (1973-82)
 
"Mike MacDonald is one of the best coaches and people that I know. He knows who he is, knows how he wants to play, and is outstanding at maximizing the players on his roster. I am thrilled for St. Bonaventure and for the chance to work with Mike. St. Bonaventure men's basketball is in very good hands."
Jim Crowley
St. Bonaventure Women's Basketball Head Coach
 
"I'm really proud to support Mike MacDonald as the next head coach at St. Bonaventure University. There's something different about St. Bonaventure. We care deeply about the people, the program and what it represents. Bona's is a place that stays with you. At his core, Mike understands that because he's lived it. I'm excited for Coach MacDonald and, as always, I'm here to support him and the St. Bonaventure Bonnies however I can!"
David Vanterpool
Assistant Coach, Washington Wizards
St. Bonaventure Guard (1991-95)
 
"I'm so excited for Mike and St. Bonaventure. Simply put, this is a great fit. I think the world of Mike as a man and a coach. He is a brilliant teacher and tactician with a proven formula for winning. The Bonnies are in great hands."
Rob Lanier
Head Coach, Rice University
St. Bonaventure Guard (1987-90)
 
"St. Bonaventure has made one of the best hires of 2026. Mike Macdonald is a high-level coach whose years of head coaching experience will translate into positive results immediately. Immediately, Mike will develop and connect with his players. His teams and their talent level will improve year-round and especially during the season. Bonnies faithful and the university community will love the kind of student-athletes he will attract to campus. They will love Mike's engaging personality, his family and his passion to continue the great tradition of St Bonaventure basketball. The program has high standards, and Mike is the right person to meet those expectations. 
 
"I am very excited about the future of St. Bonaventure basketball and will be rooting for Mike and the team every step of the way."
John Beilein
Head Coach, Cleveland Cavaliers (2019-20), Michigan (2007-19), West Virginia (2002-07), Richmond (1997-2002) and Canisius (1992-97)
 
"Mike MacDonald is a true Builder. He's a true Winner. Mike has done it without the resources that his competitors have had, and he's done it the best way. He develops players. He recognizes greatness in players that others have missed. He does it by building into his teams and, in turn, they win, and the relationships last for life. 
 
"If you are serious about your development and being surrounded by like-minded people who achieve great things, then Mike is for you. If you want to be a part of what winning really looks like and feels like, then Mike is for you. If you want to feel depended on and be a great teammate, then Mike is for you."
Tom Crean
Head Coach, Georgia (2018-22), Indiana (2008-17) and Marquette (1999-08)
 
"This is a home run hire for St. Bonaventure! They're bringing back a St. Bonaventure alumnus who truly understands what it means to be a Bonnie and is also one of the best basketball minds I've had the chance to get to know during my time around the game. Mike is one of the most creative offensive minds in the game, and his players will love playing in his system. He has nearly 30 years of coaching experience, and his résumé speaks for itself—he's been one of the most successful Division II coaches in recent years at Daemen University.
 
"This is a great day for St. Bonaventure men's basketball, and I'm very happy for Mike and his family as well."
Mike Gansey
General Manager, Cleveland Cavaliers
St. Bonaventure Guard (2001-03)
 

MacDonald's Head Coaching Career
School	Years	Overall Record	Win Pct.	Conference Record	Conference Win Pct.
Canisius	1997-2006	108-153	.414	67-95	.414
Medaille	2006-2014	149-73	.671	104-42	.712
Daemen	2014-2026	265-86	.755	161-40	.801
TOTAL	29 Seasons	522-312	.626	322-177	.652