Trending Now - St. Bonaventure Appoints Mike Macdonald as New Head Coach
WHO:
ESPN - Mike MacDonald is the only coach in college basketball history to win more than 100 games in Division I, Division II, and Division III.
ESPN - Mike MacDonald has been appointed as the new head coach of St. Bonaventure.
RealGM Basketball - Mike MacDonald, age 59, previously coached at Daemen College.
RealGM Basketball - Mark Schmidt retired after 19 seasons as head coach of St. Bonaventure.
WHAT:
RealGM Basketball - MacDonald led Daemen College to six NCAA tournaments during his tenure.
RealGM Basketball - MacDonald compiled a 108-153 record over nine seasons at Canisius, where he replaced John Beilein as head coach in 1997.
ESPN - MacDonald has won more than 500 games as a college coach.
ESPN - MacDonald achieved a record of 61-3 over the last two seasons at Daemen College.
RealGM Basketball - Daemen College finished the season with a record of 33-2 and reached the Division II Elite Eight.
RealGM Basketball - St. Bonaventure had a 17-17 season, including a 4-14 record in the Atlantic 10.
RealGM Basketball - Schmidt led St. Bonaventure to 341 victories and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
WHERE:
ESPN - St. Bonaventure is located in New York.
RealGM Basketball - Daemen College is located in Amherst, New York.
WHEN:
ESPN - The announcement of MacDonald's hiring is expected in the week of March 30th, 2026.
RealGM Basketball - Schmidt's retirement occurred after the 2025 season.
WHY:
RealGM Basketball - St. Bonaventure parted ways with Schmidt with one year left on his contract after the team stumbled to a 4-14 Atlantic 10 finish following an 11-2 start, a decision that drew criticism from fans who felt Schmidt deserved a more dignified departure.
ESPN - St. Bonaventure is reallocating resources to player salaries and revenue share due to challenges in competing with other Atlantic 10 schools.
RealGM Basketball - Athletic director Bob Beretta described the program as being at an "inflection point" and sought a leader to maximize resources in the NIL era.
HOW:
ESPN - The hiring reflects a broader trend of Division II coaches earning opportunities at higher levels, with examples including Iowa's Ben McCollum and Josh Schertz.
ESPN - St. Bonaventure is paying MacDonald more than half of what they paid Schmidt, allowing for more funds to be directed toward the player roster.
RealGM Basketball - The hiring reflects a trend of Division II coaches moving to higher levels, with MacDonald expected to be among the lowest-paid coaches in the Atlantic 10.
(UPDATED March 31, 2026 01:23 UTC)
Mike MacDonald has made history as the only coach in college basketball to win over 100 games across Division I, Division II, and Division III. During his time at Daemen College, he led the team to six NCAA tournaments and previously compiled a record of 108 wins to 153 losses over nine seasons at Canisius, where he took over from John Beilein in 1997. In related news, St. Bonaventure recently parted ways with coach Schmidt after a disappointing 4-14 finish in the Atlantic 10, a decision that sparked criticism from fans who believed he deserved a more respectful exit.
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(UPDATED March 30, 2026 19:21 UTC)
Mike MacDonald has been appointed as the new head coach of St. Bonaventure, following the retirement of Mark Schmidt after 19 seasons. MacDonald, who previously coached at Daemen College where he achieved an impressive record of 61 wins to just 3 losses over the last two seasons, brings over 500 career victories to his new role. St. Bonaventure aims to reallocate resources to player salaries and revenue share, and by hiring MacDonald at a lower salary than Schmidt, they hope to strengthen their roster in the competitive Atlantic 10 landscape.