Mike MacDonald Will Not Return as Men's Basketball Coach

Canisius College Director of Athletics Bill Maher announced today that the school will not retain head men's basketball coach Mike MacDonald. Canisius will begin a national search for a new coach immediately.

“Mike has been a superb ambassador for Canisius College and has made significant contributions to the school over his 18 years as a head and assistant coach,” said Maher. “He has led our program with class and integrity, and the young men in the program have reflected that on a daily basis. Much of Canisius' success in the modern basketball era can be traced to Mike's efforts and for that, both Canisius College and I are most thankful. However, after considerable evaluation and reflection, I have determined that we have not made the progress we expected and that it is in the best interest of Canisius College and our men's basketball program that we seek new leadership.”

MacDonald just completed his ninth season as the head coach of the Golden Griffins and steps down with a record of 108-153 (.414 winning percentage), good for third on the school's all-time win chart. Canisius finished the 2005-06 campaign with a 9-20 record and a 6-12 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference mark, which placed the Griffs ninth in the league. It was the fifth-straight season Canisius finished seventh or lower in the MAAC standings.

MacDonald was announced as the 21st head men's basketball coach at Canisius prior to the 1997-98 season. He led the Griffs to a 15-12 overall record and an 11-7 conference mark, good for fourth in the MAAC, in his second year. The highlight of his head coaching career came in 2000-01, when he guided Canisius to the sixth 20-win season in school history (20-11) and a berth in the MAAC Tournament Championship. Following that campaign, he was named the Basketball Coaches Association of New York Co-Coach of the Year. He coached 10 all-conference players and two All-Rookie selections, and two Canisius players were named the MAAC Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year during his tenure.

MacDonald came to Canisius as a graduate assistant in 1988 and coached under Marty Marbach and John Beilein. He was Beilein's top assistant for the Golden Griffins' 1994 and 1995 NIT and 1996 NCAA Tournament teams. In 1995, Canisius advanced to the NIT Final Four. He has been an assistant or head coach during the entire careers of 12 of Canisius' 26 1,000-point scorers, including four of the top six scorers in school history.

“We will begin our search immediately for a new head coach,” said Maher. “Our goals at Canisius College remain the same ? to field a competitive program on a yearly basis and to compete for conference championships. Canisius is committed to building a successful athletics program within the MAAC, and I am confident that the college's commitment will allow us to continue the strong tradition of men's basketball at Canisius.”

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