Former assistant Hawkins named men's basketball coach
May 1, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Third-year assistant coach Steve Hawkins has been named head men's basketball coach at Western Michigan University, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Robert McCullum two weeks ago.
The 13th head coach in the 90-year history of the program, Hawkins was introduced to the media at a news conference this morning at University Arena.
"From a professional standpoint, I am ecstatic with the opportunity to be able to continue with the progress the program has made as well as taking on the challenges of moving to the next level," Hawkins said. "From a personal standpoint, [wife] Lana and I are equally excited by the opportunity to remain in Kalamazoo."
Hawkins, who served for three seasons with the Broncos as an assistant under McCullum, has agreed to a five-year contract. McCullum left April 17 to accept the head position at the University of South Florida.
"Coach Hawkins has played a big part in the program's success, and we are thrilled to have him leading the team during this exciting time in the program's history," said Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard. "We believe he will continue our current momentum and we look forward to reaching new heights with his leadership."
An 18-year veteran of the collegiate ranks, Hawkins owns a wealth of experience as both an assistant and a head coach. He has already displayed the ability to direct a quality program, both on the court and in the classroom, at the NCAA Division II level.
Hawkins, 40, served for nine seasons as head coach of the basketball program at Quincy University in Illinois. The Ventura, Calif., native guided Quincy to an overall record of 137-111, a total that included three NCAA Division II Tournament selections in seven years.
In only his third year at Quincy, Hawkins guided the Hawks to a 19-9 record and the first of their back-to-back NCAA berths. The following year, 1994-95, Quincy advanced to the Great Lakes Region semifinals and earned a 23-7 record. Quincy also competed in the event in 1996-97.
Hawkins was named the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Coach of the Year four times.
Hawkins first broke into the collegiate profession at the University of South Alabama, where he worked for three seasons, 1985-87, under head coach Mike Hanks as a student assistant. After spending the 1987-88 campaign as a graduate assistant at Quincy, Hawkins spent the next two seasons as the top assistant coach at St. Andrew's College in Laurinburg, N.C. He then returned to Quincy as an assistant coach for one season (1990-91) before assuming the head coaching duties in 1991-92.
At the age of 19, Hawkins was named the junior varsity coach
at Villanova Prep High School in Ojai, Calif., a position he
held for two seasons. He followed that experience with a one-year
stint as
the junior varsity coach at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura,
Calif., before moving from the west coast.
Hawkins earned his bachelor's degree at South Alabama in 1987 and went on to receive a master's degree in sports science two years later at the United States Sports Academy.
Media contact: Scott Kuykendall, 269 387-4138, scott.kuykendall@wmich.edu