Steve Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Steve Hawkins is an American
college basketball
coach and the current head men's basketball
coach at Western Michigan University
. He had previously served as the head coach at Quincy University
.
, graduating with a bachelors degree in 1987. From 1984-1987 he served as a student assistant to head coach Mike Hanks
. In 1989 he earned his master's degree
in sports science at the United States Sports Academy
.
Following his graduation from high school, Hawkins spent time as a high school basketball coach in the Los Angeles
area at Villanova Preparatory School
and St. Bonaventure High School
. During this time he worked as an assistant at UCLA basketball camps, serving as chauffeur for legendary Bruins coach John Wooden
.
to South Florida
. Hawkins had served as an assistant coach on the WMU staff for the previous three seasons.
Under Hawkins, the Broncos have finished no worse than 2nd in the Mid-American Conference
West Division. The team captured both the MAC regular season championship and conference tournament championship in 2003–04. That squad eventually fell to Vanderbilt
in the opening round of the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
.
Following the 2004-2005 season, the Broncos participated in the 2005 National Invitation Tournament
.
In 2005 Hawkins was a finalist for the head coaching job at DePaul University
that eventually went to Jerry Wainwright
.
Following the 2007–08 basketball season, Hawkins was very critical of the post season basketball tournaments. Despite a 20-win season and a MAC West Division title, WMU was passed over for post season play, including the new College Basketball Invitational
.
Following the 2010-2011 basketball season, Hawkins coached the Broncos in the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
. After a victory in the opening round against Tennessee Tech, the Broncos fell in the second round to MAC rival Buffalo.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach and the current head men's basketball
Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball
The Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school's team competes in the Mid-American Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2004...
coach at Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
. He had previously served as the head coach at Quincy University
Quincy University
Quincy University a private liberal arts Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition. It is located in Quincy, Illinois and currently enrolls around 1,300 students.-History:...
.
Background
Hawkins attended the University of South AlabamaUniversity of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a...
, graduating with a bachelors degree in 1987. From 1984-1987 he served as a student assistant to head coach Mike Hanks
Mike Hanks
Mike Hanks is an American college basketball coach. He was head coach for Saint Leo University, Manchester Giants, University of South Alabama and Samford University. He also served as an assistant under Bob Knight at Indiana.-Indiana University:...
. In 1989 he earned his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in sports science at the United States Sports Academy
United States Sports Academy
The United States Sports Academy is an accredited, sport-specific institution located in Daphne, Alabama. It offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs as well as certificate programs. Founded in 1972, the Academy has provided its sports programs to more than 60 countries around the...
.
Following his graduation from high school, Hawkins spent time as a high school basketball coach in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area at Villanova Preparatory School
Villanova Preparatory School
Villanova Preparatory School is an Augustinian Catholic co-ed day/ boarding school located in the small town of Ojai, California, USA. Sitting on more than 120 acres, Villanova's campus has sports fields and trails, modern gym, tennis courts and well equipped classrooms with up-to-date technology,...
and St. Bonaventure High School
St. Bonaventure High School
St. Bonaventure High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Ventura, California. It is owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The school is named in honor of Bonaventure, the Patron of the Mission San Buenaventura and the City of Ventura.-Athletics:St....
. During this time he worked as an assistant at UCLA basketball camps, serving as chauffeur for legendary Bruins coach John Wooden
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
.
Western Michigan University
Hawkins was named head coach at Western Michigan University on May 1, 2003, following the departure of head coach Robert McCullumRobert McCullum
Robert McCullum is a men's college basketball coach. He previously served as the head coach of the University of South Florida Bulls' men's basketball team....
to South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
. Hawkins had served as an assistant coach on the WMU staff for the previous three seasons.
Under Hawkins, the Broncos have finished no worse than 2nd in the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
West Division. The team captured both the MAC regular season championship and conference tournament championship in 2003–04. That squad eventually fell to Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in the opening round of the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
.
Following the 2004-2005 season, the Broncos participated in the 2005 National Invitation Tournament
2005 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:...
.
In 2005 Hawkins was a finalist for the head coaching job at DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
that eventually went to Jerry Wainwright
Jerry Wainwright
Jerry Wainwright is an American basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach at Fresno State University, he was most recently the head coach of the DePaul University Blue Demons. Following his mid-season firing in 2010, Wainwright left college basketball to promote charity causes in North...
.
Following the 2007–08 basketball season, Hawkins was very critical of the post season basketball tournaments. Despite a 20-win season and a MAC West Division title, WMU was passed over for post season play, including the new College Basketball Invitational
College Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament...
.
Following the 2010-2011 basketball season, Hawkins coached the Broncos in the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
2011 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
The 2011 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament was a postseason single-elimination tournament of 24 NCAA Division I teams. The CIT began with 12 first round games. Four of the teams that won first-round games advanced to the quarterfinals, while the other eight teams played for the right to...
. After a victory in the opening round against Tennessee Tech, the Broncos fell in the second round to MAC rival Buffalo.