Western Michigan University has announced a five-year contract extension for head women’s basketball coach Shane Clipfell. Clipfell’s extension runs through May 31, 2020. Clipfell is entering his fourth season at WMU after being hired as the sixth women’s basketball coach in program history, April 13, 2012.
After inheriting a program that had only achieved 46 wins in the five seasons before, Clipfell has already amassed 44 wins in his first three seasons. WMU has increased its win mark every season under Clipfell, winning 11 games his first season, 13 games in 2013-14 and posting 20 wins this past year.
Finishing 2014-15 with an overall 20-13 record, last season was one of the most successful in program history, as Western Michigan was one victory shy of tying the school record for wins (21) set in 1978. It just the fourth 20-win season in school history.
WMU also went 11-7 during MAC regular season play, finishing tied for second in the MAC West and fourth overall in the conference, the team’s best finish since 2006. The Broncos won two games in the MAC Tournament for first time since 2003, defeating Bowling Green and Central Michigan.
The success was rewarded as Western Michigan received a postseason bid, appearing in the WNIT vs. Arkansas State. It was just the fourth time WMU earned a spot in a WNIT bracket, joining the 1999, 2000 and 2004 squads.
“We are very excited to announce our contract extension with our head women’s basketball coach Shane Clipfell,” said WMU Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard. “From day one, Shane has worked tirelessly to bring our program back to the top of the Mid-American Conference. Shane has been a leader, a true mentor and well respected by everyone surrounding his program. We are very fortunate to have a person of Shane’s caliber and he is very deserving of this extension. We are pleased that we will have him leading our program for many years to come. “
“I am both humbled and grateful for the confidence that Kathy and Dr. Dunn have shown in me with this contract extension,” Clipfell said. “I have always viewed Western Michigan as a terrific place to be and now that I have been here for three plus seasons I can say in fact that it is. I look forward to continuing to build a championship program here that the entire campus community can be proud of. My wife Connie and I love calling Kalamazoo home and being a part of the Bronco family.”
Western Michigan opens the 2015-16 schedule with a home exhibition against Lake Erie College on Nov. 8 and officially kicks off the season on Nov. 13 against UW-Parkside. WMU plays Michigan State on the road on Nov. 15 for the Broncos’ first away game. Clipfell was formerly an associate head coach at MSU before being hired as head coach at Western Michigan.
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Photo Courtesy WMU Athletics
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