After 13 seasons at the helm of the Western Michigan University women’s basketball program, head coach Shane Clipfell has announced his retirement from WMU. A dedicated leader and mentor, Clipfell leaves a lasting legacy as the program’s all-time winningest coach, amassing 184 victories with the Brown & Gold.
Coach Clipfell, announced as the sixth head coach in program history on April 13, 2012, revitalized the Broncos with his unwavering commitment to player development both on and off the court. His dedication to competitive excellence and fostering a strong culture of support for women’s basketball has left an indelible mark on the program and the student-athletes he has coached.
Under Clipfell’s guidance, the Broncos had six winning seasons, including a 20-win campaign in 2014-15 and an 18-win season in 2019-20.
Throughout his tenure, Clipfell coached 17 All-MAC selections, four All-MAC Defensive Team honorees, three All-MAC Freshman Team recipients, and five 1,000-point scorers, including Hannah Spitzley from the 2024-25 squad. His commitment to academic excellence was evident, with 50 student-athletes earning Academic All-MAC honors, including Academic All-American Lauren Ross.
Beyond wins and accolades, Clipfell was instrumental in growing the culture and support surrounding WMU women’s basketball. His advocacy and leadership played a crucial role in securing funding for the program’s $1.3 million locker room renovation, which was completed in November 2023, further enhancing the student-athlete experience. He has also served as a resource in the design and development of the Athletic Performance and Kalamazoo Events Center – the future training and competition home of the WMU Women’s Basketball program – which broke ground in November of 2024.
“It has been a great pleasure to have had the chance to work with Coach Clipfell,” said Vice President/Director of Athletics, Dan Bartholomae. “He and Connie have been a trusted resource and support during my first few years as Athletic Director. He led WMU to new heights and retires as our all-time winningest coach. Thanks to the culture in his program, the young women he brought to WMU were not only fantastic athletes, but nationally recognized scholar-athletes and great assets to the Kalamazoo community. He will be missed, and we wish him well in this next step. He and his family will always have a home here in Bronco Nation.”
A national search for the next head coach of WMU women’s basketball will begin immediately.
Tagged with: MAC
