List of Ball State Cardinals men's basketball head coaches

Last updated February 10, 2024

The following is a list of Ball State Cardinals men's basketball head coaches. The Cardinals have had 20 coaches in their 102-season history.^[1]

Ball State's current head coach is Michael Lewis. He was hired in March 2022^[2] to replace James Whitford, who was fired by Ball State at the end of the 2021–22 season.^[3]

No.	Tenure	Coach	Years	Record	Pct.
1	1920–1921	Frank Graham	1	1–4	.200
2	1921–1925 1929–1930^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Billy Williams	6	36–34–1	.514
3	1925–1930^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Paul B. Parker	5	55–34	.618
4	1930–1938	Branch McCracken	8	86–57	.601
5	1938–1948^{[lower-alpha 2]}	Pete Phillips	9	82–71	.536
6	1948–1952	Dick Stealy	4	36–42	.462
7	1952–1954	Bob Primmer	2	20–23	.465
8	1954–1968	Jim Hinga	14	154–169	.477
9	1968–1972	Bud Getchell	4	30–67	.309
10	1972–1977	Jim Holstein	5	55–70	.440
11	1977–1982	Steve Yoder	5	77–62	.554
12	1982–1987	Al Brown	5	68–75	.476
13	1987–1989	Rick Majerus	2	43–17	.717
14	1989–1993	Dick Hunsaker	4	97–34	.740
15	1993–2000	Ray McCallum	7	126–76	.624
16	2000–2006	Tim Buckley	6	93–87	.517
17	2006–2007	Ronny Thompson	1	9–22	.290
18	2007–2013	Billy Taylor	6	84–99	.459
19	2013–2022	James Whitford	9	131–148	.470
20	2022–present	Michael Lewis	1	20–12	.625
Totals		20 coaches	102 seasons	1,294–1,198–1	.519
Records updated through end of 2022–23 season Source^[1]

1 2 Billy Williams and Paul B. Parker served as co-head coaches for the 1929–30 season. The team finished 9–5; both coaches are credited with wins and losses from this season.
↑ Ball State did not field a team for the 1943–44 season

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Johnson</span> American college basketball coach

Trent Aubrey Johnson is a former American college basketball coach. Johnson had previously been the head coach at Cal State Northridge, Texas Christian University, Louisiana State University, Stanford University, and University of Nevada.

The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in Houston, Texas, in the NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. They compete as members of the Big 12 Conference. The program has made six appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four, which is tied for 10th most all-time, along with the most for any team who has not won a national championship.

The Lamar Cardinals basketball team represents Lamar University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cardinals currently play in the Southland Conference following a return from the Western Athletic Conference on July 11, 2022. They were one of four programs, all from Texas, that left the Southland Conference on July 1, 2021, to join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Lamar left the Southland Conference for the second time, having initially joined at the league's formation in 1963, left in 1987, and returned in 1999. After one season in the WAC, Lamar returned to the Southland Conference. The Cardinals have played home games in the Montagne Center since 1984. The Lamar University basketball team is one of the school's most storied athletic programs. The Cardinals have competed in NCAA Tournament play eleven times and six times at the NCAA Division I level with the most recent appearance in the 2012 tournament. The 1979–80 team was one of the 1980 tournament's Sweet Sixteen teams. The Cardinals have also competed in four NIT tournaments. Heading into the 2014–2015 season Lamar had a 284–143 record in the Montagne Center. The Cardinals overall record going into the 2014–2015 season was 922–818.

James Bryce Whitford is an American college basketball coach and the former head coach of the Ball State Cardinals men's basketball program. Before he was hired at Ball State, Whitford served as an assistant coach at Miami (Ohio), Xavier, and Arizona.

The 2013–14 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by first year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at the John E. Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 5–25, 2–16 in MAC play to finish in last place in the West Division. They lost in the first round of the MAC tournament to Ohio.

The 2016–17 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by fourth-year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 21–13, 11–7 in MAC play to finish in a tie for the West Division title. As the No. 4 seed in the MAC tournament they defeated Western Michigan in the quarterfinals to advance to the Semifinals where they lost to Akron. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they lost in the first round to Fort Wayne.

The 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2017. The first tournament was the 2K Sports Classic and the season ended with the Final Four in San Antonio on April 2, 2018. Practices officially began on September 29, 2017.

The 2017–18 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by fifth-year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 19–13, 10–8 to finish in third place in the MAC West division. They lost in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament to Kent State.

The 2018–19 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by sixth-year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 16–17, 6–12 in MAC play to finish in fifth place in the West Division. They defeated Eastern Michigan in the first round of the MAC tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to Bowling Green.

The 2019–20 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represent Ball State University during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by seventh-year head coach James Whitford, play their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.

The 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 25, 2020, and concluded on March 14, 2021. The 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament culminated the season and began on March 18 and concluded on April 5.

The 2020–21 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by eighth-year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the Mid-American Conference. Starting this season, the MAC announced the removal of divisions.

The 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2021 and concluded on March 13, 2022. The 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament culminated the season and began on March 15 and concluded on April 4 with the championship game at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The 2021–22 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by ninth-year head coach James Whitford, played their home games at Worthen Arena in Muncie, IN as members of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 14–17, 9–10 in MAC play to finish in sixth place. They lost to Ohio in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament.

The 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 7, 2022. The regular season ended on March 12, 2023, with the 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament beginning with the First Four on March 14 and ending with the championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on April 3.

Michael Lewis is an American college basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Ball State Cardinals men's team. He played in college for the Indiana Hoosiers.

The 2022–23 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season is the season for Mid-American Conference men's basketball teams. It began with practices in October 2022, followed by the start of the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in January 2023 and concluded in March 2023. The 2023 MAC tournament was held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio for the 24th consecutive season.

The 2022–23 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by first-year head coach Michael Lewis, played their home games at Worthen Arena in Muncie, IN as members of the Mid-American Conference. As the fourth seed they lost to Ohio in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament to finish 20–12 and 11–7 in MAC play.

The 2022–23 Incarnate Word Cardinals men's basketball team represented the University of the Incarnate Word during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals were led by fifth-year head coach Carson Cunningham and played their home games at McDermott Convocation Center in San Antonio, Texas as members of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals finished the season 12–19, 6–12 in Southland play to finish in ninth place. They failed to qualify for the Southland tournament.

The 2023–24 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represents Ball State University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cardinals, led by second-year head coach Michael Lewis, play their home games at Worthen Arena in Muncie, IN as members of the Mid-American Conference.

References

1 2 "Ball State Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Ball State Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
↑ Bolch, Ben (March 22, 2022). "Ball State hires UCLA's Michael Lewis in a homecoming for Indiana native" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved February 25, 2023.
↑ Borzello, Jeff (March 14, 2022). "Sources: Ball State Cardinals fire men's basketball coach James Whitford after 9 seasons". ESPN.com . Retrieved February 25, 2023.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[WilliamsParker-4] 1 2 Billy Williams and Paul B. Parker served as co-head coaches for the 1929–30 season. The team finished 9–5; both coaches are credited with wins and losses from this season.

[1943-44-5] Ball State did not field a team for the 1943–44 season

[RecordBook-1] 1 2 "Ball State Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Ball State Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2023.

[2] Bolch, Ben (March 22, 2022). "Ball State hires UCLA's Michael Lewis in a homecoming for Indiana native" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved February 25, 2023.

[3] Borzello, Jeff (March 14, 2022). "Sources: Ball State Cardinals fire men's basketball coach James Whitford after 9 seasons". ESPN.com . Retrieved February 25, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[lower-alpha 1]

[lower-alpha 2]

v t e Ball State Cardinals men's basketball
Venues	Ball Gymnasium (1925–1963) Irving Gymnasium (1963–1992) Worthen Arena (1992–present)
Culture & lore	Charlie Cardinal
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1942–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24