Cleary University has named the head coach of its newly formed women’s basketball team.
Kevin Mondro was announced to the position on Monday.
“Kevin brings years of NCAA Division 1 experience to the Cougar coachings staff,” says Cleary University Vice President of Campus Operations and Athletic Director Heather Bateman. “That experience, coupled with his ties to the region for recruiting, make him a perfect fit for our university and athletic department.”
Mondro spent the last 11 seasons at Eastern Michigan University, working with both the men’s and women’s basketball programs. He joined the EMU men’s basketball staff in 2011 as an assistant coach, and was promoted to associate head coach in 2017. In 2021, Mondro made the switch to women’s basketball at Eastern Michigan, and was the assistant coach for the Eagles last season.
Prior to his time in Ypsilanti, Mondro spent time at Loyola-Chicago (3 seasons), and at Detroit-Mercy (11 seasons) where he was an assistant on both programs’ men’s basketball coaching staffs.
Mondro calls the opportunity to be the first head coach in the program’s history a tremendous honor.
“To me, nothing is more powerful than when someone believes in you,” said Mondro. “I want to thank our Athletic Director, Heather Bateman, for having confidence in me to lead our women’s basketball program. and I would also like to thank Max Ballinger, our Assistant Athletic Director, for his belief in me. Two of my friends, who are both outstanding coaches, are Cleary coaches–Carl Thomas and Drew Maki. I am eager to work alongside them and meet so many other terrific coaches.”
After spending essentially his entire professional career as an assistant coach, Mondro said it was time to pursue a program of his own.
“It was a simple decision for me…to have the opportunity to build a women’s basketball program from the ground up was extremely appealing to me,” he said. “I am so excited to start recruiting outstanding student-athletes and bring them to this very special campus. I know that, like me, they will be very impressed with what Cleary has to offer.”
The women’s basketball program, along with men’s basketball, will begin competition during the 2023-24 season.
Cleary University maintains a campus in Livingston County’s Genoa Township.
