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Alex Gary. Now former deputy AD at SMU and previous AD at Western Carolina. Worked with Dan at Oregon St. If Dan had anything to do with this hire ( and I suspect he did) then I'm all in. Future looks great for WMU athletics.

https://wmubroncos.com/news/2026/9/28/ge...etics.aspx

Excellent, welcome to WMU Mr. Gary!

(Oddly enough I got a PM from someone I didn't even know, a few days ago, saying this was going to be the hire)

(09-28-2026 02:04 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  https://wmubroncos.com/news/2026/9/28/ge...etics.aspx

Excellent, welcome to WMU Mr. Gary!

(Oddly enough I got a PM from someone I didn't even know, a few days ago, saying this was going to be the hire)

Really. I got a text this morning but was told to hold off saying anything until the announcement.

(09-28-2026 02:06 PM)bronco1988 Wrote:  

(09-28-2026 02:04 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  https://wmubroncos.com/news/2026/9/28/ge...etics.aspx

Excellent, welcome to WMU Mr. Gary!

(Oddly enough I got a PM from someone I didn't even know, a few days ago, saying this was going to be the hire)

Really. I got a text this morning but was told to hold off saying anything until the announcement.

You guys must be special, I didn't get any text.

Welcome aboard, Mr. Gary. You're coming aboard at an opportune time for WMU Athletics, we've had some good accomplishments in recent years-Ice Hockey, Football, Soccer (Men/Women) and in other programs. We also have some new Coaches that promise a lot of success, they'll be showing what they can do soon. While we have some strong Coaching staffs in place, we can always use more funding. Mid-majors like MAC schools always have an uphill battle when it comes to funding-and especially NIL funds.

You have some pretty good accolades, I'm especially impressed with what Dan Bartholomae had to say-he is very respected among WMU fans for what he has already done here. I hope and trust you'll demonstrate similar success, especially in attracting greater revenue. Again, welcome aboard!

Seems like a great hire (on paper). Go broncos! Pretty cool he has a connection already to SW Michigan with family in Kalamazoo and his wife being from St Joseph

Someone left me a voicemail with the info last week, but I was told to keep it to myself.

I am willing to give anyone a try. Was he there when SMU made the move from the American to the Big 12 I wonder

Someone flew a drone over my house last week and dropped a message in a bottle, telling me of the hire-and asking me to keep it under my hat.

(09-29-2026 05:32 AM)BroncoFilly Wrote:  Someone flew a drone over my house last week and dropped a message in a bottle, telling me of the hire-and asking me to keep it under my hat.

I had his name show up on my steamy shower door. Looks like we all knew.

October 1st 3:30 pm Alex Gary introduction at Heritage Hall

Watched the introductory presser ... I will say I came away impressed. Feels like a natrual transition from where Dan B left us... this guy looks like he doesnt want to just pick up the ball - he wants to keep trucking... maintain the momentum. Very well spoken. Its early but I think this may have been a really really great hire.

(10-03-2026 09:05 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  Watched the introductory presser ... I will say I came away impressed. Feels like a natrual transition from where Dan B left us... this guy looks like he doesnt want to just pick up the ball - he wants to keep trucking... maintain the momentum. Very well spoken. Its early but I think this may have been a really really great hire.

Different challenges than what Dan B. faced, Alex G. needs to focus on fund-raising and development of venues. Our Coaching is largely pretty solid. It'll be interesting to see how he starts.

(10-03-2026 10:20 AM)BroncoFilly Wrote:  

(10-03-2026 09:05 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  Watched the introductory presser ... I will say I came away impressed. Feels like a natrual transition from where Dan B left us... this guy looks like he doesnt want to just pick up the ball - he wants to keep trucking... maintain the momentum. Very well spoken. Its early but I think this may have been a really really great hire.

Different challenges than what Dan B. faced, Alex G. needs to focus on fund-raising and development of venues. Our Coaching is largely pretty solid. It'll be interesting to see how he starts.

I think Alex G’s biggest task besides fund raising might be picking a new conference.

(10-03-2026 11:07 AM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  I think Alex G’s biggest task besides fund raising might be picking a new conference.

Because we're too good for the one we're in?

(10-03-2026 03:35 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(10-03-2026 11:07 AM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  I think Alex G’s biggest task besides fund raising might be picking a new conference.

Because we're too good for the one we're in?

There are a lot of headwinds with the MAC. If the new media deal is bad then all the good programs should jump ship. Pray we are one of the good ones.

(10-03-2026 03:35 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(10-03-2026 11:07 AM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  I think Alex G’s biggest task besides fund raising might be picking a new conference.

Because we're too good for the one we're in?

I think the MAC quickly becomes a sinking ship for football if a few strategic teams leave the conference.

I don't necessarily like it. But, I'd rather be one of the teams to grab a life raft vs the remaining teams who sink to the bottom of the ocean.

(10-03-2026 04:34 PM)WesternDave Wrote:  

(10-03-2026 03:35 PM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(10-03-2026 11:07 AM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  I think Alex G’s biggest task besides fund raising might be picking a new conference.

Because we're too good for the one we're in?

There are a lot of headwinds with the MAC. If the new media deal is bad then all the good programs should jump ship. Pray we are one of the good ones.

Shoulda read your sinking ship analogy before I made almost the exact same one.

Yeah, what he said.

Yeah, I wouldn't want the MAC to change, nor want to leave the MAC.

But we do need to have a pro-active contingency Plan B in place in case things really start crumbling, and have our "resume" in order.

Being in an established conference offers mid-major programs like Western a lot. The MAC may not be big-time, but we've had more schools wanting to come in than wanting to leave.

Regarding leaving-to where, exactly? Who is going to pay the travel budget if we moved to a new conference in another region? It's a lot more expensive to move football programs around than bball or even ice hockey. We don't have deep pockets-everyone proposes moving to a 'better conference', but when you bring up additional financial support they all remember an appointment they're supposed to be at-and disappear.

Like it or not, the MAC is probably our first, best situation. We have the guarantee of 7-8 conference games every season and we can line up some big names for OOC to keep it interesting. And we have the attraction of a championship game at the end of the season for our two best teams as well as 3-4 invitational bowl games. For those of us old enough to remember when it was the Cal Bowl or nothing, we've come a long way.

That doesn't even get into the NIL situation, were our cupboards are bare. We are what we are-and that ain't half bad. The MAC isn't going anywhere, there are 10 schools that need it.

(10-04-2026 05:42 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Yeah, I wouldn't want the MAC to change, nor want to leave the MAC.

But we do need to have a pro-active contingency Plan B in place in case things really start crumbling, and have our "resume" in order.

Hopefully any change would eliminate Tuesday night games atleast in November.