St. Bonaventure is close to finalizing a deal to hire Daemen College head coach Mike MacDonald as its next men’s basketball coach, according to a source familiar with the decision.
An official announcement is expected this week, continuing the program’s recent trend of unconventional moves following its 2024 hire of ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski as general manager.
MacDonald, 59, spent 12 seasons at Division II Daemen in Amherst, New York, building a strong program highlighted by a 61-3 record over the past two years. This season, his team went 33-2 before being eliminated in the Division II Elite Eight.
He replaces Mark Schmidt, who stepped down after 19 seasons that included a program-record 341 wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
The decision to part ways came after a disappointing 4-14 finish in Atlantic 10 play following an 11-2 start, a move that drew criticism from fans who felt Schmidt deserved a better exit.
Athletic director Bob Beretta acknowledged the backlash in a March 17 open letter, describing the program as being at an “inflection point” and stressing the need for leadership that can maximize resources in the NIL era.
MacDonald is expected to be among the lowest-paid coaches in the conference, allowing St. Bonaventure to shift more resources toward roster building. The approach pairs him with Wojnarowski, whose NBA connections could help in recruiting.
Before Daemen, MacDonald coached at Canisius for nine seasons, compiling a 108-153 record after taking over from John Beilein in 1997.
St. Bonaventure Hires Mike MacDonald From Division II Daemen As Head Coach https://t.co/QX4gb6u9RO
— RealGM (@RealGM) March 30, 2026
