KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan University and head men’s basketball coach Dwayne Stephens have announced the hire of WMU alum and former Indiana Pacer Shayne Whittington as an assistant coach.
“Shayne is a huge addition to our staff,” Coach Stephens said. “From his playing days to coaching, Shayne has unbelievable experience and knows what it takes to win at the highest level. He will be a great mentor to our current student-athletes and will help continue to strengthen our relationships amongst alums, the community and donors. We are excited to bring Shayne home!”
Whittington starred for the Broncos from 2009-14, accumulating 1,119 career points and 737 rebounds. His 130 career blocks rank third all-time at Western Michigan and his 27 double-doubles are sixth-most in program history. A native of Paw Paw, Mich., Whittington received a Bachelor of Science degree from WMU in 2014.
A two-time All-MAC honoree at WMU, Whittington earned a First Team selection as a senior in 2013-14 as he helped the Broncos go 23-10, the third-most wins in program history, and post a 14-4 conference mark to win the program’s sixth MAC Regular Season title. In the MAC Tournament Championship Game, Whittington scored 20 points and added 13 rebounds as Western Michigan knocked off Toledo to win its second MAC Tournament title in program history and secure its fourth-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Following his career at Western Michigan, Whittington signed a contract with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. During the 2014-15 season, he became the sixth former Bronco to appear in an NBA game, making his debut on Nov. 8 against the Washington Wizards. He played in 27 games for the Pacers during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns, and then continued his professional career overseas in Spain, Russia and Japan.
Whittington began his coaching career this past season, returning to the Pacers as a team assistant for a franchise that posted its first winning record and made its first playoff appearance since the 2019-20 campaign. During the season, Indiana advanced to the championship game of the inaugural NBA Cup, and then in the playoffs made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Shayne Whittington Returns to WMU Men’s Basketball as Assistant Coach – Western Michigan University Athletics
