CARBONDALE, Ill. — Mike Geary has joined the Southern Illinois University women’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach, head coach Kelly Bond-White announced Tuesday.
Geary comes to Carbondale after spending last season as the Associate Head Coach with fellow Missouri Valley school Bradley.
“This announcement has been a tad bit delayed, because Mike rolled up his sleeves and jumped right in the middle of workouts and some tough recruiting battles we’ve prevailed in over the last couple of weeks,” Bond-White said. “A coaching veteran, Mike brings immediate knowledge of The Valley and the Southern Illinois region.”
“I’m thankful and excited to be at SIU,” Geary said. “I think we’re on the rise of continuing what the Salukis got going last year. As this process began I of course talked with a lot of my coaching friends, and the things that came back on Coach Bond were great. I had one coach in the Big 12 tell me that if they were ever recruiting against her, they’d turn away because they knew they would have no chance. She’s a ‘total package’ coach that I’m excited about working with.”
Geary boasts over 30 years of collegiate coaching experience, which includes 19 years as a head coach at the NCAA Division II level. He has spent the last 17 seasons as an assistant coach at various NCAA Division I schools and has been a part of eight teams over that stretch that earned post-season appearances.
Before his time at Bradley, Geary spent two seasons with nearby Southeast Missouri State. In his first season in Cape Girardeau, Mo., in 2019-20 he helped SEMO to a 25-7 record with the Redhawks earning their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 years by claiming the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title.
Prior to serving as an assistant coach at Rhode Island in 2018-19, Geary was part of the most successful run at Saint Louis; spending five seasons (2013-14 through 2017-18) with the Billikens. During his tenure, Saint Louis made three consecutive WNIT appearances which was highlighted by a 26-8 overall record and share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season title in 2015-16. In fact, he was part of the only 20-win seasons in Billikens’ history with Saint Louis following up the 26-8 campaign in 2015-16 with a 25-9 mark in 2016-17.
“I took my time with this last hire because I wanted to see exactly what we had in our current staff, to know what we still needed,” Bond-White said. “It was tough because I had some great coaches that were also family, and were willing to relocate to be a part of something special here. Ultimately, I had to choose what I felt was best for our program, and Mike is the perfect balance for this staff. Mike has been successful in this business for a long time and I can see that comes from his easy nature as a relationship builder. He works tirelessly at his craft and has already had an immediate impact in recruiting and with our young ladies.”
“As they took me around campus when I arrived, it was clear that this is a great place to be,” Geary said. “I know this is a place that can attract the caliber of player that you need to play at the top of this league. I’m excited about getting going and helping build a championship program.”
Geary arrived in Saint Louis after a four-year run as an assistant coach at Detroit (2009-13), where he helped the Titans to the 2012-13 WBI Championship (21-13) on the heels of a 20-14 campaign in 2011-12 that resulted in a WNIT appearance.
His first position at the NCAA Division I level came at Ball State from 2005-06 to 2008-09. The Cardinals claimed three straight Mid-American Conference division titles and made a pair of postseason tournaments during that time. In fact, the 2008-09 squad that went 14-2 in MAC regular-season play, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament to cap a 26-9 season.
Geary also boasts extensive experience as a head coach, spending 17 years as the head coach at Northern Michigan in Marquette, Mich.; compiling an impressive 370-123 (.751) record in his time with the Wildcats. His teams reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times during at Northern Michigan and won 20 or more games 12 of his 17 seasons. A multiple conference coach of the year pick, Geary led Northern Michigan to eight consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins along with the program’s first NCAA Tournament Final Four. Northern Michigan claimed seven GLIAC Tournament crowns and reached the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight twice during his tenure.
A graduate of Aquinas College, Geary first got into coaching at Lake Superior State in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. After guiding his team to a 23-5 record in his first season as a coach in 1986-87, he took the Lakers to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 1987-88 to cap a 24-5 campaign.
“I’m extremely excited for our community to not only get to know Mike but his family as well, especially his son and my daughter’s new buddy, 9 year old Cruz,” Bond-White said.
