Mike DeWitt enters his 27th season at Ohio Wesleyan as the winningest coach in Battling Bishop men's basketball history with 412 victories. Additionally, his total of 447 career victories ranked him 17th among active NCAA Division III men's basketball coaches entering the 2024-25 season.
DeWitt is a 4-time North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2006, 2011, 2015, 2017) and 3-time National Association of Basketball Coaches District/Region Coach of the Year (2008, 2013, 2015). He has guided his teams to 6 NCAA Division III tournament appearances, including 2 trips to the Round of 16 (2008, 2016).
At the conference level, his players have achieved numerous awards, including 28 first-team All-NCAC selections and 56 All-NCAC citations. He has coached 9 NCAC Players of the Year as well as 5 conference Newcomers of the Year.
DeWitt has coached 10 All-America selections, including 3-time selection and 2018 NCAA Division III Player of the Year Nate Axelrod. Twelve players have received NABC all-district/region awards (including 5 regional Players of the Year) while 17 have been recognized for the same award by D3hoops.com.
DeWitt has been an instrumental voice in Division III basketball during his career. In 2022, he received the prestigious NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Advocacy, an award presented annually to an NABC member coach or administrator who embodies the NABC's core values and makes an impact beyond the basketball court. DeWitt has served terms on the NCAA Division III men's basketball regional advisory committee and DIII Men’s Basketball national committee, serving as chair in 2012-13.
In 2016-17, Ohio Wesleyan won its third straight NCAC championship, finishing the season with a record of 21-7. It marked the sixth consecutive season in which the Bishops posted 20 wins, an Ohio Wesleyan men’s basketball first. DeWitt received NCAC Coach of the Year laurels for the fourth time.
The 2015-16 Bishops went 25-5, won their second straight NCAC championship, and advanced to the final 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament. It was the Bishops' fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, another Ohio Wesleyan men’s basketball first.
In 2014-15, Ohio Wesleyan went 22-6, won the NCAC championship for the first time since the 1987-88 season, and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament. DeWitt was voted National Association of Basketball Coaches Great Lakes District Coach of the Year for the third time and was named NCAC Coach of the Year for the third time.
In 2013, Ohio Wesleyan went 23-6, won the NCAC tournament, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. DeWitt was named NABC Great Lakes District Coach of the Year by his colleagues.
The 2011-12 Bishops tied for third place in the NCAC, finishing with an 11-5 conference record and a 20-8 overall mark, and received an at-large berth in the NCAA Division III tournament, the Bishops' second NCAA appearance under DeWitt.
In 2011, Ohio Wesleyan tied for third place in the NCAC, finishing with an 11-5 conference record and a 16-11 overall mark. DeWitt was named NCAC Coach of the Year by his colleagues, marking the second time he has received that honor.
In 2008, Ohio Wesleyan tied for second place in the NCAC, then went on to win the NCAC tournament championship for the first time since 1988. The Bishops defeated Heidelberg and fourth-ranked Centre in the NCAA Division III playoffs to advance to the sectional semifinals, or “Sweet 16,” before finishing with a 22-8 record. Ohio Wesleyan swept Wittenberg during the regular season, the Bishops’ first season sweep of the Tigers since 1949-50. DeWitt was named NABC Great Lakes District Coach of the Year in recognition of the Bishops’ accomplishments.
The 2005-06 Bishops went 18-9 and finished third in the NCAC. Ohio Wesleyan finished off the regular season with a win over then-top-ranked Wooster, helping DeWitt receive his first NCAC Coach of the Year citation.
A 1987 Ohio Wesleyan graduate, DeWitt is only the fourth Ohio Wesleyan men's basketball coach in nearly 80 years, following Bob Strimer (1946-58), Frank Shannon (1958-79) and Gene Mehaffey (1979-99). He joins Branch Rickey as one of only 3 Ohio Wesleyan alumni to hold the position.
DeWitt came to Ohio Wesleyan from Centre (Ky.) College. During his 3 seasons at Centre, DeWitt's teams compiled a record of 35-40. The Colonels went 12-13 during the 1998-99 season with a starting lineup that consisted of 3 sophomores and 2 freshmen. In 1997-98, Centre was 15-10, its best record since 1993.
Prior to coaching at Centre, DeWitt was the head men's basketball coach at Hiram College. The Terriers went 6-19 in his first season after losing 4 starters from the previous year and improved to 9-16 in 1995-96 while competing in the rugged Ohio Athletic Conference.
DeWitt also served as an assistant men's basketball coach at Kenyon College for 2 seasons, helping the Lords to a 40-15 record and an NCAC tournament championship during that span, and was an assistant coach at Ohio Wesleyan for 3 seasons prior to that. While in his first stint on the Ohio Wesleyan coaching staff, he served as head junior varsity coach, shared scouting and recruiting duties and helped guide the Battling Bishops to a 45-36 mark.
During his playing career, DeWitt was a member of 3 conference championship teams. He was a 2-time All-NCAC selection at Ohio Wesleyan, ranking second on the team in scoring as a junior with 16.9 points per game and third on the team as a senior with an average of 13.9 points per game. He helped the Bishops win NCAC championships in 1985-86 and 1986-87 and an NCAC tournament title in 1985-86. He began his playing career at Wittenberg University and was a member of the Tigers' 1982-83 team that reached the NCAA Division III championship game.
DeWitt earned his master's degree in physical education from The Ohio State University in 1990. He is a native of Galion, Ohio, where he was an all-league selection in both basketball and tennis at Galion High School.
DeWitt's Career Coaching Record
| Year |
School |
Record |
Pct |
| 1994-95 |
Hiram |
6-19 |
.240 |
| 1995-96 |
Hiram |
9-16 |
.360 |
| HC |
2 years |
15-35 |
.300 |
| 1996-97 |
Centre |
8-17 |
.320 |
| 1997-98 |
Centre |
15-10 |
.600 |
| 1998-99 |
Centre |
12-13 |
.480 |
| CC |
3 years |
35-40 |
.467 |
| 1999-2000 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
5-20 |
.200 |
| 2000-01 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
11-15 |
.423 |
| 2001-02 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
12-15 |
.462 |
| 2002-03 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
12-14 |
.462 |
| 2003-04 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
19- 8 |
.704 |
| 2004-05 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
12-14 |
.462 |
| 2005-06 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
18- 9 |
.667 |
| 2006-07 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
18-10 |
.643 |
| 2007-08 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
22- 8 |
.733 |
| 2008-09 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
17- 8 |
.680 |
| 2009-10 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
13-14 |
.481 |
| 2010-11 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
16-11 |
.593 |
| 2011-12 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
20- 8 |
.714 |
| 2012-13 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
23- 6 |
.793 |
| 2013-14 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
20- 8 |
.714 |
| 2014-15 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
22- 6 |
.786 |
| 2015-16 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
25- 5 |
.786 |
| 2016-17 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
21- 7 |
.750 |
| 2017-18 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
19- 9 |
.679 |
| 2018-19 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
12-14 |
.462 |
| 2019-20 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
12-14 |
.462 |
| 2020-21 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
6- 6 |
.500 |
| 2021-22 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
15-11 |
.577 |
| 2022-23 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
16-10 |
.615 |
| 2023-24 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
11-15 |
.423 |
| 2024-25 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
15-12 |
.556 |
| OWU |
26 years |
412-276 |
.599 |
| Career |
31 years |
462-352 |
.568 |
