Western Illinois Athletics announced the return of a standout student-athlete and coach as Mike Stevenson was hired as the head coach for the men’s and women’s cross country/track and field programs in July 2014.
In 2016-17, Stevenson helped guide eight student-athletes to All-Summit League honors in the outdoor season, as well as two NCAA Regional Qualifiers in Jasmine Brown (triple jump, long jump) and Alyssa Johnson (800 meters). He also coached Brown to a new program record in the long jump of 19'11.75," which broke her previous 2-year-old record. Stevenson also saw 11 top-10 all-time records during the 2017 Outdoor Campaign. He coached the women to a fourth-place finish and the men to a fifth-place finish at The Summit League Outdoor Championships. For the indoor campaign, the program saw six All-Summit League honorees, and a Summit League Indoor Champion (Malachi Adams), who garnered two league titles while setting new program records in the 60 and 200-meter dashes. His 200-meter time was also a new Summit League record of 21.34. At the Indoor Championships, both the men's and women's sides finished fifth.
During the 2015-16 season, Stevenson coached four Leathernecks to All-Summit League honors at the outdoor championships in the 800-meters and the 4x400-meter relay. In addition, he coached Max Ford to a new program record in the javelin which advanced him to the NCAA Preliminary Round in Lawrence, Kansas. Indoors, he helped 10 Leathernecks earn new 'top-ten' marks in and eight marks during the outdoor season. Stevenson guided the men's and women's track and field teams to a sixth place finish at the outdoor Summit League Championships. He also coach the men's team to a sixth place finish at the indoor championships while the women placed seventh.
In the 2014-15 season Stevenson helped nine Leathernecks earn All-Summit League honors in indoor and outdoor competition with one advancing to the NCAA Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas. Under his guidance Western won The Summit League men's 4x100 meter relay crown for the first time since 2004. Jasmine Brown also broke the WIU women's long jump record. Stevenson guided the women to a fifth-place finish at The Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships while the men finished sixth. He also helped host the 2015 Summit League Outdoor Championships at Hanson Field. The men placed fourth while the women finished sixth.
Stevenson returned Western after spending the last two years as the Director of Cross Country/Track and Field at the California Institute of Technology. During his tenure, the program set 10 new school records. The women’s team had their highest conference championship placing ever in back-to-back seasons. Several male and female student-athletes ranked among the ‘Top 50’ nationally. Academically, the men’s track and cross country teams each ranked No. 1 nationally in grade point average in 2013.
He spent from 2010-12 at Purdue University as the assistant track and field coach. Stevenson was responsible for sprinters and hurdlers. While with the Boilermakers he helped bring home the program's first Big Ten sprint champion in seven years. The Purdue sprint and hurdle athletes set five school records and produced multiple NCAA Championship qualifiers. During the 2011 season, Stevenson served as the interim throws coach and led that group to nine first-round berths, three national qualifying berths and one All-American honor.
For 19 years, Stevenson coached the Leatherneck track and field program – including the final eight as the head coach overseeing both the men’s and women’s team. In those eight years, Stevenson was a five-time ‘Coach of the Year’ and won five championships (three with him as head coach).
"Coach (Mike) Stevenson distinguished himself from a talented pool of applicants during the interview process,” said Deputy Director of Athletics Matt Tanney. “We are confident Mike can build a championship culture in our cross country/track & field programs. We are excited to welcome him and his family back to Macomb."
He guided 104 student-athletes to individual conference championships and coached 23 NCAA Division I national qualifiers. Eight WIU athletes earned conference ‘Player of the Year’ honors under Stevenson as well as six athletes named conference ‘Newcomer of the Year’. Before being named head coach in 2000, he served as the assistant track and field coach from 1991-99.
In 2001, Stevenson was selected to teach at both the NCAA’s YES (Youth Education Seminar) and the World Scholar-Athlete Games. A published author, Stevenson has had his work appear in Scholastic Coach and Administrator magazine. Stevenson is a USATF Level II certified coach.
A former Leatherneck standout in the classroom and on the track, Stevenson was a multiple all-conference academic and athletic selection. The two-time team captain still ranks among Western’s all-time top sprinters. Stevenson earned his B.A. in physical education in 1987 and his M.S. in physical education in 1991.
