Coach Kevin Mondro to Depart Cleary for NCAA D1 Opportunity
By: Cleary Athletic Communications
Howell, MI - Cleary University head women's basketball coach Kevin Mondro is stepping down to become an assistant coach at the NCAA Division 1 level.
Mondro takes the new position after three years, and two successful seasons at Cleary, accumulating 17 wins and 40 losses overall. Cleary went 6-22, and 6-16 in the WHAC in the 2023-24 season, and improved to 11-18, and 9-11 in the WHAC in the 2024-25 season.
His tenure was highlighted with the team qualifying for the WHAC tournament for the first time during the 2024-25 season. In the WHAC tournament, the Cougars earned an 80-66 victory over the Rochester Christian Warriors before falling to Indiana Tech in the quarterfinals.
"I want to thank (Director of Athletics) Max Ballinger for giving me the incredible opportunity to lead the Cleary Women's Basketball Program," said Coach Kevin Mondro. "I have no doubt that Max and his staff will find a tremendous coach to guide the program into its next chapter."
"This program would not be what it is without the dedication of (Assistant Coaches) Jerry Wallace and Alexis Miller," Mondro continued. "They invested countless hours in so many aspects of the team, and have been not only outstanding coaches, but also top-tier mentors."
"Finally, the friendships I've built within the Cleary athletic department are lifelong. Cleary is a special place, and I'm excited for the next head coach to experience what makes it so remarkable."
In 2024-25, Mondro and his staff oversaw the program's first three WHAC Players of the Week. Junior guard Samantha Hoelscher was recognized twice, and senior forward Mileisha Rodriguez was recognized once. The honors continued into the postseason awards, where Samantha Hoelscher and teammate Taedom Stein were both named Second-Team All-WHAC, the first such recognitions in the program's young history. Mondro was also able to earn the respect of his peers, as he was named the WHAC's Champion of Character Coach for both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 season.
"I am extremely proud of Coach Mondro and his staff for their outstanding accomplishments," said Director of Athletics Max Ballinger. "In just two years, he established a women's basketball program from the ground up, demonstrating exceptional dedication and an unwavering work ethic. Though his time at Cleary was brief, his impact has been significant, and I am sincerely grateful for the strong foundation he has laid for the future of our program."
"I extend my very best wishes to Coach Mondro and his family as they begin this next chapter. His wife, Liz, and their son, J.J., have been a valued part of our community, and they will certainly be missed around the office."
Mondro also oversaw impressive accomplishments in the classroom. All eight members of the program that were able to be recognized earned WHAC All-Academic honors in 2024-25, and seven were named NAIA Scholar-Athletes. To be honored, student-athletes must have had at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA (for WHAC) and have attended Cleary for at least one full year.
The team had the highest cumulative team GPA for any athletic program at Cleary in 2024-25, with a 3.95 GPA.
"What we accomplished at Cleary was truly special. These past two teams are ones I will remember for a lifetime. I had the privilege of coaching fifteen exceptional young women. (They were) relentless on the court and competed at the highest level. We never looked like a first or second-year program. Beyond the court, they're outstanding students and people. My wife, Liz, and our son, JJ, are so grateful that these amazing young women became part of our lives. They are truly sensational."
A national search for Cleary's next head women's coach will begin immediately.