An excellent coach at NCAA Division II Northern Michigan University has left for bigger and brighter things.

This time it’s Wildcats head men’s basketball coach Matt Majkrzak, who the university announced on Tuesday morning was stepping down to take the same position at Division I Northern Illinois of the Mid-American Conference, the same league that includes Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan universities.

Majkrzak, whose teams were at least as good as his name was hard for the uninitiated to spell or pronounce, coached NMU for seven seasons and transformed these Wildcats into one of the top programs in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and really, the Midwest.

“I want to thank Matt and wish him all the best as he moves on to Northern Illinois,” Wildcats’ Director of Athletics Rick Comley said in an NMU Sports Information news release announcing the move. “His team has enjoyed a great run of success and he leaves a solid program with a bright future.”

Northern Michigan University head coach Matt Majkrzak, right, and the Wildcats bench react to a play near the end of their GLIAC game played against Ferris State at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Feb. 15, 2025. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Majkrzak compiled a 136-73 record in seven seasons and won four GLIAC Championships — regular-season titles this season and in 2023-24, with conference tournament crowns in 2024-25 and 2022-23.

In the season just concluded, Northern recorded its most wins ever with a 28-7 overall record, Majkrzak being named GLIAC Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons. Only one other time had any NMU men’s coach been named the league’s No. 1 mentor, that being Negaunee native Dean Ellis in 1993 during his 24-year tenure.

“I’ll forever be a Northern Michigan Wildcat,” Majkrzak said in the NMU SI release. “Marquette and NMU have given me the best moments of my life.

“I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve done here and want to thank all the players, coaches and administration for all the support.”

The Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, native came to the Wildcats after mixed success by his two predecessors, the two men who coached after Ellis left in 2010. Doug Lewis was 23-55 in three seasons, while Bill Sall was 61-102 over six years ending in 2019.

After a 13-17 record in his inaugural season of 2019-20, Majkrzak went 8-8 in the COVID-19-affected year of 2020-21 (really just 2021) before really hitting his stride, going 18-12 in 2021-22 before putting together four straight seasons with at least 22 wins, starting with 25-8 in 2022-23. His Wildcats also went 22-11 in 2023-24, 22-10 in 2024-25 and 28-7 this season.

This season, Northern climbed as high as No. 10 in the weekly poll put out by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, its highest national ranking since Jan. 11, 1993, and secured the No. 1 seed in the GLIAC Tournament while appearing in the NCAA D-II tournament for the fourth straight season.

An interesting highlight came early in the season of a year ago, Oct. 13, 2024, when the Wildcats hosted an exhibition game against Big 10 member Michigan State and its Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo, a former NMU player, in front of more than 11,000 fans in the Superior Dome. The trip for the Spartans also allowed Izzo’s number to be retired by Northern.

Prior to NMU, Majkrzak was head coach at junior college Bryant & Stratton of Wisconsin, and had been an assistant at Division II schools Bemidji State and Chadron State.

A key component in the recent success of the Wildcats was one of their most decorated players in program history, Dylan Kuehl. This season, he was not only named the GLIAC Player of the Year and GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year, but also Midwest Region Player of the Year by the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association.

Kuehl averaged 21.3 points per game, tied for highest in the league, including 23.8 ppg in league games, No. 1 in that category by more than 2 ppg. He also finished his career No. 2 on the Northern men’s all-time scoring list with 2,197 points.

“The winning and championships were outstanding, but what I’ll always remember are the people,” Majkrzak said to NMU SI. “We had great players who were and are proud Wildcats. The great crowds and the way our community and university embraced basketball were so special.

“I truly believe NMU is one of the best institutions from top to bottom in the country. I feel so grateful to spend seven years here. Northern Michigan under Rick (Comley)’s leadership will be in great hands, and I can’t wait to be a Wildcat fan as they continue to win championships. I can promise we won’t be strangers. Go Cats!”

Northern Illinois might look like quite a challenge for Majkrzak. The Huskies are coming off a 9-21 season and have had just two winning seasons since 2006. Five-year head coach Rashon Bruno resigned about 10 days ago with a 48-106 overall record.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the news. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.