KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Western Michigan men's basketball team tips off Year 2 of the Dwayne Stephens era on Monday night.
The Broncos head coach is grateful to have continuity on his coaching staff down in Kalamazoo.
When Stephens constructed his first coaching staff, it was actually quite easy.
"It's important for me because I want to be around people I enjoy being around," Stephens said. "I enjoy being around all of my guys."
His guys all play a unique role for the Broncos.
"They all bring something different to the table," Stephens said.
Jeff Rutter knows college basketball like no other. He's been a full-time assistant for over 30 years now, and Stephens loves having a guy like him on his staff.
"Jeff has a ton of experience," Stephens said. "He does a great job of following up and keeping on top of everything. He is my office manager."
Chris Fowler brings a different type of experience. He was a grad assistant at MSU and played college ball for Western's biggest rivals - Central Michigan. He's on the Broncos side of the rivalry now, and it's not a problem for him.
"Business is business at the end of the day and I just like working with and for great people," Fowler said. "If they consider me family by the time I walk out, I feel like I have done a good job. Whatever I can do to serve them and help them get to where they are trying to go to the best of their ability, that's all I really want to do."
All Manny Dosanjh wants to do is turn Western Michigan into a winner. Like Fowler, he also was a grad assistant at Michigan State and followed Stephens to WMU, he's grateful to have his first full-time assistant job in Kalamazoo.
"We're fortunate," Dosanjh said. "There is a reason why this place has won before. The more you are around every day, the more you realize why. It's just about serving these players and seeing how we can bring this program back to where it once was."
Stephens and his assistants are in lockstep, and the second year head coach hopes that will translate to winning this season.
"Those guys have to have an unbelievable relationship and the players see that," Stephens said. "We come out here. We can argue in the office. But once we leave that office, we are on the same page."
Western will play North Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Monday to open up the year.
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