Head coach Billy Donlon didn't take long to tab Clayton Bates as one of his assistant coaches and anyone can see why.
Bates, who spent nine seasons at Western Michigan, played an important role in the success at WMU while establishing himself as one of the best coaches and top recruiters in the Mid-American Conference. During his time there, Western Michigan posted four 20 win seasons while advancing to the 2004 NCAA Tournament and the 2003 and 2005 National Invitation Tournament.
"Clayton brings our program a wealth of experience and knowledge that helps us continue to grow into the future," Donlon said. "His recruiting ability and connections made and his coaching skills has and will develop recruits into all-conference caliber players. He has a long list of all-conference players that he recruited and developed, including Western Michigan's All Time Leading Scorer and 2010 MAC Player of the Year David Kool. It is exciting to have Clayton and his family with our family at Wright State."
Bates can also be credited with the recruitment and development of many players at WMU, including 2008 Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major All-American Joe Reitz and 2004 MAC Player of the Year Mike Williams.
The Broncos also had great success in the classroom under Bates' tutelage as 12 players have been part of the Academic All-MAC squad over the past five seasons, including Reitz who was also named to the first-team Academic All-American team in 2008.
Bates played at the University of Florida under Lon Kruger and served as an administrative assistant with him at the University of Illinois in 1997 when the Illini advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. After one year at Illinois, Bates returned to his native Florida as an assistant coach at Jacksonville University for the next three years. A former guard, Bates played for the Gator team that appeared in the 1994 Final Four.
"My family and I were thrilled to join Coach Donlon's staff and be a part of the Raider Basketball family." Bates said. "Wright State University has so much to offer with great facilities, tremendous fans and a solid academic foundation and support."
Bates was the 1996 Fred Koss Memorial Award winner, which is given to the player who displays the highest levels of sportsmanship, dedication and commitment to the team and community during his career.
He graduated from UF with a bachelor's degree in exercise physiology (1995) and completed his master's work in sports administration (1997) at Illinois.
Bates is married to the former Annemarie Mernagh, an All-Big East volleyball player at Pittsburgh and former assistant volleyball coach at WMU. The couple has two daughters, Annelyse and Sydney.
