Assistant coach Michael Lenahan joined the Whitman men's basketball program during the summer of 2014. Michael graduated with a degree in media studies from the University of California Berkeley in May 2011 and is pursuing his Masters in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University in Irvine, California.
Lenahan's coaching career began in 2007 when he joined the Cal men's basketball team as the assistant video coordinator. During his time at Cal the Golden Bears went to the NCAA tournament twice and captured their first Pac-10 title in 50 years.
Upon graduation, Lenahan took the Director of Basketball Operations job with the UC Irvine Anteaters from 2011-2014. The Anteaters experienced great success during those years, including winning their first Big West Conference championship in more than a decade. Some of his duties at Irvine included opponent scouting, all video breakdown, and directing their summer basketball youth camps.
Lenahan comes to Whitman to begin his career as an assistant coach and could not be more excited. "I came to Whitman to have the opportunity to coach in a successful program that values the players as students, athletes and people," said Lenahan. "I have been fortunate to learn under three great coaches in Ben Braun, Mike Montgomery and Russ Turner and am thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from Coach Bridgeland. I am blessed to have been presented the chance to become part of the Whitman and Walla Walla communities and am looking forward to adding value as an assistant coach and community member."
Coach Bridgeland on the addition to the Missionaries' coaching staff: "We are excited to have Michael working with our staff. He comes highly recommended by some of the West Coast's most respected coaches and programs. His passion to learn and grow as a coach, mentor and leader is unparalleled. Michael is a grinder -- he flat out works. His impact on our program was immediate; what he accomplished in his first six weeks alone made it feel as if were six months.
"Michael joined our program at a critical time. With the intense recruiting demands of men's basketball, coupled with our program's work in the surrounding Walla Walla community, an additional relationship-driven mentor was needed. We feel we hit the ball out of the park with the acquisition of Michael."
Lenahan lives in Walla Walla with his fiancé Lauren.
