Marquette, MI – April 3rd, 2026 – Following the departure of Matt Majkrzak, who made the jump to the Division I level after accepting the head coaching position with Northern Illinois men’s basketball, Northern Michigan quickly began the search for the program’s 16th head coach. It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to turn to a familiar face, Keil Ganz, a key figure in the program’s recent success. He emerged as the natural choice to take over for the Wildcats.
Ganz’s connection to Northern Michigan dates back to 2019, when he joined Majkrzak’s staff as an assistant coach. In that season, the Wildcats posted a 13–17 overall record, including a 9–11 mark in conference play. Ganz then moved to gain Division I experience, serving as Director of Basketball Operations for Southern Indiana during the 2022–23 season.
He returned to Northern Michigan for the 2023–24 campaign, helping guide a dramatic turnaround. The Wildcats finished 22–11 overall and 11–4 in conference play, earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament before falling 81–65 to Ferris State. Building on that success, Ganz was promoted to associate head coach for the 2024–25 season. Northern Michigan continued its upward trajectory, finishing 22–10 overall and 13–7 in conference play, while capturing the GLIAC regular-season title. The Wildcats then secured the conference tournament championship with wins over Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech, and Lake Superior State. Despite the strong run, their NCAA Tournament appearance ended in the opening round with an 87–72 loss to Michigan Tech.
Following his success in Marquette, Ganz once again moved to the Division I level, returning to his alma mater, the Green Bay Phoenix men’s program. As an assistant coach under Doug Gottlieb, he helped orchestrate a significant turnaround, improving the team by 14 wins and finishing the season with an 18–15 record.
With Majkrzak’s departure, the decision to bring Ganz back felt seamless. He returns to a program he knows well, this time as the head coach tasked with leading the Wildcats into their next chapter. Ganz will face immediate roster challenges. Key contributors Cal Klesmit and Trevor Polite are expected to follow Majkrzak to Northern Illinois, while Bennet Basich has entered the transfer portal. The Wildcats will also be without Dylan Kuehl, the reigning GLIAC Player of the Year, along with seniors Jackson Dudek, Sam Privet, and Aiden Bellisle. Additionally, assistant coach John Michael Hughes plans to join Majkrzak at NIU.
While the Wildcats will need to reload, Ganz’s familiarity with the program and proven track record make him well-positioned to usher in the next era of Northern Michigan men’s basketball.
