Central Michigan's basketball program dates to 1904 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The Chippewas compete in the Mid-American Conference and have won multiple MAC championships. The program has made several NCAA Tournament appearances and produced NBA player Dan Majerle.
The Chippewas name honors the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, whose reservation is adjacent to the campus — the tribe has formally endorsed the use of the name.
Dan Majerle's dominant career in the mid-1980s, when 'Thunder Dan' became a MAC legend before his celebrated NBA career with the Phoenix Suns.
Central Michigan is one of the few schools with a Native American nickname that has the explicit written endorsement of the local tribe, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.
The Central Michigan Chippewas compete in the MAC and hold an all-time record of 668–867 (.435 winning percentage) across 53 recorded seasons dating back to 1972-73.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 10-21 | 6-12 (MAC) | Andy Bronkema | |
| 2024-25 | 14-17 | 7-11 (MAC) | Tony Barbee | |
| 2023-24 | 18-14 | 12-6 (MAC) | Tony Barbee | |
| 2022-23 | 10-21 | 5-13 (MAC) | Tony Barbee | |
| 2021-22 | 7-23 | 6-12 (MAC) | Tony Barbee | |
| 2020-21 | 7-16 | 3-13 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2019-20 | 14-18 | 7-11 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2018-19 | 23-12 | 10-8 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2017-18 | 21-15 | 7-11 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2016-17 | 16-16 | 6-12 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2015-16 | 17-16 | 10-8 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2014-15 | 23-9 | 12-6 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2013-14 | 10-21 | 3-15 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2012-13 | 11-20 | 4-12 (MAC) | Keno Davis | |
| 2011-12 | 11-21 | 5-11 (MAC) | Ernie Zeigler | |
| 2010-11 | 10-21 | 7-9 (MAC) | Ernie Zeigler | |
| 2009-10 | 15-15 | 9-7 (MAC) | Ernie Zeigler | |
| 2008-09 | 12-19 | 7-9 (MAC) | Ernie Zeigler | |
| 2007-08 | 14-17 | 8-8 (MAC) | Ernie Zeigler | |
| 2006-07 | 13-18 | 7-9 (MAC) | Ernie Zeigler | |
| 2005-06 | 4-24 | 1-17 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 2004-05 | 10-18 | 4-14 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 2003-04 | 6-24 | 2-16 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 2002-03 | 25-7 | 14-4 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 2001-02 | 9-19 | 5-13 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 2000-01 | 20-8 | 14-4 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 1999-00 | 6-23 | 2-16 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 1998-99 | 10-16 | 7-11 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 1997-98 | 5-21 | 3-15 (MAC) | Jay Smith | |
| 1996-97 | 7-19 | 4-14 (MAC) | Leonard Drake | |
| 1995-96 | 6-20 | 3-15 (MAC) | Leonard Drake | |
| 1994-95 | 3-23 | 0-18 (MAC) | Leonard Drake | |
| 1993-94 | 5-21 | 4-14 (MAC) | Leonard Drake | |
| 1992-93 | 8-18 | 4-14 (MAC) | Keith Dambrot | |
| 1991-92 | 12-16 | 6-10 (MAC) | Keith Dambrot | |
| 1990-91 | 14-14 | 8-8 (MAC) | Charlie Coles | |
| 1989-90 | 13-17 | 6-10 (MAC) | Charlie Coles | |
| 1987-88 | 19-13 | 10-6 (MAC) | Charlie Coles | |
| 1986-87 | 22-8 | 14-2 (MAC) | Charlie Coles | |
| 1985-86 | 11-17 | 7-11 (MAC) | Charlie Coles | |
| 1984-85 | 9-18 | 4-14 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1983-84 | 11-16 | 6-12 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1982-83 | 10-17 | 5-13 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1981-82 | 10-16 | 4-12 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1980-81 | 12-14 | 5-11 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1979-80 | 12-13 | 6-10 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1978-79 | 19-9 | 13-3 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1977-78 | 16-10 | 11-5 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1976-77 | 18-10 | 13-3 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1975-76 | 12-14 | 8-8 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1974-75 | 22-6 | 10-4 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1973-74 | 14-12 | 6-6 (MAC) | Dick Parfitt | |
| 1972-73 | 13-13 | MAC | Dick Parfitt |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|