Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan Athletics Announces Contract Extension for Women’s Basketball Coach Kristin Haynie
2/17/2026 2:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Haynie agrees to new multi-year deal through the 2028-29 season
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan Athletics and Head Women's Basketball Coach Kristin Haynie have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will run through the 2028-29 season, Zyzelewski Family Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan announced Tuesday.
"Under her vision and leadership, Kristin continues to build our program to be a leader in the Mid-American Conference," Folan said. "In her third season here, she has elevated the trajectory of our program. As a Michigan girl that learned basketball here, played in the national championship game, and won a WNBA Championship, Kristin has combined all her experiences, knowledge, work ethic, and skills into building a program that all Chippewas can be proud of under her leadership."
Haynie has rebuilt the Central Michigan women's basketball program in her two-plus seasons at the helm as the Chippewas improved from six wins in her first year to 14 in 2024-25. Currently, CMU has 16 victories with five regular season contests remaining in 2025-26.
"Thank you to President Neil MacKinnon, the Board of Trustees, and Director of Athletics Amy Folan for continuing to believe in our vision," Haynie said. "I'm excited to keep growing this program in a way that represents Central Michigan University at the highest level. I'm grateful for the support and trust of our administration, staff, players and community. Together, we're building this program back to a championship level."
On Saturday, the Chippewas clinched their second consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament berth with a 70-67 win over rival Western Michigan. Last year, CMU advanced to the MAC tournament after a four-year drought.
Central Michigan enters the week in fourth place in the MAC standings heading into the regular season home stretch, just two games behind the conference leader with a 10-3 league record. In contrast, when Haynie arrived in 2022-23, the program had finished tied for 11th in the league standings at 4-14 and 6-23 overall.
During her first season, Haynie's Chippewas broke a three-year, 34-game road losing streak and 20-game MAC losing streak as the current core of the program was recruited for the following season, including the likes of Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington. The reigning MAC Freshman of the Year, Morson is a front runner for the MAC Player of the Year award in 2026.
Central Michigan rallied from a 16-point second half deficit to defeat Purdue, 57-55, at home (Nov. 30) for the program's first victory over a power conference opponent since December 2018 and the first against a Big Ten Conference opponent since the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Ohio State (March 19, 2018).
Central Michigan has hovered around the top-100 of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) this season, reaching as high as No. 87 in late December; the program finished outside the top 300 in the NET during Haynie's first year in 2023-24.
Haynie previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach (2014-17) at Central Michigan under 2020 CMU Marcy Weston Hall of Fame inductee Sue Guevara. In Haynie's first tenure in Mount Pleasant, the Chippewas claimed the 2017 MAC regular season title along with a pair of MAC West Division titles.
Prior to taking her post, Haynie spent four seasons as an assistant coach (2019-23) at Michigan State, her alma mater, under CMU graduate and longtime Spartan coach Suzy Merchant '91, making two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Haynie carries a tremendous legacy as a Spartan player. As a point guard, she is the all-time MSU leader in career steals (346), second in assists (576) while still scoring 1,199 points (17th). The 2005 Michigan State graduate went on to play in 160 games over five years in the WNBA, winning a title with the Sacramento Monarchs in her rookie season.
Central Michigan (16-8; 10-3 MAC) travels to Oxford, Ohio for a pivotal two-vs.-four MAC matchup on Wednesday night at Miami (OH) (20-5; 11-1 MAC). The contest tips at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
"Under her vision and leadership, Kristin continues to build our program to be a leader in the Mid-American Conference," Folan said. "In her third season here, she has elevated the trajectory of our program. As a Michigan girl that learned basketball here, played in the national championship game, and won a WNBA Championship, Kristin has combined all her experiences, knowledge, work ethic, and skills into building a program that all Chippewas can be proud of under her leadership."
Haynie has rebuilt the Central Michigan women's basketball program in her two-plus seasons at the helm as the Chippewas improved from six wins in her first year to 14 in 2024-25. Currently, CMU has 16 victories with five regular season contests remaining in 2025-26.
"Thank you to President Neil MacKinnon, the Board of Trustees, and Director of Athletics Amy Folan for continuing to believe in our vision," Haynie said. "I'm excited to keep growing this program in a way that represents Central Michigan University at the highest level. I'm grateful for the support and trust of our administration, staff, players and community. Together, we're building this program back to a championship level."
On Saturday, the Chippewas clinched their second consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament berth with a 70-67 win over rival Western Michigan. Last year, CMU advanced to the MAC tournament after a four-year drought.
Central Michigan enters the week in fourth place in the MAC standings heading into the regular season home stretch, just two games behind the conference leader with a 10-3 league record. In contrast, when Haynie arrived in 2022-23, the program had finished tied for 11th in the league standings at 4-14 and 6-23 overall.
During her first season, Haynie's Chippewas broke a three-year, 34-game road losing streak and 20-game MAC losing streak as the current core of the program was recruited for the following season, including the likes of Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington. The reigning MAC Freshman of the Year, Morson is a front runner for the MAC Player of the Year award in 2026.
Central Michigan rallied from a 16-point second half deficit to defeat Purdue, 57-55, at home (Nov. 30) for the program's first victory over a power conference opponent since December 2018 and the first against a Big Ten Conference opponent since the 2018 NCAA Tournament at Ohio State (March 19, 2018).
Central Michigan has hovered around the top-100 of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) this season, reaching as high as No. 87 in late December; the program finished outside the top 300 in the NET during Haynie's first year in 2023-24.
Haynie previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach (2014-17) at Central Michigan under 2020 CMU Marcy Weston Hall of Fame inductee Sue Guevara. In Haynie's first tenure in Mount Pleasant, the Chippewas claimed the 2017 MAC regular season title along with a pair of MAC West Division titles.
Prior to taking her post, Haynie spent four seasons as an assistant coach (2019-23) at Michigan State, her alma mater, under CMU graduate and longtime Spartan coach Suzy Merchant '91, making two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Haynie carries a tremendous legacy as a Spartan player. As a point guard, she is the all-time MSU leader in career steals (346), second in assists (576) while still scoring 1,199 points (17th). The 2005 Michigan State graduate went on to play in 160 games over five years in the WNBA, winning a title with the Sacramento Monarchs in her rookie season.
Central Michigan (16-8; 10-3 MAC) travels to Oxford, Ohio for a pivotal two-vs.-four MAC matchup on Wednesday night at Miami (OH) (20-5; 11-1 MAC). The contest tips at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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