Central Michigan University Athletics
Men's Basketball
Jim Lake
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Year at CMU:
- 2nd year at CMU
- Hometown:
- North Branch, Mich.
- Alma Mater/Year:
- Central Michigan/1999
- Experience:
- 24th year in coaching
Michigan native, Central Michigan graduate, and former Ferris State assistant Jim Lake enters his second season as an assistant coach on Andy Bronkema’s CMU men’s basketball staff.
“Bringing Coach Lake back to Central Michigan was a high priority for me from day one,” Bronkema said. “Our history together and his skill set will be vital for our program. Jim and his wife, Kara, are CMU graduates, and his family is a great addition to the community. Jim is a relentless recruiter, but more importantly, his background as an educator and his commitment to teaching and developing our student-athletes will be elite. Jim’s head-coaching experience will allow him to be influential in every aspect of our program. His Wisconsin network will also increase our Midwest footprint. It’s great to add a third national champion with head coaching experience to our staff.”
“Returning to Central Michigan is special for my family and me,” Lake said. “Working with Andy Brokema, a guy I couldn’t trust more as a coach and as a person, is an outstanding opportunity. I’m excited to share my passion with our student-athletes. Fire Up Chips!”
Lake spent seven seasons (2018-25) as the head men’s basketball coach at NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Stout, where his teams excelled in scoring and achieved multiple program firsts. His proven track record of offensive innovation and player development provides Central Michigan with the potential to elevate its scoring and competitive success. His UW-Stout teams consistently ranked among the top schools in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring, as the Blue Devils finished among the top four in conference scoring leaders in five of his seven seasons. Some of his highlights at UW-Stout included a 16-9 overall record in 2021-22, a season that saw the Blue Devils host their first WIAC tournament game since 2007. The Blue Devils set new scoring records, established a school a record for points in a single game when they defeated Greenville 125-119, led the WIAC in scoring, and were ranked No. 10 nationally while averaging 86.7 points per contest. The following year, the Blue Devils scored 147 points in a single game, and Brody Fox finished with 70, the second-highest scoring game in a WIAC contest. He also coached the second All-American in school history.
As a Ferris State assistant under Bronkema (2013-18), Lake helped the Bulldogs win four consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championships and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, culminating in a 38-1 overall record and the 2018 NCAA Division II national title. During the 2016-17 season, the Bulldogs compiled a then-school-best 28-5 overall record while winning the GLIAC's regular-season and tournament titles. FSU also advanced to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Semifinals. The Bulldogs concluded the 2015-16 season with a 24-10 overall record and reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen, while finishing with their first back-to-back 20-win campaigns since the late 1980s.
Lake began his collegiate coaching career at Ferris State as a volunteer assistant under Bill Sall and then with Bronkema from 2003-06, contributing to back-to-back GLIAC North championships, two NCAA Tournament appearances, and an NCAA Sweet Sixteen berth in 2004-05.
After coaching the Grand Rapids Storm, Lake returned to Ferris State in 2011-12, helping the Bulldogs secure a second-straight GLIAC North Division.
Lake has 17 years of high school coaching experience, including nine seasons as a varsity coach at the Class B and D levels. At the age of 21, he was the youngest head coach for a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) member school when he worked at Mount Pleasant Baptist Academy. He later worked as a teacher and head men’s basketball coach at Chippewa Hills from 1999 to 2013.
As the Storm’s 16-and-under coach, Lake compiled a 123-32 record and coached 35 future college players, including 11 NCAA Division I athletes. He also worked basketball camps at Ferris State, Central Michigan, Michigan, Wisconsin, and UW-Stout.
Lake earned his bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in social studies and a minor in history from Central Michigan University in 1999. He later earned a master’s degree in sports and recreation with an emphasis in coaching from Ohio University.
Raised in North Branch, Mich., Lake graduated from North Branch High School in 1994, where he was an all-area football and basketball player.
Lake and his wife, Kara, have two children, Abigail and Peter.
THE LAKE FILE
Date announced as CMU Assistant Coach: May 2, 2025
Hometown: North Branch, Mich.
Family: wife, Kara, daughter Abigail, son Peter
Education
Bachelor of Science, Education, Central Michigan University, 1999
Master of Science, Recreation and Sports Sciences, Ohio University, 2012
Coaching Career
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Wisconsin-Stout, 2018-24
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Ferris State University, 2013-18
Volunteer Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Ferris State University, 2011-13
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Chippewa Hills High School, 2009-11
Head Coach, Grand Rapids Storm, 2007-10
Volunteer Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Ferris State University, 2003-06
Head Coach, Mount Pleasant Baptist Academy, 1997-99
“Bringing Coach Lake back to Central Michigan was a high priority for me from day one,” Bronkema said. “Our history together and his skill set will be vital for our program. Jim and his wife, Kara, are CMU graduates, and his family is a great addition to the community. Jim is a relentless recruiter, but more importantly, his background as an educator and his commitment to teaching and developing our student-athletes will be elite. Jim’s head-coaching experience will allow him to be influential in every aspect of our program. His Wisconsin network will also increase our Midwest footprint. It’s great to add a third national champion with head coaching experience to our staff.”
“Returning to Central Michigan is special for my family and me,” Lake said. “Working with Andy Brokema, a guy I couldn’t trust more as a coach and as a person, is an outstanding opportunity. I’m excited to share my passion with our student-athletes. Fire Up Chips!”
Lake spent seven seasons (2018-25) as the head men’s basketball coach at NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Stout, where his teams excelled in scoring and achieved multiple program firsts. His proven track record of offensive innovation and player development provides Central Michigan with the potential to elevate its scoring and competitive success. His UW-Stout teams consistently ranked among the top schools in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring, as the Blue Devils finished among the top four in conference scoring leaders in five of his seven seasons. Some of his highlights at UW-Stout included a 16-9 overall record in 2021-22, a season that saw the Blue Devils host their first WIAC tournament game since 2007. The Blue Devils set new scoring records, established a school a record for points in a single game when they defeated Greenville 125-119, led the WIAC in scoring, and were ranked No. 10 nationally while averaging 86.7 points per contest. The following year, the Blue Devils scored 147 points in a single game, and Brody Fox finished with 70, the second-highest scoring game in a WIAC contest. He also coached the second All-American in school history.
As a Ferris State assistant under Bronkema (2013-18), Lake helped the Bulldogs win four consecutive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championships and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, culminating in a 38-1 overall record and the 2018 NCAA Division II national title. During the 2016-17 season, the Bulldogs compiled a then-school-best 28-5 overall record while winning the GLIAC's regular-season and tournament titles. FSU also advanced to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Semifinals. The Bulldogs concluded the 2015-16 season with a 24-10 overall record and reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen, while finishing with their first back-to-back 20-win campaigns since the late 1980s.
Lake began his collegiate coaching career at Ferris State as a volunteer assistant under Bill Sall and then with Bronkema from 2003-06, contributing to back-to-back GLIAC North championships, two NCAA Tournament appearances, and an NCAA Sweet Sixteen berth in 2004-05.
After coaching the Grand Rapids Storm, Lake returned to Ferris State in 2011-12, helping the Bulldogs secure a second-straight GLIAC North Division.
Lake has 17 years of high school coaching experience, including nine seasons as a varsity coach at the Class B and D levels. At the age of 21, he was the youngest head coach for a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) member school when he worked at Mount Pleasant Baptist Academy. He later worked as a teacher and head men’s basketball coach at Chippewa Hills from 1999 to 2013.
As the Storm’s 16-and-under coach, Lake compiled a 123-32 record and coached 35 future college players, including 11 NCAA Division I athletes. He also worked basketball camps at Ferris State, Central Michigan, Michigan, Wisconsin, and UW-Stout.
Lake earned his bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in social studies and a minor in history from Central Michigan University in 1999. He later earned a master’s degree in sports and recreation with an emphasis in coaching from Ohio University.
Raised in North Branch, Mich., Lake graduated from North Branch High School in 1994, where he was an all-area football and basketball player.
Lake and his wife, Kara, have two children, Abigail and Peter.
THE LAKE FILE
Date announced as CMU Assistant Coach: May 2, 2025
Hometown: North Branch, Mich.
Family: wife, Kara, daughter Abigail, son Peter
Education
Bachelor of Science, Education, Central Michigan University, 1999
Master of Science, Recreation and Sports Sciences, Ohio University, 2012
Coaching Career
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Wisconsin-Stout, 2018-24
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Ferris State University, 2013-18
Volunteer Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Ferris State University, 2011-13
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Chippewa Hills High School, 2009-11
Head Coach, Grand Rapids Storm, 2007-10
Volunteer Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Ferris State University, 2003-06
Head Coach, Mount Pleasant Baptist Academy, 1997-99
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