Bio

JOSH FLEMING
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Former Ferris State University men's basketball standout and alum Josh Fleming has been chosen as the Bulldogs' new top assistant coach in an announcement made today by FSU head coach Andy Bronkema.

Fleming, who played for the Bulldogs from 2012-16 and has been a key part of the coaching staff the past two seasons, moves up to the lead full-time assistant role on the staff as FSU begins a new era following the departure of former men's basketball assistant and fellow alum Raymoan McAfee and graduation loss of four senior starters.

A Chicago area native, Fleming helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Championships during his final two years as a FSU student-athlete and played a key role on the staff this past season as the Bulldogs captured the league's regular-season championship.

"Coach Fleming is a Bulldog through and through," said Bronkema. "I recruited him while I was an assistant and his dedication and loyalty to our program has been outstanding. His knowledge of the university, system and culture is exactly what we need to continue to provide a high-quality experience to our players.

"I have been blessed with a great staff since day one at Ferris State," he added. "Coach Fleming certainly has been influenced by the coaches before him and we are looking forward to watching him put his own spin on things. Overall, he brings a positive energy and is well connected to alumni, donors and our fan base."

Along with his collegiate experience at Ferris State, Fleming brings experience from his time as a professional player overseas. He competed in Slovakia for Iskra Svit in 2016-17 and then played in Cyprus for Appel in 2017-18.

During his time at FSU, he was a two-time All-GLIAC honoree and concluded his career as a 1,000-point collegiate scorer while helping lead Ferris State to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen as a senior in 2015-16. Fleming was a four-year letterwinner and starter in the FSU lineup while helping set the foundation for the Bulldogs' march to the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship.

Prior to FSU, Fleming was a prep standout at Glenbard North High School on Chicago's west side, earning Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) All-State laurels.

"Recruiting in the Chicago area has been a staple for us and Josh will certainly help us continue our presence in that area along with recruiting in the Mitten," Bronkema said. "We're excited to be able to promote from within on our staff and thrilled to land a talented, young assistant coach who brings all the intangibles in terms of having a strong collegiate background, professional playing experience, familiarity with our campus and system along with an accomplished championship resume."

In addition to his time at Ferris State and on the Bulldog staff, Fleming has also been active in the local community, serving on the substitute teaching staff for Big Rapids Public Schools the past two years while also being involved in the FSU program where he's played a key role in recruiting, player development and coaching duties.

"I'm excited to continue my coaching career working with the talented group of returning and incoming student-athletes we have in our program as we look to build upon the championship success that has been established at Ferris State," said Fleming. "A big thank you goes out to the Big Rapids community and our Bulldog fans for all their support along with the university administration and staff in addition to Coach Brokema for giving me this opportunity. It's time to work."

Along with capturing the GLIAC's regular-season championship this past season, the Bulldogs also earned their sixth NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in the last eight years and advanced to the Midwest Region Semifinals, closing the year with a 22-9 overall record.