Dear Bronco Nation,
It's an honor to write to you for the first time as Western Michigan's Director of Athletics.
Michigan has been part of our family's story for a long time. I spent four years in Ann Arbor earlier in my career, and my wife, Katie, grew up just down the road in St. Joseph. We have family right here in Kalamazoo, too. So when this opportunity came along, it felt right in every way. Katie and I, along with our children Gianna, Myles and Della, are coming home to Southwest Michigan, and we couldn't be happier about it.
Jobs like this one don't come along often. What stood out to me right away was the leadership here, people who see athletics as a meaningful part of the university's mission. Then there's this community, which genuinely cares about this place, and a championship culture you can feel across the department.
What drew me in most, though, was the ambition. There's real energy around what's possible and a hunger to keep building on what's already been accomplished. I want to be at a place that believes its best days are still ahead.
Western Michigan has a proud history of winning, and your support is a big reason why. My job is to carry forward what you've helped create and make sure your continued investment shows up where it matters most, in the lives of our student-athletes and in their ability to win in the classroom and in competition.
Our student-athletes will always come first. I want every Bronco to leave here with a degree, real preparation for life after college and memories they'll carry forever. Years from now, I want them to look back and know that being a Bronco changed their lives. That's why I'm eager to dig into Broncos Empowered and keep strengthening the work already underway to support the whole student-athlete experience.
One of the things I admire most about Western Michigan is how this community shows up for the Broncos. From Waldo Stadium to Lawson Ice Arena, game days already feel like a celebration of Kalamazoo, and my family and I can't wait to be in the stands with you. I'll do everything I can to support that spirit and make sure every student, alum and fan feels at home. Our coaches and student-athletes feed off your energy, and I know I will too.
College athletics is changing quickly, and the programs that do well in this new era will be the ones that get creative about how they support their student-athletes and coaches. That's the approach we're going to take at Bronco Athletics. We'll deepen our partnerships and find new ways to grow support for our programs, and we'll be strategic in how we allocate resources so every dollar has the greatest possible impact. Our ambition must be matched by investment, and we can't get there alone. The people who care about Western Michigan are going to make the difference, and I'm grateful to be doing this with you.
Thank you for the warm welcome you've already given our family. We're proud to be Broncos, and we're ready to get to work.
Go Broncos!
Alex Gary
Vice President and Director of Athletics
Western Michigan University
