Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Apr. 19, 2023 - North Central College athletic director Jim Miller '86 has announced the hiring of Vince Kmiec '14/M '17 as the 20th head coach in the history of the Cardinal men's basketball program. Kmiec is the first North Central alumnus to take charge of the team in more than a quarter-century.

Kmiec replaces outgoing head coach Anthony Figueroa, who has stepped down after one season to pursue a coaching position at the NCAA Division I level.

"I'm pleased to be able to place this responsibility in the hands of such a knowledgeable, determined and committed alumnus," Miller said. "Vince has elevated the men's basketball program's competitive level as a player and assistant coach, and we look forward to seeing him advance it even further as the head coach."

A four-year letter winner and three-year starter for the Cardinals from 2010-14, Kmiec played on teams that won a total of 79 games, including College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championships in 2010 and 2011, and CCIW Tournament titles in 2012 and 2013. Kmiec cemented North Central's place in its first national semifinal on March 22, 2013, scoring a game-high 31 points on 10 of 15 shooting in the Cardinals' 79-65 quarterfinal victory over Middlebury College (Vermont).

Kmiec graduated as the Cardinals' all-time leading free-throw shooter (.830) and continues to hold program records for steals in a single season (67, 2012-2013) and a career (179), while ranking fourth all-time in three-point shots made (167). He is the first North Central graduate to be named head coach of the program since the late Bill Warden '55, the program's all-time leading scorer and former record holder for coaching victories, who mentored the team from 1981-97.

"I am extremely grateful and excited to take the reins of the basketball program that has meant so much to me and my family over the past 13 years," Kmiec said. "We have built something great here and to now have the opportunity to expand on that foundation as the next head coach is a very special feeling."

Since Kmiec joined the North Central coaching staff prior to the 2015-2016 season, the Cardinals have posted a record of 138-66, including CCIW Tournament championships in 2017 and 2019, and a CCIW regular-season title in 2020. The Cardinals made five straight NCAA Division III Championship appearances from 2016-2020, hosting regional-round games in 2019 and 2020.

"Our core principles and attention to detail will continue to be a focus of this team as it was under past leadership," Kmiec continued. "We will always strive for excellence on the court and represent North Central College and the Naperville community in a positive light."

Kmiec will begin official duties in his new position May 8.

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