Ferris State University men's basketball will hit the hardwood this week in an exhibition against Calvin University to start a new era under the leadership of head coach Brooks Miller.

The tilt is set for Thursday, Oct. 22 with tipoff at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free for all attendees.

A two-time National Coach of the Year, Miller was hired as the 15th head coach in Bulldog men's basketball history. He brings championship experience to the program after leading Trine University to the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship, and more recently served at the NCAA DI level as the associate head coach at Central Michigan.

Thursday’s contest includes a special meeting for Miller that features two legendary Ferris State coaches: Ed Douma and Bill Sall.

Douma will be honored before the start of Thursday’s contest, as his successful career that spanned 34 years included serving as an assistant coach for Ferris State under Sall’s leadership from 2009-13 before retiring.

Before joining the Bulldogs, Douma served with multiple institutions - including Central Michigan University - while leading Calvin to the 1992 NCAA DIII National Championship to go along with multiple conference regular season and postseason titles. Douma was also inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame.

Miller emphasized what will be a special moment between the trio this week, as he noted that Douma gave him his first opportunity to coach at the collegiate level.

"Coach Douma opened doors for me that no one else could and challenged me in a way that forced me to find something in myself that I did not know I had," Miller said. "He provided opportunities for many of us that never would have been possible without his guidance.”

Sall was the Bulldogs’ head coach from 2002-13 and now enters his eighth season as the head coach for the Calvin Knights. He claimed four Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships and made three trips to the NCAA DII Tournament while coaching for Ferris State.

The relationship between the three coaches goes deeper, as Miller was coached by Douma and Sall during his collegiate playing career at Hillsdale College.

“My family and I will be forever grateful for the impact both coach (Douma) and Carolyn have had in our lives, and I will work tirelessly to share many of the lessons he taught me to those I am fortunate enough to coach,” Miller said.

Ferris State will look to return to its winning ways under the leadership of Miller as the Bulldogs will have four straight regular-season matchups to open the season between Nov. 4 and 14. Their first GLIAC contest is slated for Dec. 3 against Saginaw Valley State at home.

_{Release and photos courtesy of Ferris State University & Athletics.}