Cleveland is leaving Alma to coach MMC women’s team
JT Cleveland has been a basketball mainstay in mid-michigan for decades.
The 1992 Alma High School graduate played four years of basketball in the prep ranks and was a standout in his own right. From there he played four years of hoops at Alma College, playing primarily as a guard for the Scots.
After college he immediately jumped into the prep coaching ranks in the late 1990s, taking over the Farwell boys program for a couple of years before becoming an assistant coach at Alma College.
Cleveland eventually landed the head-coaching gig at Alma High School in the early 2000s and since then he’s led the Panthers to tons of success, including numerous conference and district titles and 20-win seasons. All in all Cleveland has done a wonderful job coaching basketball.
Earlier this summer. though. Cleveland decided to make a change, as he stepped down after 21 years at Alma High School to become the new women’s basketball head coach at Mid Michigan College. He replaces Matt Rodenbo, who retired after leading the Lakers
to much success over the past seven years. Rodenbo is also an Alma grad. “First of all, I loved my teams at Alma High School. Outside of my family that has been my passion,” said Cleveland, who has compiled over 300 wins during his coaching career.
“I felt like it was time for a new chapter and I’m really excited.” Longtime junior varsity head coach Chris Brown will replace Cleveland as the varsity boys coach at Alma High School.
Cleveland said he plans on retiring from teaching in the not-so-distant future, yet wants to continue coaching full-time into the foreseeable future. He will still coach golf at Alma High School too. As for the Lakers they went 6-5 under Rodenbo in 202021.
However, during his seven-year run as head coach the Lakers advanced to the national tournament twice and finished fifth nationally in 2015-16.
For Cleveland coaching at the college level brings a new challenge, one he’s looking forward to.
“We have some really nice players coming back and have signed four new players,” said Cleveland. “We’re going to work hard and hopefully it pays off.” The Lakers open play this October.