MIU Athletics is proud to announce the hiring of Romel Bryant as the new head coach of the men’s basketball program, marking the beginning of an exciting new era for Pioneer basketball.

Coach Bryant joins MIU with a reputation as one of the most dynamic and transformational leaders in the game, bringing championship success and historic program turnarounds across the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. His appointment marks a significant step forward for MIU Athletics as the university continues to strengthen its competitive presence and invest in long-term program growth.

Coach Bryant is enthusiastic about the opportunity he sees at MIU.

“MIU offers the ideal environment to rapidly build a disciplined, competitive basketball program aligned with its mission of whole-person development,” he said.

“MIU offers the ideal environment to rapidly build a disciplined, competitive basketball program aligned with its mission of whole-person development.”

— Romel Bryant

“I’m also very excited about MIU’s Consciousness-Based approach, because it aligns perfectly with my vision of developing high-character athletes who are focused, resilient, and intentional in everything they do,” Bryant said. “By strengthening the mind alongside physical training, we’re creating players who perform at a higher level and carry those habits into life well beyond basketball.”

Most recently, Bryant led John Melvin University through the most successful season in school history during the 2024–2025 campaign. Under his leadership, the program captured its first conference win ever, achieved the highest winning percentage in school history, and rose to a No. 2 national power ranking, peaking at No. 4 nationally. The season was highlighted by a NSAC Tip-Off Classic Championship and produced more wins in one year than all previous head coaches combined.

At Olive-Harvey College, he helped guide the program to an undefeated conference season, a conference championship, and a regional championship appearance. At the professional level, he led the Chicago Ballers to a PBL Divisional Championship in 2022, further demonstrating his ability to succeed at the highest levels of competition.

Recognized for excellence on and off the court, Coach Bryant was named Illinois Basketball Coaching Association Coach of the Year in 2021, an honor reflecting both his competitive success and his impact on player development.

At the high school level, Bryant is widely known as a program-builder and culture-changer. He holds the all-time wins and winning percentage records at Epic Academy, and engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Chicago basketball history at Horizon Science Academy, transforming a winless program into Conference Champions within two seasons, while also capturing a City Championship. His resume also includes multiple regional, sectional, and super-sectional titles at Seton Academy, culminating in a state finals appearance.

A relentless developer of talent, Bryant has coached two All-Americans, five All-Regional athletes, and multiple players who have gone on to play professional basketball worldwide. His coaching philosophy centers on accountability, toughness, and preparing student-athletes for success far beyond the game.

With Coach Bryant, MIU men’s basketball is focused on building a strong foundation, recruiting student-athletes who align with the university’s values, and establishing a competitive identity moving forward.

We’ll share more announcements regarding recruiting, camps, and program updates in the coming months.

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Maria Eduarda Rodrigues da Silva is the Sports Editor for MIU News and the Sports Information and Creative Director for the MIU Athletics Department.