Michael Cheaney guided the Voorhees Tigers through one of the most successful stretches in program history, leading the team to 72 victories, an Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Tournament Championship, and a berth in the NAIA National Tournament during his four-year tenure.
Cheaney made an immediate impact in his first season (2010–2011), directing Voorhees University to 16 wins — nearly tripling the program’s total from the previous year. The 2011–2012 season marked another significant step forward, as the Tigers compiled a 22–9 overall record and earned the program’s first national ranking in more than a decade.
In his third season (2012–2013), Voorhees continued its upward trajectory, posting a 23–12 record and capturing the A.I.I. Conference Tournament Championship, which secured a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. The Tigers’ sustained success continued in 2013–2014, highlighted by key victories including two wins over Brewton-Parker (Southern States Athletic Conference) and a signature 89–84 victory over Talladega College, which finished No. 11 in the final NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
Before entering the coaching profession, Cheaney was a standout student-athlete at Kentucky Wesleyan University. During his playing career, he earned the Senior Award as the Panthers’ outstanding athlete, set the school record for field goal percentage, and was recognized as the team’s Most Improved Player.
Over the course of his coaching career, Cheaney has accumulated experience at multiple collegiate institutions, including DePauw University, Wheeling Jesuit University, Wilberforce University, the University of Central Arkansas, Livingstone College, and an extended tenure with the Warhawks program in addition to his four seasons at Voorhees.
Cheaney’s leadership at Voorhees helped restore national relevance to the Tigers program and laid a competitive foundation that elevated the team on both the conference and national stage.
