Madison's Davenport, Kalinowski earning local honors for years of service
(Story courtesy of Madison College Athletics)
A pair of Madison College coaches are being recognized for their years of service and success, as well as one former coach and one former student-athlete. WolfPack baseball coach Mike Davenport has been announced as part of an upcoming Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Assocation (WBCA) Hall of Fame Class of 2026, while former baseball coach and current head softball coach Leo Kalinowski was recently presented the Gus Burwell Distinguished Service Award by the Madison Dugout Club. Additionally, former Madison College women's basketball coach Steven Bentin and former men's basketball players Eric Nelson and Dana MacKenzie are among a group of 30 to be inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Assocation (WBCA) Hall of Fame.
Davenport has enjoyed a long and successful coaching career, amassing a 1,145-488 record after leading Kishwaukee College and Madison College over the past three decades. After amassing 339 wins and one NJCAA Division II National Championship with Kougars, Davenport made the move to Madison in 2005 and has taken the WolfPack to an impressive 14 NJCAA Division II World Series appearances, including a record seven straight coming into 2026. With the WolfPack, he boasts a 806-324 record en route to becoming the 43rd coach in junior college history to reach 1,000 for his career. Davenport will be inducted in to the WBCA Hall of Fame on February 14. (Madison College Press Release)
Kalinowski, who coached against Davenport for many years, led Madison College baseball to a three-peat of NJCAA Division III National Championships from 1995-97 and stacked up 414 wins and a .706 winning percentage over 12 years as the head coach. He later took over the softball program and has guided the WolfPack to 413 wins over 15 seasons, two of which resulted in appearances at the NJCAA Division III National Tournament. He has been part of the Madison College baseball and softball culture, as well as helped with much more in the surrounding area, for more than 30 years. He was presented the Gus Burwell Distinguished Service Award at the 44th Annual Madison Dugout Club Winter Banquet on January 26. (Madison College Press Release)
And the recent release of the WBCA (Basketball) Hall of Fame Class of 2026 included two connections to Madison College. Steve Bentin led the WolfPack to three straight NJCAA Division III National Tournament appearances as the head coach from 2003-06, finishing runners-up in 2004. He departed with a 78-16 record and an impressive .830 winning percentage, to go along with outstanding coaching stints at nearby Madison East and Madison West High Schools. Eric Nelson played for Madison College from 1985-87, and was a key member of the 1985-86 men's basketball team that remains the only one in school history to reach a NJCAA National Tournament. He remains the program's all-time assists leader. Nelson eventually went on to a successful coaching career at nearby Madison LaFollette and Monona Grove High Schools. Dana MacKenzie played for Madison College during the 1990-91 season and averaged 9.4 points per game prior to going on to a successful coaching career at Pecatonica and Waunakee High Schools. They will be inducted into the hall of fame on September 27. (Madison College Press Release)
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