Now in his fifth full season as the head coach at Butler Community College, Mike Bargen has returned the once-proud program to its former glory, leading the Grizzlies to a 70-30 record over the past three seasons.

The 2010-11 Grizzlies won 17 games, including two wins over archrival Hutchinson, including an 81-80 victory at home when Hutchinson was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation. Josh Gibbs who would later transfer to Sam Houston State, was first-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection. Andre Ingram was named honorable mention all-conference and signed with the University of Minnesota, giving the Grizzlies two former players in the BIG 10 Conference.

In 2010, Bargen's Grizzlies put the finishing touches on a season in which they won 29 games, won the Jayhawk West Conference championship for the first time since 2001 and won the Region VI championship for the first time since 1996, qualifying for the NJCAA National Tournament for the fourth time in school history.

The team tied the school record for most conference wins in a season (13) and went 15-1 in home games for the second straight year, once again proving the Power Plant to be an intimidating venue for visiting opponents. The Grizzlies also got big road wins at No. 2 Iowa Western and at Coffeyville. Butler broke into the national rankings for the first time in nine years, and stayed there throughout the season, finishing the year at No. 15.

Individually, sophomore Caleb Walker earned every honor available, being named first-team All-American and Region VI and Jayhawk West Conference Player of the Year. Walker and Anthony Cousin were both named first-team All-Jayhawk West Conference. For his role in orchestrating Butler’s success, Bargen was named Jayhawk West Conference Coach of the Year.

Four Grizzlies signed with Division I programs after the season: Walker with Nebraska, Cousin with Illinois State, Dushawn Brooks with Youngstown State and Troy Pierce with Charleston Southern.

Butler’s return to prominence started the year before, when Bargen led the 2008-2009 team to a 24-9 record. Butler had its most conference wins (11) since 2001 and reached the Region VI semifinals for the first time since 1998. It was also one of the biggest turn arounds in the country going from 9-21 in 2007-2008 and improving 15 games.

The Grizzlies defended their home court, going 8-0 in the non-conference and finished the year 15-1 at the Power Plant. Not only did they win a lot at home, but they won in decisive fashion and averaged a 12 point margin of victory. Big non-conference wins against Coffeyville and Iowa Western headlined the first semester, and was the first time the Grizzlies had beaten either powerhouse in over a decade. An 86-60 route of rival Hutch and an 86-70 win against Conference Champion Barton were high points in the Conference Season.

From that team, forward Luke Engelken signed for a Division I scholarship at Gardner-Webb.

Before becoming Butler’s head coach, Bargen spent three years as the assistant coach for the Grizzlies, where they posted a 50-44 record, and twice made it to the second round of the Region VI Tournament. In his second season, they finished fourth in the  Jayhawk West, winning 20 games, and getting a home play-off game for the first time in five years.

Mike has played a significant role in the development of the Grizzlies, specifically three standouts. In addition to Caleb Walker, Corey Bailey was an NJCAA All-American, First Team All-Region VI, and First Team All-Conference in his sophomore year at Butler. Bailey went on to receive a scholarship to UNLV, where he played in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2007 NCAA Tournament and made it to the 2nd Round in 2008. Ajay Calvin was a First Team All-Region VI and First Team All-Conference selection in 2005 for the Grizzlies and went on to star at Drake University. Ajay lead the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring for most of his senior season, finishing ranked third in scoring and ninth in rebounding.

Prior to Butler Community College, Mike spent three seasons as the graduate manager for Dana Altman at Creighton University. Bargen assisted the men’s basketball staff, while finishing his Master’s in Business Administration. In 2001-2002, the Bluejays won the Missouri Valley Regular Season and Tournament titles and went on to beat the University of Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In his three seasons at Creighton, the Bluejays compiled a 72-23 record, won one MVC regular-season title, two MVC Tournament titles, advanced to a pair of NCAA Tournaments, and one NIT. Bargen also had the chance to work with All-Conference players Nate Funk, Anthony Tolliver, and Kyle Korver of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Bargen played four seasons at Marquette University from 1995 to 1999 where he was a two year starter and the team captain his senior season. He led the team in rebounds and blocks that year, was second in scoring, and was named the most valuable player.

In 2000-2001 he played professionally in Iceland for Club Haukar. He averaged 22.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in the Nordic League while helping his team to a 5th place finish.

Bargen is no stranger to the area, as he grew up in Hutchinson where his father Gary, served as the head coach for Hutchinson Community College from 1978 to 1986. The elder Bargen won six Jayhawk West Conference Titles and two Region VI Championships, finishing 3rd in the 1986 National Tournament. Mike is married to the former Kacy Siemsen, and the couple resides in Andover with their four-year-old son, John and two-year-old daughter, Olivia and newborn son, Maddox.