Charlie Wallrapp was hired as the head men's basketball coach in August of 2023. He is the 12th head coach in program history.
The 2024–25 season was a historic one for Malone basketball, as the team captured the G-MAC Tournament Championship and made just its second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, marking the fifth overall national tournament postseason berth in 66 years. The Pioneers set a program record for the most road wins in their Division II history as well. They finished as a Division II Statistical Champion, ranking first in the nation in fewest turnovers per game, averaging just 8.6, and placed 33rd nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 68.4 points per contest. On February 11, Malone defeated Walsh 69-55 to win the Mayor’s Cup for the second consecutive year. Individually, Simon Blair had a standout season, earning 1st Team All-GMAC, G-MAC Tournament MVP, 2nd Team All-Midwest District honors, and a spot in the Division II All-Star Game after finishing in the top three in the conference in both scoring and assists. Tre Baumgardner and Ryan Bartley were also named to the G-MAC All-Tournament Team.
In the 2023-24 season, the Pioneers finished 15-13, despite returning only 17% of their scoring and four total players. The 15 wins is the most wins by a first-year head coach in the Division II history of Malone and the most since 1983-84. They also had the best start to a season in the Division II history of Malone (5-0). Malone was one of the best defensive teams in the country as they finished the season ranked 27th in the nation in scoring defense (allowing 67.5 points per game) and 37th in the nation in FG% defense (41.9%). They also took care of the ball well as they finished 13th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (9.5) and 37th in the nation in assist to turnover ratio (1.35). On February 17, Malone defeated Walsh 67-57 to win the Mayor’s Cup. Simon Blair was also named 1st Team All-GMAC.
Wallrapp, a 2020 NABC Under Armour 30-Under-30 Recipient, came to Malone from Northern Michigan University. He worked as an assistant coach for the Wildcats beginning in 2020, and was promoted to the role of Associate Head Coach in July of 2023.
In 2022, Wallrapp helped lead NMU to its first GLIAC Championship in 23 years. The Wildcats secured an NCAA tournament win against Hillsdale, as well as posting the most wins in program history with a 25-8 record.
The 2021-22 season saw NMU win nine of their last ten games to reach the GLIAC Championship game for the first time since 2000. Wallrapp aided in coaching the Wildcats to the most three-pointers in program history (292) as well as tying the record for most threes in a game (18 vs. UW-Stout).
The Wildcats went 8-8 during the 2020-21 season, which featured a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had two All-GLIAC Second Team members and had the fewest turnovers of any team in the GLIAC.
Prior to joining the staff at Northern Michigan, Wallrapp served as an assistant coach at NAIA Clarke University for two seasons.
In the 2019-2020 season, he aided the team to a school-record 24 wins and a berth in the National Tournament for the first time in program history after reaching their first ever Heart Conference Championship game. The team also achieved their first ever national ranking in school history, finishing #22 in the country, and the program’s first ever win over a top 5 team. In his first year with the Pride, his efforts guided the team to three victories over top-15 teams as they improved from tenth to fourth in the league. In addition, he coached two All- Americans and seven All-Conference players at Clarke.
Prior to Clarke, Wallrapp served as an assistant coach at Kansas Wesleyan University for two seasons.
Playing a large role in the team's defensive strategy, Wallrapp's efforts helped the team finish 14th nationally and second in the conference for scoring defense, and also helped student-athlete Terell Gandy earn KCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. During his first season, the team nearly doubled their win total from the previous season, going from seven wins to 13 wins before a 16-win season in his second year with the Coyotes. He coached three All-Conference players and one All-Freshman Team member as well.
Before his collegiate coaching career began, he was an assistant coach for West Oaks Academy where he coached over 30 future college players, several of whom went on to compete at the NCAA Division I level.
Wallrapp was a two-time All-American and a two-time Team Captain for Benedictine College in Kansas. A three-time All-Conference player, he finished his career 11th all-time with 1,443 career points. His efforts helped the program to a Heart Conference Championship in 2013-14 and a National Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. He was also named an NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete and the Heart Conference Liston Award Representative.
He then went on to play for the Newcastle Knights in England and averaged 22 points per game while leading the squad to a 40-3 record and numerous championships.
Wallrapp completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Benedictine in 2014, a Postgraduate Certificate in Writing from Newcastle University in 2016, and earned a Masters of Business Administration from Kansas Wesleyan in 2018.
