Confession: I used to think NAIA basketball was just “glorified pickup games”—until I stumbled onto a YouTube highlight reel of Calvin Sirmans draining a game-tying three-pointer with 9 seconds left. Cue me frantically Googling “Keiser Seahawks” at 2 a.m.
Turns out, Keiser University’s basketball program isn’t just good—it’s stupid fun to watch. Imagine March Madness drama mixed with Florida sunshine, underdog grit, and coaches who could probably moonlight as TED Talk speakers. Let me break down why these Seahawks hijacked my sports fandom…
NAIA 101: Where Hustle Meets Opportunity
Think of NAIA as NCAA’s indie cousin—same heart-pounding plays, fewer TV timeouts, and scholarships that don’t play hard-to-get. While NCAA D1 schools hog the spotlight, NAIA teams like Keiser ball out with 34% of athletes snagging scholarships (translation: way more chances to get paid for your layup line). No, you won’t see Keiser on ESPN PrimeTime, but their National Championship games in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium? Pure Hoosiers vibes—no blue-blood privilege, just gym rats chasing glory. Fun fact: NAIA lets you balance sports and sleep—keep that GPA above 3.0 and you’re golden.
Pro Tip: Want to join the squad? Ditch the spammy “Plz recruit me” emails. Coaches here value relationships. Platforms like SportsRecruits act like LinkedIn for athletes—build your profile, slide into DMs professionally, and pray your crossover impresses Coach Bryant.
The Court Where Legends Coach(ed)
Home games happen at Massimino Court—yes, that Rollie Massimino. The guy who orchestrated Villanova’s iconic 1985 NCAA title upset? He coached here from 2006–2017, turning Keiser into a lab for basketball genius.
Today, Marcus “Chief” Bryant (men’s head coach) and Pam Oswald (women’s head coach) carry the torch. Chief isn’t just a nickname—it’s a vibe. The man won Sun Conference Coach of the Year in 2025 by turning comebacks into an art form (more on that later). Meanwhile, Oswald’s women’s squad once clawed through a playoff game shooting 27.8% from the field. That’s like winning a baking contest with half an egg.
Men’s Team: Comeback Kings & Double-Double Machines
Let’s set the scene: March 21, 2025. NAIA Round of 16. Keiser’s down 17 points with 9:17 left. Enter Calvin Sirmans (PG, #0), who drops 22 points like he’s playing NBA 2K on rookie mode. They lose by 4, but come on—tying the game with 1:50 left? That’s the stuff of locker room legends.
Meet the Squad:
- Vincent Miszkiewicz (Forward): Two-time NAIA All-American, human double-double machine, and Defensive Player of the Week. If basketball had Swiss Army knives, he’d be the limited-edition model.
- Cameron Stitt (Power Forward): Dropped 21 points in a playoff game. Also, his post-up moves are smoother than a Miami sunset.
- Tyreon Payne (Guard): Once nabbed six steals in a game. Six! That’s not defense—that’s grand larceny.
2025 Flexes:
✅ Sun Conference Regular Season Champs (First since 2015)
✅ Hosted NAIA Tourney Games (Program first!)
✅ Sent 3 players to All-Conference Teams
2025 wasn’t just a hot streak—it was a full-blown Seahawk takeover. These guys clinched their first Sun Conference Regular Season title since 2015, hosted NAIA Tourney games for the first time EVER, and sent three players to all-conference teams. Vincent Miszkiewicz? Oh, just a two-time NAIA All-American who collects double-doubles like Pokémon cards. And Coach Bryant bagging Sun Conference Coach of the Year? Dude turned comebacks into a science—like that time they erased a 17-point deficit in 9 minutes flat during the NAIA Round of 16.
Women’s Team: Gritty, Glorious, and Underrated
Ladies, let’s talk. The 2025 women’s squad had FOUR All-Conference players, including Elise Ellison—a forward who grabs rebounds like she’s collecting Infinity Stones. In a playoff loss to Ave Maria, Ellison dropped 10 points on a 27.8% shooting night. That’s like cooking a five-star meal with a microwave.
Standout Seahawks:
- Jasmyn Hale (Forward): Second-team honoree who fights for boards like it’s Black Friday at Target.
- Elliana Schaefer (Guard): Four-year vet with handles so tight, defenders need a GPS to track her.
- Mimmi Hahne (Guard): Sweden native who probably invented the term “clutch.”
Coach Oswald’s Magic: Despite losing in the Sun Conference quarterfinals, her team rallied to a 17-win season. How? Defense, baby. They held opponents to 61.2 PPG—basically basketball ASMR.
While the ladies got bounced in the Sun Conference quarterfinals, don’t sleep on their grind-it-out 17-win season. Four All-Conference players, including Elise Ellison (a walking rebound magnet) and Elliana Schaefer (dribble wizardry alert), anchored a defense that choked opponents to 61.2 PPG. Shooting 27.8% in a playoff loss and still keeping it tight? That’s not a typo—that’s defense so nasty it belongs in a Louvre exhibit.
Click here to learn more about the women’s Seahawks.
West Palm Beach: Campus Life > Snow Shovels
Quick Q&A:
“Why pick Keiser over, say, Duke?”
- Weather: Zero snow games. All practices come with a side of Vitamin D.
- Campus Vibe: Urban but chill. Think “study sessions in flip-flops.”
- Alumni Flex: Stanley Whittaker (pro baller) and Stefan Zečević (Serbian league MVP) started here.
Fun Fact: Keiser’s campus was Northwood University until 2015. The rebrand kept the Seahawks name but added Rollie Massimino’s coaching wizardry. Chancellor Arthur Keiser once called athletics “a major part of the college experience”—and boy, does it show.
Recruiting 101: How to Become a Seahawk
- Highlight Reel Rule: Show hustle, not just flash. Coaches crave players who dive for loose balls like they’re chasing a winning lottery ticket.
- Grades Matter: NAIA lets you balance sports and sleep. Keep that GPA above 3.0.
- Visit Wisely: Attend a game at Massimino Court. Soak in the palm-tree-dunking energy.
⚠️ Pro Tip: Follow Keiser on Hudl for behind-the-scenes drills. Coaches notice engaged recruits.
PSA: NAIA recruiting isn’t the Wild West. These coaches follow NAIA.org rules tighter than a pick-and-roll D. Want proof? Keiser’s roster reads like a UN summit—Swedish guards, Serbian MVPs, and Florida homegrowns. Pro tip: Use platforms like SportsRecruits (think LinkedIn for ballers) to slide into Coach Bryant’s DMs. No spammy ‘plz notice me’ emails—just cold, hard hustle tapes and a GPA that doesn’t suck.
Final Buzzer Thoughts
Keiser basketball isn’t about ESPN Top 10 plays (though they’ve had a few). It’s about NAIA All-Americans grinding in a gym named after a legend. It’s about point guards named Calvin Sirmans who wear #0 because egos are for losers.
So, to recruits: Polish that reel, DM Chief Bryant, and pack sunscreen.
To fans: Grab popcorn. These Seahawks don’t just play—they perform.
And if anyone still calls this “small-time ball,” just smile and nod. Underdogs love proving people wrong. 🏀
Mic drop.