Mike Waitkus came to Brown from New York City and was the glue that bound the Brown men’s basketball team together on its way to the 1986 Ivy League Basketball Championship.

According to Bears’ head coach Mike Cingiser, Waitkus was a "take charge guy" at point guard from the moment he arrived on the Brown campus, becoming Brown’s first ever Ivy League Rookie of the Year as a freshman.

A two-time Second Team All-Ivy selection (1983, 1986), Waitkus went on to set several Brown records throughout his career.  The Bears’ floor general, Waitkus established Brown records for assists in a season (144 in 1985-86), averaging 5.8 assists per game, and career (577), a mark approached in recent years, but not eclipsed.  

In addition he holds Bruno records for best free throw percentage in a season (.898 in 1982-82) and career (.861).

A member of the Brown Athletics Hall of Fame, Waitkus, a four-year letterwinner, scored 1,165 career points which ranked seventh in the Bears’ record book upon graduation and is currently 19^th all-time at Brown.

Waitkus handed out 13 assists against Harvard at Marvel Gym in 1985, a mark that ranks second in the Brown record book, while his 12 assists vs. New Hampshire in 1985 are fourth all-time at Brown. He led the Ivy League in assists as a senior with 7.8 per game in conference play.

Waitkus’ 54 steals in 1984-85 were second in Brown history and currently rank sixth, while his 187 career steals stood as a Brown record for 20 years.

Brown’s tri-captain of the 1986 Ivy Championship team, Waitkus shared the Fales Trophy in 1986 with teammate Jim Turner, given to the team member who, “contributed the most to the sport at Brown.” He also earned the Woody Grimshaw Award for positive attitude and team spirit in 1985.

Waitkus is currently a Senior Vice President for Allied World Assurance Inc. and resides in Deerfield, Illinois with his wife, Debby, and their daughter, Halle.