NFF National Scholar-Athletes
OL - 3.90 GPA – Biomedical Sciences
Head Coach: Tim Lester | Athletics Director: Kathy Beauregard
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Luchara Wallace
With plans to attend medical school, Mike Caliendo has already earned his degree while starting 55 consecutive games on Western Michigan's offensive line. The Brookfield, Wisconsin, native becomes the Broncos' fourth NFF National Scholar-Athlete, and their third since 2016.
A 2020 First Team Academic All-American, Caliendo graduated in 2019 with a 3.90 GPA in biomedical sciences. The 2019 First Team Academic All-District selection will be applying to medical school, and he currently boasts a 3.88 GPA in his pursuit of a master's in biological sciences. He is a four-time Academic All-MAC honoree, a four-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and a six-time Dean's List member.
This season, the team captain has started all 12 games for the Broncos at center after spending the previous four years at guard. Behind Caliendo's blocking, the 7-5 Broncos offense finished the regular season second in the MAC with 463.8 yards of total offense per game, third with 202.6 rushing yards per game and fourth with 261.3 passing yards per game. The Broncos now await their bowl destination.
A 2020 First Team All-MAC selection, Caliendo did not allow a sack or quarterback hit the entire season while helping WMU rank among the top 10 nationally with 41.7 points per game. A Second Team All-MAC honoree in 2019, he anchored an offense that was second in the MAC in total yards per game (445.7) and third in points per game (33.1). The 2019 Broncos were the only team in the conference with more than 2,600 rushing yards and 3,000 passing yards. Caliendo guided the team to consecutive bowl appearances in the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and the 2019 First Responder Bowl.
While preparing for his future medical career, Caliendo spent 20 hours job shadowing at the Kalamazoo Surgery Center. A member of the WMU Football Leadership Council, he has volunteered with the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, the Kalamazoo YMCA and Habitat for Humanity. The 2021 Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist has also worked with special education students in area schools, and has been part of the Ministry with Community program since 2017, which supports disadvantaged members of the community.
