“Transformational Leader” Caleb Nykamp '12 Named Men’s Golf Head Coach

He will succeed the retiring Scott Lokers in the 2026-27 season

Caleb Nykamp '12 knows firsthand how enjoyable and transformational competitive golf can be for a young person. He looks forward to recruiting and inspiring the next generation of Hope College men's golfers.

Nykamp has been named the college's 13th men's golf head coach, Director of Athletics Tim Schoonveld announced. He will succeed the retiring Scott Lokers following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season this spring.

The two-time letter winner for the Flying Dutchmen will return to campus after spending the last nine years as the head boys golf coach at Holland Christian High School.

"We are excited to welcome Caleb back to Hope College as our men's golf coach. He is a transformational leader with a deep love for this institution and its mission. As an alum of the program, Caleb will build on the strong foundation and tradition of excellence established by Bob Ebels and Scott Lokers while continuing to advance the program. We know the impact he will have on the men in our program as he leads with integrity, drives competitive excellence and creates life-changing experiences for the men he leads."

Nykamp said he is thrilled to join the Hope College athletic community as the next men's golf coach.

"Hope College has always been a special place for me, from growing up and attending numerous sporting events from a very young age with my family to experiencing the transformative power of Hope College through academics, athletics, relationships with professors, developing lifelong friendships and spiritual formation opportunities in my four years as a student at Hope," Nykamp said. "I'm excited to be part of Hope College's mission and to help our student-athletes experience the same sense of purpose and community that meant so much to me. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Coach Ebels and Coach Lokers and look forward to building upon the strong tradition and championship standard of excellence they have set for Hope men's golf.

"We intend to continue to build upon that standard with success at the conference and national level, all while pursuing excellence in academics, community engagement, personal growth and development and the integration of our Christian faith into every arena of life."

Competitive Excellence

Nykamp has coached at Holland Christian since 2011, including the past nine years as boys varsity golf coach. He coached three individual Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state championship qualifiers and eight all-conference golfers.

He also served as the varsity girls' golf coach for one season (2015-16), leading the team to the MHSAA Division 3 State Finals. He also coached golf and basketball at the junior varsity and freshman levels.

Lokers is excited that Nykamp has been chosen to lead the Flying Dutchmen on the links.

"Caleb is a man of great integrity and great passion for all things Hope College," Lokers said. "Caleb has years of coaching experience, which will serve him well. This season, he has served as a volunteer mentor for our student-athletes. He is having an incredible impact, and I am looking forward to seeing Caleb's unique contributions to this team and school that I love."

Nykamp graduated from Western Theological Seminary in 2021 with a master of divinity degree and from Hope in 2012 with a bachelor of psychology degree. He and his wife, Rita, have two daughters, Renee and Keira.

As a minister, Nykamp currently serves as the pastor of youth and families at Hopkins Community Church in Allegan County, a role he's held for nearly five years. He previously worked as the youth pastor at Niekerk Christian Reformed Church in Holland for more than two years and high school ministries director at Christ Memorial Church in Holland for five years. He also served as an intern for the new chaplain of athletics in the Hope College campus ministries department during the 2019-20 academic year.

As a student-athlete, Nykamp lettered as a member of the men's golf team during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

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