Welcome to another episode of the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. My name is
Alan Babbitt, Sports Information Director here at Hope College, where we believe intercollegiate sport is a powerful vehicle for education and personal development. The mission of Hope Athletics is to promote and provide programs defined by academic success, competitive excellence, and transformational experiences. Conversations with members of the Orange and Blue family spotlight their experiences with the Hope Athletics mission. And this week is a special week across the country. It is NCAA Division III week, and we certainly have a lot to celebrate with Division III and the model it provides for Hope College Athletics. I have an esteemed guest with me, a junior, Nick Wever, member of the Hope College men's basketball coaching staff this season and a former junior varsity player as well for two years. Welcome to the Orange and Blue podcast, Nick. Thank you. It is certainly obviously a busy time. In April, we just finished the national championship game on the one side for Michigan. Flying Dutchman. Your team made a run to the NCAA tournament, winning another MIAA title. How would you describe what March Madness is like?
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Nick Wever [00:01:20]
That's a great question. I've been watching March Madness since the day I came out of the womb, and it's an awesome time for a basketball fan. Being able to experience it from the D3 side has been really interesting. It's obviously not to the scale of the Division I side, but for those who really love it, it was an absolute honor to go to La Crosse this year and kind of battle with them and feel the tournament vibe out as somebody that has loved the tournament for so long. It's such a cool experience, and it's obviously so fun to witness the madness everywhere, so it's good.
You talked, obviously you came out of the womb as a basketball fan. Was that something your family was big into hoops? How did the love of basketball really start and grow?
Nick Wever [00:02:07]
Yeah, I think my parents just got me into all sorts of sports when I was young, whether it be soccer, basketball, or golf. I dabbled in all three. And it was an easy way for me to make friends, which was a good thing, especially at a young age. And I think first it was soccer that was the big one for me that took over, and I played it for a long time, and I thought I was going to probably take off with that. And then middle school kind of rolled around and had some things come up, and I really just continued with basketball and fell in love with it.
What is it about the game that makes for a good teacher? How does it help you grow as a young man as you went through high school? Where did you grow up?
Nick Wever [00:02:59]
Yeah, I'm from Marysville, Ohio, just a small suburb outside of Columbus. And I'd say basketball has been so beneficial for me because I've been able to work on many different teams and lead a bunch of different teams. And I think the best part about it is that it's not always easy. I think it comes with a lot of challenges, but those challenges bring and reap better rewards in the long run. And I think I've been able to see that. For a couple years in high school, I was a part of the varsity team, and I was the captain on that team. And we really struggled—we weren't the greatest team. I wasn't a great leader, to be quite honest. And I think it's been a complete 180 since I've come here, being able to experience all aspects of the program, from being on the JV team for a couple of years, leading them, and to now being a part of the coaching staff with a varsity team and being able to win a championship. It kind of shows how all the hard work and a lot of seasons stacked up on top of each other can really pay off.
Obviously, you made the transition from playing to coaching. It was probably tough to give up the game as a player, but then to find a way to another outlet for basketball. What has that meant to you to be able to continue to be in the game and right in the middle of all the action?
Nick Wever [00:04:20]
Yeah, absolutely. It wasn't the easiest this past fall to have to hang it up, but it's been a great year. I've been very pleasantly surprised at how much I've enjoyed diving into more of the coaching aspects. Being a part of the varsity team has been great. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy to watch practice every day from the sidelines and not be able to dive in. But I think during games my presence is felt, and I think I'm much more of an impact than I would have been if I would have been towards the end of the bench, if that makes sense, and have a bit of a bigger voice, which I've appreciated.
With coaching, is that something you thought about that you would be doing as a career or being involved in some way, or is that something that's developed?
Nick Wever [00:05:07]
Yeah, I was actually texting former student assistant Jaleel Williams last night, and I was just talking to him. I can't not see coaching in the future for me. I think it almost was a little bit of a blessing in disguise last fall to have to hang it up and throw myself in the fire, coach, and learn how to navigate personalities and all this different stuff and see the behind-the-scenes stuff with the big coaches.
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What have you learned that maybe you didn't know about coaching that goes into it? When you're coming from a player, obviously you get scouting reports, you get worked on skill drills, and those different things, but coming from it from this angle, what have you learned about the game and what goes into preparing student-athletes to be at their best on the court?
Nick Wever [00:05:53]
Absolutely. I think just being able to be around three such knowledgeable guys in Kling, KG, and Mitch, there's so much work that goes into our season and winning championships. You have to juggle a lot of personalities. You have to relentlessly watch film, figure out what lineups work best here. It's a very quick-moving thing, especially when game time rolls around, and I think those three rely on each other a lot, and they do a great job, especially with Bond's and my help. It's fun, but it's strenuous, and I don't think people understand that all the time. They just want to look at the record and not all the behind the scenes.
Well, this team and this program under their leadership has shown remarkable resiliency. This year it went down to the final week to win the regular season, but there's a knack for winning MIAA tournament titles. What have you seen as far as how they have been able to work to have this team playing at a really high level when it matters most at the end of the season, when you get into one-and-done moments?
Nick Wever [00:07:00]
Yeah, absolutely. Mitch talks about it all the time: we just have to be playing our best basketball during that conference tournament week, knowing that the last couple of seasons we've had to win and get in. And I think the players understand that. And that's a good reciprocal relationship there on understanding what to do and what's at stake. And I think everybody rises to the occasion at Hope. I think that's just a thing with our teams. You've seen it over the past couple of years; it's go time when the tournament rolls around, and they understand that. And that's a large part to the coaches.
And then I imagine there's a trust that has to be built. That's not something you can necessarily just say, "Okay, yep. We're going to do it." Talk about what you've seen as far as relationship building within the team structure, within coaching, and with other things that I know extend beyond the court that help build that trust when you really need to rely on each other, come March Madness and tournament time.
Nick Wever [00:07:59]
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I just, I love the guys. We all gel for the most part. We're a great team. That's probably the biggest thing that's separated the teams I've been on here at Hope from maybe teams in the past is just the sense of wanting to show up to practice and see other guys' faces and know that, you know, we're in for a long grind today on a Wednesday in February, but there's nobody I'd rather be on this grind with than you guys. And I think it's part of the Hope community as a whole that helps with that and just the type of kids that we recruit and come to Hope, but I think the team specifically has just jelled through that naturally.
We're obviously sitting here in the classroom outside DeVos Field House. That place comes alive when you guys play and the women's team plays as well. From your perspective on the bench, how would you describe what it's like when we get a close game and you feel the energy come from the crowd?
Nick Wever [00:08:55] I
mean, it's an absolute blessing. I was in here 30 minutes ago just shooting around, and you kind of take it for granted sometimes when you walk up to the H club to do film or you're walking around the concourse and you're stunned that this is a D3 facility. I mean, we are the luckiest team in Division 3 to be able to experience this place, to practice here. It's awesome. And like you said, when the crowd comes out and those couple of Calvin games really start to fire up, it gets loud, and there's nothing like it. That's why you come here, and it's awesome.
Now, did you know about the rivalry? I mean, obviously, a guy from Columbus, Ohio, coming to Michigan—probably the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is first and foremost—but how did you learn about Hope College?
Nick Wever [00:09:45]
Yeah, that's a great question. My uncle is actually the head of admissions here, May Haven.
Okay, gotcha.
Nick Wever [00:09:52]
He connected to me, and then I've had a lot of extended family come here. Both my parents went to Michigan State, but everybody else on my mom's side came to Hope, and I'd obviously had the in with Nate. Then
Kevin Wolma came down and recruited me a little bit, and we had dinner and stuff, which was great. Once I found out about Hope, probably freshman, sophomore year of high school, I started to dig into it a little, like a basketball junkie like myself would. I found out like, "Oh, this is really that serious. This is pretty sweet." And I think from then on, it was always an intriguing place for me to be.
Where did it go from research, knowing some people, and having an idea what it's like, to that decision? "Yep, this is the place for me," because that's a challenge when you're a high school junior and senior. "Okay, where do I want to invest in my next four years?" What for you made that decision where, "Yep, I need to come to Hope?"
Nick Wever [00:10:49]
Yeah, I think it was two things. I think it was one, obviously when you visit, you just know it's the place for you. And then I'll never forget
Kevin Wolma driving from Hudsonville to my house on a Friday to sit down and eat dinner with my family and me and bringing up Bowerman's Pie, stuff like that. It's just like, where else am I going to get that? I know I'm not going to go get that in a 150-person lecture hall at Michigan State where I thought I may have wanted to go. And I'm not sure any other college around here, Division III, is even remotely going to those lengths to do that for somebody. And I thought that was such a powerful gesture. And from then on, I think those two things say it pretty well.
Yeah, for anyone listening, if you haven't had a Bowerman's Pie yet, put it on your to-do list.
Nick Wever [00:11:41]
Absolutely.
To-do list. And it seems like that was a foreshadowing of the investment in people, and that seems it's something that I've watched and experienced, whether it's from the coaches or administration or other staff on campus or professors, that they're really pouring into you. How did you see that as you started to come here and see that it's not just a
Kevin Wolma or a
Greg Mitchell—that it's the whole campus that's there to really invest in you?
Nick Wever [00:12:10]
Yeah, I think that probably starts from the top with the leadership. I think President Scogin is 1A of how to lead powerfully and with Hope. And I think that's just kind of boiled down through the athletics department, all these other different types of people that play such a big role, the admissions office, even regular workers, physical plant. It's just everybody, it's just a different vibe, and people want to be here. They want to show up to work, they want to pour into others, and that starts from President Scogin, I'd say, and all the unbelievable resources we have around us.
I haven't asked what are you studying?
Nick Wever [00:12:57]
Oh yeah, I'm a business major with a leadership minor. And I've been really enjoying it. Leadership minor's great. I've been able to take some good classes that have bumped me out of my shell a little bit. And the business major is something I feel is pretty versatile. I'm not quite sure what I want to do yet. Obviously, I hope some coaching's in my future, but I think the business side of the world is pretty versatile, and connections are important to me, and I think that's a good way to start to step into that over the next couple of years.
I know an exciting time for the business office. Now, you will graduate by the time it's completed. But the investment—and I know the people there as well—what have you experienced from the business department that's kind of helped prepare you here and when you graduate a year from now or so?
Nick Wever [00:13:44]
Yeah, that's a good point. I think I've had a lot of professors that have been there in the business world, which I think is important for somebody my age. It's not really just a professor spitting back information at you. It's more of a professor saying, "Hey, this happened to me when I was doing this at X company 20, 30 years ago. And I can tell you about this experience because I've lived it." For example, my marketing professor, Professor Rehban has been everywhere in the world doing everything. And it's so fun to listen to him talk in class just about different stories and ways he's had to navigate situations in the business world that actually are applicable and I could run into in the future.
Is that something you knew when you came here, that business was an area that you wanted to start exploring right away, or is that something that you found here during your early, maybe first or second semester?
Nick Wever [00:14:39]
Yeah, I thought about, you know, possibly going down the education pathway. And I think I was thrown into an ED 200 course my freshman year, fall semester. And I was shadowing at Pine Creek Elementary, third grade. And I'm like, "Whoa, this is probably not for me." And then I think business had always been in the back of my mind, and it's been fairly versatile, like I've said before. It's easy to go down that pathway and open up some different connections when you may not really know quite what you want to pinpoint your life on yet. So I think that was kind of why I leaned that way.
Are your parents in the business world or do they have totally different careers?
Nick Wever [00:15:29]
My dad jokes often. He's a mechanical engineer in Columbus, but he jokes often that if he could do it over again he'd probably be a business major and do something along those lines. So we joke about that a lot, but my mom is a teacher, and she's been teaching for a while now, and she enjoys that, fifth and sixth grade. So it's good.
I should shout out your mom and dad's names. We should give them credit.
Nick Wever [00:15:52]
Give them some credit. Rebecca and Ben Wever. Yeah, they're great.
Alan Babbitt [00:15:56] Did they meet at Michigan State?
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Nick Wever [00:15:57]
They did. And funny enough, they met in the dish room doing dishes as a job on the weeknight.
That is awesome, and that kind of leads me to the next question. Sometimes you just never know what the right place is going to open for you. Obviously for them Michigan State was the right place, and then they met each other and have gone on, raised a family. I know Hope tries to get those different experiences too. Just talk about some of the other things that you've been experiencing outside of basketball and outside of the classroom that have helped you grow here as a student at Hope.
Nick Wever [00:16:32]
Yeah, I'd say the SEED-trip is, it changed my life. That trip is awesome. It's just a way to go interact, meet new people outside maybe your sport bubble, if you will. And I've been able to gain a ton of different friends from that trip, be affected by God's love in so many different ways, and just be able to support. I went to the Dominican Republic, and I was able to fill water filters, paint houses, and do all that sort of stuff for them. And what I realized at the end—and what a lot of us had realized—is you actually get more out of it for yourself than you thought you would. And it's a blessing to be able to do that and just be able to experience that because there's nowhere else in the nation. And you can go on a trip for that cheap and be impacted as much as I've been in my entire life, to be quite honest.
And I forgot, where did your C-trip go? Yes, Dominican Republic.
Nick Wever [00:17:41]
Yeah.
Had you ever traveled outside the United States at all?
Nick Wever [00:17:45]
Yeah, honestly, I've been very lucky to have traveled to quite a few places. I've gone to Costa Rica and Europe, but I had never been to the Dominican Republic, and it was eye-opening for sure. It puts life into perspective a lot. I went back feeling very blessed and still feel very blessed. Just to know that you've got to put your life in perspective a lot, and I think that trip in particular has really helped me shift my worldview.
I would say another thing, and talking to different people that have experienced C-Trips like that, the giving nature of the people that you're coming there to serve and welcoming everyone is just something that's left an impact on that. Talk about that and kind of, you know, you're there to serve, but they're there pouring into you almost.
Nick Wever [00:18:36]
Absolutely. So we spent a couple days, and they're called the bates, which is a rougher area of the Dominican Republic. They are not well off at all. They struggle. So we're driving on the bus after a five-hour drive. It's exhausting. And then you roll up, and within seconds, there's kids banging on the buses, smiling bigger than any I've seen in my entire life, ready to play. And you know that they don't really know where their next meal may be coming from, but they have a bigger smile on their face than you've ever had. And I just think, boom, perspective right there.
And then sport as a communicator across cultures, across languages, across ages. What did you learn about how sport can bring people together?
Nick Wever [00:19:27]
Yeah, well, I guess I'll just continue down what I was saying before, but after we had gotten off the bus, it took 10 minutes for a game of soccer to be started in the back of the church. And from then on, you look up and you realize you've been playing for two hours and you're exhausted, and it's time for dinner. And I think sports just does that. And it's one of the main things, I think, why I love the C-trip so much, is being able to impact through sports.
Obviously, you're finishing up this semester, and then you've got a year to go. Has it sunk in that you have one year at Hope left, and kind of what does a senior year look like as you prepare to graduate and go out into the world?
Nick Wever [00:20:11]
Yeah, I think it always starts to hit a little bit every year after you come back from spring break. I think I felt it a little after my freshman year. Maybe not as much last year. And then this year, it's like, "Wow, four years are flying in front of my eyes," but it's a good sign. As far as senior year goes, I would just say I'm pretty ahead class-wise, so I'm not too worried about that. But looking for some GA jobs maybe to go coach and go to grad school is definitely an intrigue of mine, or just, you know, continuing to look for jobs, pour into others, and go win more championships is what I'd say is on my docket.
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You brought up Jaleel, and I know there are other student coaches that have gone on. I think of Carter Collins, the head coach down at Anderson, and others. There's a large Hope coaching tree. What kind of inspiration did that give, seeing people—you talked about in the business side of things—seeing people that have actually done it and then seeing people that you have that connection and know that can go out and be successful and have successful coaching careers?
Nick Wever [00:21:22] Yeah, it just goes back to the impact Hope has on so many people and willing to push the limits. I talked about Jaleel, and I didn't even know Carter Collins was a graduate assistant here until a couple of years ago, when he said, "Oh yeah, he was here for under Mitch for a couple," and I'm like, "Wow, you know?" There are a lot of people that have done a lot of big-time things, and I think that Hope logo is a big reason why. But yeah, guys like that are pretty impactful.
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And obviously, now you're a junior. You were in that deciding mode. What advice would you give someone that's looking to Hope, coming to Hope—maybe a freshman this year? What do they need to do? So many choices, so many people, but a lot of cool things. What advice could you give, knowing what you know now, maybe even to yourself, to say, "Okay, how do I get the most out of my time here?"
Nick Wever [00:22:20]
Yeah, I would say to start—and even I think I can do a better job of this, even now—is build your circle, grow, step out of your comfort zone, meet new people. You don't understand until you're talking to somebody random in your class, and then a couple weeks from now they're one of your best friends for four years. Just pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, which isn't always easy, and taking advantage of all the resources here. Look around, I mean, we have the best facilities if you're an athlete. We have some of the best professors anywhere, and they want to be here. And I think that says a lot about Hope. And just being able to understand that you're in a place where people want you to succeed. It's all about whether or not you just want to put yourself out there and do what it takes. And it doesn't take a lot to get started.
Well, this time has flown by as well, Nick. I appreciate you talking with me on the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue podcast. And I'm already looking forward to next basketball season with the Flying Dutchman. So thanks for joining us today, Nick.
Nick Wever [00:23:33]
Absolutely. Thank you, Alan.
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