Hope College basketball thrived under the leadership of Glenn Van Wieren who over a 33-year coaching career developed one of the nation's most highly respected NCAA Division III programs. Coach Van Wieren retired at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season.
A product of the Hope basketball program himself, Van Wieren guided the Flying Dutchmen to a record 17 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championships and appearances in 21 NCAA Division III post-season tournaments. The Flying Dutchmen advanced to the Sweet Sixteen six times, to the Elite Eight four times and the Final Four three times. Hope finished second in the nation twice (1996 and 1998) and was third in 2008.
In his final season (2009-10), Flying Dutchmen posted a school-record 31st consecutive winning campaign.
On January 12, 2008, Van Wieren became just the sixth coach in NCAA Division III men's basketball history to achieve 600 victories. He reached 600 victories faster than any other Division III coach (801st game) in history. The previous mark was by Glenn Robinson of Franklin & Marshall who won number 600 in his 821st game. Van Wieren's career record was a sterling 660-219 (75% winning clip).
Van Wieren coached two teams -- 1983-84 and 1994-95 -- through unbeaten regular season campaigns. He ended his career ranked the fifth winningest coach in NCAA Division III history, both in victories and winning percentage.
In 2006 Van Wieren was honored by the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame with the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan in 2003.
The basketball court in the DeVos Fieldhouse on Hope's campus is named in honor of coach Van Wieren, his coaching mentor Russ DeVette and their wives, Jacquelyn (Jackie) and Doris.
The publicationÂ
Basketball Times twice named Van Wieren its Division III national coach of the year, first in 1995 and again in 2008. He was also voted the 1995 Michigan college basketball coach-of-the-year by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.
Van Wieren stands as one of the outstanding athletes in the history of Hope College. A 1964 graduate, he earned 11 letters during his four years at Hope and on four occasions was awarded all-conference honors by the MIAA. He was a four-year letterman in both basketball and baseball and a letterwinner in cross country three seasons. He ranks among the top scorers in Hope basketball history.
While at Hope, Van Wieren also coached baseball, cross country and soccer. He is among the winningest coaches in America's oldest collegiate conference with a total of 19 MIAA championships. In addition to 17 titles in basketball, he coached conference champions in baseball and men's soccer.
He held the academic rank of Professor of Kinesiology at the college. Prior to joining the Hope faculty he taught and coached at Grand Haven (Mich.) High School. He holds the M.A. degree from Western Michigan University and the Ed.D. degree from Brigham Young University. He has been active in Young Life and is a member of Christ Memorial Church in Holland. He served as a member of the board of directors of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.
His wife Jacquelyn (Nyboer) is a 1967 Hope College graduate. The Van Wierens have four daughters, Gretel, Heidi, Kuria and Rebekah, and eight grandchildren.
Milestone Games Under Coach Van Wieren
Victory #1Â - at Hope 87, Concordia, Ill. 53, 12-3-77
(Also his 1st game as coach)
Victory #100Â - at Hope 96, Concordia, Mich. 62, 2-4-84 (150th game)
Victory #200Â - Hope 82, at Olivet 79 (ot), 2-15-89 (282nd game)
Victory #300Â - at Hope 83, Kalamazoo 71, 1-29-94 (403rd game)
Victory #400Â - at Hope 96, Alma 78, 1-21-98 (523rd game)
Victory #500Â - Hope 61, at Albion 48, 3-1-03 (672nd game)
Victory #600Â - Hope 80, at Olivet 71, 1-12-08(801st game; fastest in D-III history)
Final Victory (#660)Â - Hope 78, Calvin 74, 2-27-10
First Game Coached - at Hope 87, Concordia, Ill. 53, 12-3-77
First Win in MIAAÂ - Hope 81, at Olivet 67, 1-18-78
First Win vs. Calvin - at Hope 65, Calvin 57, 2-6-80
Clinched First MIAA Title - at Hope 85, Albion 82,2-24-82
First NCAA Tournament Win - at Hope 77, Wittenberg 60, 3-5-82
Became Winningest Hope Coach (#324)Â - Hope 95, at Kalamazoo 84, 1-28-95
First NCAA Final Four Appearance - Hope 76, Franklin & Marshall 57, 3-15-96
First National Championship Game - Rowan 100, Hope 93, 3-16-96
Second NCAA Final Four Appearance - Hope 81, Wilkes, Pa. 61, 3-20-98
Second National Championship Game - Wisc.-Platteville 69, Hope 56, 3-21-98
Last Holland Civic Center Game - Hope 90, Alma 77, 2-23-05
First DeVos Fieldhouse Game - at Hope 70, Elmhurst 53, 11-19-05
Third NCAA Final Four Appearance - Washington, Mo. 89, Hope 74 / Hope 100, Ursinus, Pa. 86, 3-21/22-08
Earned Twentieth Trip to NCAA Tournament - Hope 69, Calvin 59, 2/28/09
Final Victory (#660)Â - Hope 78, Calvin 74, 2-27-10
Final Game (#879)Â - St. Norbert, Wisc. 72, Hope 65, NCAA Tournament, 3/5/10
Hope Under Coach Glenn Van Wieren
Seasons: 33 (1977-78 through 2009-10)
Overall Record:Â 660-219, .751
Home Floor Record:Â 351-60, .854
Civic Center 268-52, Dow Center 7-2, DeVos Arena 76-6Â
Away Record:Â 309-159, .660
MIAA Record:Â 17 championships, 327-88, .788
NCAA Record:Â 21 appearances, 26-24, .520
|
W |
L |
MIAA |
NCAA |
| 1977-78 |
11 |
10 |
5th |
| 1978-79 |
5 |
17 |
7th |
| 1979-80 |
16 |
6 |
2nd |
| 1980-81 |
14 |
9 |
1st-tie |
| 1981-82 |
19 |
5 |
1st |
yes |
| 1982-83 |
19 |
4 |
1st |
yes |
| 1983-84 |
22 |
2 |
1st |
yes |
| 1984-85 |
22 |
4 |
1st |
yes |
| 1985-86 |
15 |
9 |
2nd |
| 1986-87 |
21 |
5 |
1st |
yes |
| 1987-88 |
19 |
8 |
1st |
yes |
| 1988-89 |
19 |
5 |
2nd |
yes |
| 1989-90 |
22 |
4 |
2nd |
yes |
| 1990-91 |
24 |
2 |
1st |
yes |
| 1991-92 |
23 |
6 |
2nd |
yes |
| 1992-93 |
18 |
8 |
3rd-tie |
| 1993-94 |
16 |
10 |
3rd-tie |
| 1994-95 |
26 |
1 |
1st |
yes |
| 1995-96 |
27 |
5 |
1st |
yes |
| 1996-97 |
26 |
3 |
1st |
yes |
| 1997-98 |
26 |
5 |
1st |
yes |
| 1998-99 |
15 |
11 |
1st-t |
| 1999-00 |
15 |
11 |
3rd |
| 2000-01 |
16 |
10 |
2nd |
| 2001-02 |
21 |
9 |
2nd-tie |
yes |
| 2002-03 |
23 |
5 |
1st-tie |
yes |
| 2003-04 |
21 |
5 |
1st |
| 2004-05 |
15 |
12 |
3rd |
| 2005-06 |
28 |
3 |
2nd |
yes |
| 2006-07 |
26 |
5 |
1st |
yes |
| 2007-08 |
28 |
4 |
1st |
yes |
| 2008-09 |
21 |
8 |
2nd |
yes |
| 2009-10 |
21 |
8 |
2nd |
yes |
|
| Career |
660 |
219 |
327-88 |
26-24 |
