Rick Huisman joins the Hope College Baseball coaching staff as the pitching coach for the 2024 season. This is his second stint with the Flying Dutchmen. Huisman previously served as the pitching coach from 2003 to 2014.
Huisman began his collegiate baseball career at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., pitching for the Flyers from 1987-1990. He helped lead the Flyers to three consecutive NCAA World Series appearances in 1988, '89, and '90. While competing, Huisman set records for single-season wins (13) and single-season strikeouts (168). He ranked fifth in all-time career victories (30). He led all NCAA Division II teams in strikeouts in 1990. Huisman was voted to the GLVC All Conference teams in 1988, 1989 and 1990. In 1990, he was selected to the NCAA All-American team.
In 1990, Huisman was drafted in the third round of the Major League Baseball draft by the San Francisco Giants. He made his major league debut on September 4, 1995, as a member of the Kansas City Royals. After a 12-year professional baseball career, Huisman retired after the 2001 season.
After baseball, Huisman spent several years working in his family’s flower business before spending six years as the executive director of the Boys and Girls Club Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth. He kept his hand in the game he loves by coaching both of his sons through their high school baseball careers at Holland Christian High School, helping to lead the team to an MHSAA state championship in 2016.Â
Huisman is currently the owner and President of Huisman Flowers. He lives in Holland with his wife, Nicole. They have three children, Jack, Mason and Avery.Â
Â
