Tom Davelaar has been as an assistant coach with Hope College Men's Basketball since the 1981-82 season. TD, or Dav as he is often called, began his tenure at Hope as a volunteer after serving as the boys basketball coach at Zeeland. His role has progressed each and every year at Hope with his primary responsibility being that of opponent scouting and preparation.
A 1972 graduate of Hope College, Davelaar taught social studies and history for 39 years with the Zeeland Public Schools. He retired from Zeeland in 2011. While in the Zeeland system, he coached a number of sports, treasuring the relationships with his students and watching them mature into fine young people. He still is active in the Zeeland Public Schools, providing the “golden chords” as the public address announcer for football and track. Hope fans also enjoy his PA prowess as our football, lacrosse, and baseball announcer.
Davelaar has three children -- Hope grads, Joe '00, Kate '00, and Sarah, an '04 JMU '04 grad -- and four grandchildren. They all continue to enjoy Hope basketball from near and far.
Davelaar is married to Anne Bakker. The front steps at the DeVos Fieldhouse was the location for their wedding. They are huge sports fans and together, enjoy travel, their grandchildren and any media that encompasses sports in general.
A 1995 inductee to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Honor, Coach Davelaar cites Hope’s first qualifying to the NCAA Division III Final Four, in 1996, as one of his many memorable moments in his time at Hope.
