Chris Van Timmeren '98 has guided Hope College's hockey fortunes since the 2000-01 season. He coached the Flying Dutchmen to the ACHA Division III national championships in 2025, 2022, 2021 and 2018.
Van Timmeren oversaw the program's ascension to the ACHA Division 1 level for the 2025-26 season.Â
In ACHA Division 3 play, Van Timmeren led Hope overall record of 611-146-11-4-24 over 25 seasons, and the Flying Dutchmen had 25 consecutive winning seasons under his guidance.
On January 31, 2025, Van Timmeren earned his 600th career win with a 4-2 victory against Grand Valley State University on home ice at Griff's IceHouse West.
On January 14, 2022, Van Timmeren claimed his 500th career win with a 12-0 victory against Western Michigan University on home ice at Griff's IceHouse West.
Hope has won six Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference tournament titles (02-03, 03-04, 06-07, 07-08, 14-15, 23-24) and five regular-season MCHC titles (04-05, 07-08, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12).
Van Timmeren has been voted MCHC Coach of the Year seven times (04-05, 06-07, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12, 19-20, 23-24). He was also the ACHA Coach of the Year in 2006-2007, 2007-08, 2017-18 and 2020-21.
Van Timmeren was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he played hockey at Grand Rapids Christian High School. He is a Hope College alumnus and was integral in starting Hope's hockey team as a student. He played two seasons before graduating with a degree in geology. He began coaching as an assistant during the 1999-2000 season.
Van Timmeren lives in Hudsonville, Michigan with his wife, Gina, and daughter, River.
