MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[oldknight]

Is the Nathaniel VanEck charged with setting off pop bottle bombs, the same Van Eck from Calvin's JV roster?

The photo on mlive tells me that it is.

[Dutchfan]

Breaking news. Glenn Van Wieren is retiring. After 33 years he is stepping down as the head coach of Hope Colleges basketball team.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1089267487/Glenn-Van-Wieren-retires-as-Hope-College-mens-basketball-coach

[sac]

Nothing else to say but thank you coach for so many great memories.

[Dutchfan]

Thank you Glenn and Godspeed. We will miss you.

[arena]

Wow, I'm really surprised.  I can't wait to see who'll take his place.

[wiz]

Wow, I'm really surprised.  I can't wait to see who'll take his place.

And as that conjecture begins, as a Calvin fan I can only HOPE it is Matt Neil.

[monsoon]

Wow - didn't see that coming this year.  Tough shoes to fill, to be sure.

[Titan Q]

First, congratulations to Coach Van Wieren.  What an incredible job he has done in making Hope one of the premier programs in Division III.

And of course the obvious question, who's next?  When Dennie Bridges retired at IWU shortly after the 2000-01 season (about this same time of year), he pretty much had his replacement (Michigan assistant Scott Trost) picked.  Bridges also left the cupboard stocked (a bunch of sophs from a Final Four team), which is something his predecessor (Jack Horenberger) did for him.  Scott Trost had one down year (12-12, 5-9 CCIW), but then won 3 CCIW titles in a row, followed by a Final Four season.  

And then I've seen the other side of coaching transition.  When Scott Trost left after the 2005-06 season, there was very little depth left on the roster.  Ron Rose really had to build the program back up from scratch.  It took 4 years (until this year) to really get IWU back to Top 25-caliber.

Anyone think there is a successor picked already?  How is Hope in terms of talent in the current FR, SO, and JR classes?  Just wondering if Hope is going to deal with a smooth transition, or the longer term variety.

[hoopdreams]

wow.  I wish him nothing but the best in all that he does.  I had thought it could happen because his extended family was more involved than normal towards the end of the season. wow.  Guessing they will have some qualified applicants from across the country for this one.  Master's degree a prerec correct?  If they follow the trend of hiring someone relatively young to guide the program for the long term-smith, vanwieren, wolters, northuis, Fritz, morehouse, etc... Neil is not the choice.  What about Mo?  I know Elliott and Carlson are the inhouse names but I don't know if you turn over a top program to a guy with 1 year of experience, JV no less.

[Titan Q]

Tim Walker (Malone)?
http://www3.malone.edu/athletics/teams/mens-basketball/coaching-staff


Mike McGrath (Chicago)?
http://athletics.uchicago.edu/mensbasketball/mbk-coaches.htm


Mike DeWitt (Ohio Wesleyan)?
http://bishops.owu.edu/dewitt.html


Eric Bridgeland (Whitman)?
http://www.whitman.edu/whitman/index.cfm?objectid=ADEBF9FB-9375-CAB1-7855EC5A80CEF7E1&flushcache=1&showdraft=1

[sac]

I'm sure all 4 of those coaches are thrilled with your wild speculations. 

[Titan Q]

I'm sure all 4 of those coaches are thrilled with your wild speculations. 

Of course they are!

The bottom 3 all pursued the Illinois Wesleyan job 4 years ago...I don't think it's too crazy to throw those names out there.  Good coaches and "D3 guys."

[almcguirejr]

I'm sure all 4 of those coaches are thrilled with your wild speculations. 

Of course they are!

The bottom 3 all pursued the Illinois Wesleyan job 4 years ago...I don't think it's too crazy to throw those names out there.  Good coaches and "D3 guys."

They aren't Hope grads.

[almcguirejr]

WOOD TV's Jack Doles just reported GVW endorsed Matt Neil as his successor.

[hoopdreams]

wots coach N doesn't hold a masters degree which should keep him out of the running, although i'm sure something can be worked out.  I believe master's is a minimum, doctorate preferred at Hope.