Trine University names new men’s basketball coach
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Trine University in Angola has hired a coach with a history of NCAA Division III tournament success to head its men’s basketball program.
Jon VanderWal compiled a 341-150 record in 18 years at Marietta College in Ohio and led the Pioneers to the Division III tournament nine times and a Final Four appearance in 2022.
VanderWal replaces Brooks Miller, who in April was named associate head coach at NCAA Division I Central Michigan University.
“I never thought I would leave Marietta for another Division III job, but I have been extremely impressed by Trine’s campus, facilities, academic offerings, and most importantly its people,” VanderWal said in an news release. “It’s a huge change for my family, but we are truly excited to start a new era at Trine and to build on its recent successes.”
While at Marietta College, VanderWal led the Pioneers to eight regular season championships in the Ohio Athletic Conference and was named the conference’s coach of the year four times. He also received NCAA Division III Region Coach of the Year honors in four seasons and was NCAA Division III Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year in 2015.
“Coach VanderWal is the perfect choice to continue and build on the men’s basketball success we have had at Trine University,” Matt Land, assistant vice president for athletics, said in the news release. “The outpouring of interest for the position was amazing, and I want to thank everyone who reached out. Jon has shown that he knows how to develop a culture of success and how to win at the highest level.”
VanderWal takes over a Trine University team that won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2024. This season they lost to Hope College in the MIAA Tournament semifinals.