After a nationwide search was conducted, Malone University Director of Athletics Tanya Hockman recently announced the appointment of Charlie Wallrapp as the next head men’s basketball coach for the Pioneers.
Wallrapp becomes the 12th head coach in program history, and succeeds Casey Kaufman, who left Malone in July to become the head coach at Ohio Dominican University.
Wallrapp, a 2020 NABC Under Armour 30-Under-30 Recipient, comes to Malone from Northern Michigan University. He worked as an assistant coach for the Wildcats beginning in 2020, and had been recently promoted to the role of Associate Head Coach.
“I am very thankful to Dr. Miller, Tanya Hockman, and the selection committee for the opportunity to coach at Malone University!” Wallrapp said. “I am excited to get down there and continue to build on a program that has a strong foundation. My wife and I can’t wait to begin our journey in the Canton community,” Wallrapp finished.
Last season, Wallrapp helped lead NMU to its first GLIAC Championship in 23 years. The Wildcats secured an NCAA tournament win against Hillsdale, as well as posting the most wins in program history with a 25-8 record.
The 2021-22 season saw NMU win nine of their last ten games to reach the GLIAC Championship game for the first time since 2000. Wallrapp aided in coaching the Wildcats to the most three-pointers in program history (292) as well as tying the record for most threes in a game (18 vs. UW-Stout).
The Wildcats went 8-8 during the 2020-21 season, which featured a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team had two All-GLIAC Second Team members and had the fewest turnovers of any team in the GLIAC.
“Charlie brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience along with a proven track record for building programs and developing athletes,” Hockman stated. “I am confident he will build upon the strong tradition of Pioneer men’s basketball. We are excited to welcome Charlie and his wife to our Malone University family.”
Prior to joining the staff at Northern Michigan, Wallrapp served as an assistant coach at NAIA Clarke University for two seasons.
In the 2019-2020 season, he aided the team to a school-record 24 wins and a berth in the National Tournament for the first time in program history after reaching their first ever Heart Conference Championship game. The team also achieved their first ever national ranking in school history, finishing #22 in the country, and the program’s first ever win over a top 5 team. In his first year with the Pride, his efforts guided the team to three victories over top-15 teams as they improved from tenth to fourth in the league. In addition, he coached two All- Americans and seven All-Conference players at Clarke.
Prior to Clarke, Wallrapp served as an assistant coach at Kansas Wesleyan University for two seasons.
Playing a large role in the team’s defensive strategy, Wallrapp’s efforts helped the team finish 14th nationally and second in the conference for scoring defense, and also helped student-athlete Terell Gandy earn KCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. During his first season, the team nearly doubled their win total from the previous season, going from seven wins to 13 wins before a 16-win season in his second year with the Coyotes. He coached three All-Conference players and one All-Freshman Team member as well.
Before his collegiate coaching career began, he was an assistant coach for West Oaks Academy where he coached over 30 future college players, several of whom went on to compete at the NCAA Division I level.
Wallrapp was a two-time All-American and a two-time Team Captain for Benedictine College in Kansas. A three-time All-Conference player, he finished his career 11th all-time with 1,443 career points. His efforts helped the program to a Heart Conference Championship in 2013-14 and a National Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. He was also named an NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete and the Heart Conference Liston Award Representative.
He then went on to play for the Newcastle Knights in England and averaged 22 points per game while leading the squad to a 40-3 record and numerous championships.
Wallrapp completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Benedictine in 2014, a Postgraduate Certificate in Writing from Newcastle University in 2016, and earned a Masters of Business Administration from Kansas Wesleyan in 2018.
