Iowa Western Men’s Basketball Head Coach Chad Van Riessen has announced his retirement from basketball this afternoon.
“It has been an honor and privilege to live out a professional dream as the head coach at Iowa Western,” said Van Riessen. “I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to lead the Iowa Western Men’s Basketball program and very appreciative of all the young men who enabled us to be a part of their story throughout my coaching career.”
Coach Van Riessen began his Reiver career at the start of the 2016-17 season as the full-time assistant men’s basketball coach under Michael Johnette. He then took the program’s reins in 2020, spending the last three seasons as head coach.
“We want to thank Coach Van Riessen for his leadership during the COVID years and for helping us transition during a difficult time,” said Iowa Western President, Dr. Dan Kinney. “He is leaving the Reiver Men’s Basketball program in a better place and we will immediately start the search for our next head coach.”
In seven seasons with Iowa Western, Coach Van Riessen was a part of 135 wins and sent 32 players to 4-year colleges and universities, 22 of them to the NCAA D1 level.
Three players earned NJCAA All-American honors, 26 were named ICCAC All-Region, 18 earned NJCAA All-Academic honors, and 76 earned ICCAC Academic All-Region honors during Coach Van Riessen’s time at Iowa Western. Coach Van Riessen also had a 98% graduation rate of all sophomores since his arrival in Council Bluffs.
“I have enjoyed getting to work with Chad the past two seasons,” said Iowa Western Athletic Director, Shane Larson. “I am sad to see him stepping away from coaching but I completely support him in his decision. I know he will be successful in any future endeavors he pursues. We want to thank Chad for his dedication and commitment to the Reiver Basketball Program over the past several years.”
Coach Van Riessen spent the past 19 years coaching the game of basketball. He began his career as the Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at Putnam County High School in Missouri, leading their program to the 2006 Tri-Rivers Conference championship as well as the 2007 district title. He then moved on to NCAA DII Northwest Missouri State as a graduate assistant for the 2007-08 season before being promoted to full-time assistant coach for three years. Van Riessen then spent five years at Missouri State–West Plains as an assistant coach.
Said Van Riessen, “The relationships built, along with the growth and development of our student-athletes has always been the most rewarding aspect of the time I’ve spent as a coach. I’m excited for what lies ahead for myself and my family; I will always hold on to the great memories from my time at Iowa Western.”
