Northwest University men’s basketball coach, John Van Dyke announced his resignation after 18 seasons with the Eagles.
Van Dyke leaves behind a program, which during his tenure, made four trips to the NAIA Division II National Championships in 2007, ’11, ’12 and ’13, including a semifinal finish in 2007. His 2011-12 team won a Cascade Collegiate Conference co-championship, finishing with a 29-5 record. Van Dyke was named CCC coach of the year for the 2011-12 season and ranks 18th on the list of all-time winningest active coaches in the NAIA with 292 career wins.
Said Gary McIntosh, NU athletic director, “John has established a quality of play and success for the men’s basketball program and we appreciate the many years of his dedicated coaching here at Northwest University.”
McIntosh also announced that Jeff Drinkwine has been named as the new men’s basketball coach. Drinkwine has served as an assistant coach on the Eagle men’s staff for the past three seasons and brings over 26 years of coaching experience.
Said McIntosh about the hiring: “Jeff has a deep understanding for the game of basketball and has had extensive coaching experience that will help him as he takes over the program. He definitely has a love for the game, but I think most importantly, he cares about the players and helping them find success on and off the court. I’m excited to see Jeff takes the basketball program forward.”
Coach Drinkwine has experience as both an assistant and head coach at the collegiate level. He is familiar with the Cascade Collegiate Conference having also served as head men’s basketball coach at the Evergreen State College in Olympia from 2007 to 2010, guiding the Geoducks to two trips to the NAIA Division II National championships with his teams ranked in the NAIA Top 25 poll three consecutive seasons.
Drinkwine’s coaching career began at the high school level at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Wash., where he was the head boy’s coach from 1993 to 2001, making five trips to the district tournament and two trips to the WIAA state tournament. His collegiate experience in includes serving as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Boise State, Division III Pacific Lutheran, Division II St. Martin’s, Pierce College and Division II Simon Fraser in British Columbia, Canada.
“I would just like to thank God, Northwest University, the Athletic Department, and the current men’s basketball team, for supporting me and giving me this incredible opportunity,” commented Coach Drinkwine. “It is going to be a fun journey. Northwest University is an outstanding school to be part of and I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to join the Eagle family in this capacity.”
Drinkwine continued, “The program standards were set and carried out by Coach Van Dyke, year in and year out. He laid the ground work and pathway for success. It is our hope moving forward we can carry out many of the same values. If we do, men’s basketball will continue to grow and have success, in the conference and at the national level.”
