Following up on a story that HoopDirt.com first published on 6/15 (Rock Valley Search Update)…
It’s now been made official that Rock Valley College has selected Tim Sandquist to take over the reins of the men’s basketball program. Sandquist replaces former RVC Head Basketball Coach Evan Lavery, who left to become an assistant coach on former RVC Head Coach Craig Doty’s staff at Emporia State University. RVC is coming off a 27-6 season and Region IV runner-up finish.
“I am honored to have been chosen to be the next head coach at Rock Valley College” said Sandquist. “It’s an incredible opportunity to lead a program that can compete at the highest level and be in contention to win a national championship every year. I cannot wait to get stated with my team at RVC.”
“We are thrilled to add Coach Sandquist to our staff at Rock Valley College,” said Director of Athletics Misty Opat. “We had a very impressive group of applicants for this position, but Tim’s knowledge for the game, attention to detail, and passion for collegiate athletics really stood out. I have no doubt that he will hit the ground running and continue the success our men’s basketball program has had in recent years.”
Sandquist has spent the past two seasons on the bench as the top assistant for the Northwest Kansas Tech Mavericks, an NJCAA DI program. The Mavericks are coming off an 18-13 season in 2017-2018. Sandquist was a part of a historic season for the Mavs as the young program reached program victory #100.
Prior to his time at NWKTC, Sandquist spent four seasons as an assistant at Dodge City Community College in the prestigious Jayhawk Conference. While there, he was involved in every aspect of the program’s success. During his four years on the bench, DC3 won 56% of its games and were Region VI runner-up in 2015. DC3 won 44 games during Sandquist’s final two seasons.
Coach Sandquist got his junior college start at Southwestern Community College (Iowa) in 2011. During his one year on the bench, the program reached the Region XI semi-finals and recruited a two-time all-region player and the program’s first NJCAA DII All-American in nearly 20 years.
During his seven year junior college coaching career, Sandquist helped coach and recruit six all-region players, one NJCAA DI All-American, 16 players who would eventually sign with NCAA Division I institutions, and 10 players who signed at NCAA Division II schools.
An Omaha native, Sandquist started his coaching career at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He spent five seasons on the bench during one of the most successful runs in program history. During his time with Omaha, the Mavericks won the 2008 NCC Tournament and the 2010 MIAA Tournament. In both of those years, the Mavericks were participants in the NCAA Division II national tournament.
Joining Sandquist in Rockford is his wife Robin, daughter Mila, and son Tate.
