Loading up his bench with former Lumberjack all-stars, Humboldt State men’s basketball head coach Steve Kinder announced Thursday the hiring of Cy Vandermeer as his top assistant.
Vandermeer, who played for the Jacks from 2005-2009 and served as a part-time assistant coach from 2010-12, returns to Humboldt State after one year as an assistant coach at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. He takes over for Carl Nash, who left HSU to take a position as head coach of the Tianjin City Lions in Tianjin City, China.
"Cy’s return to our program provides an immediate injection of energy and knowledge," Kinder said. "He gives us a great on-court coach who effectively directs players. And he’s one of our own – a true Lumberjack champion."
Prior to coaching at HSU, Vandermeer coached locally at McKinleyville High from 2008-2010 and was an AAU basketball coach from 2005-2009.
During his collegiate playing career at Humboldt State, Vandermeer helped the Lumberjacks claim California Collegiate Athletic Association conference championships in 2007 and 2008. In those same seasons, Humboldt State moved on to the NCAA Division II West Region Championship Tournament, making it all the way to the title game in 2007.
As a senior, Vandermeer averaged 11.2 points per game and was the league’s third best rebounder with 8.6 boards per game. He also blockied 47 shots, and was named to the All-CCAA first team.
"(Returning to HSU) has been the goal for my family," Vandermeer said. "We’re coming home."
Vandermeer graduated from Humboldt State in 2008 with a degree in recreation administration. He is married to former HSU women’s basketball player Laura Berreth, and the couple has two children, Lucas, 4, and Jane, 14 months.
Filling out the Lumberjacks’ coaching staff will be Aaron Hungerford, who comes back for his second year as an assistant, and DJ Broome, the Lumberjacks’ starting point guard during the 2011-12 season. Like Vandermeer, Hungerford and Broome were fan favorites during their playing careers. Each was also a key player on a Jacks’ championship team.
During his playing career at Humboldt State in 2000-2005, Hungerford received the Most Inspirational (twice) and Most Improved (once) awards, scoring more than 300 career points and totaling 170 rebounds in 70 games played. He has also held coaching positions at College of the Redwoods (2005-2006) and McKinleyville High (2009-2011).
After playing the role of sparking the Jacks off the bench during his first three seasons, Broome earned his way into a starting role as a senior in 2011-12. A premier defender, Broome finished his career with 112 steals, including 57 his final season.
"Not only are all three assistant coaches Lumberjacks, but we all played on championship teams," Vandermeer said. "We all buy into Coach Kinder’s program. We understand the offense, the defense, the effort it takes to be successful at Humboldt State."
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
