GRANTHAM, Pa. – Last week, Messiah University men's basketball Head coach,
Rick VanPelt announces his departure from the Messiah basketball program after 22 years at the helm for the Falcons. VanPelt also was part of the staff as an assistant coach from 1999-2003 and played four years at Messiah from 1987-1991.
VanPelt leaves Messiah as the winningest coach in the men's basketball program history with 276 career wins. The Falcons also made the NCAA Tournament three times under VanPelt and won the Conference Tournament two times. VanPelt also was named Conference Coach of the Year twice.
The men's basketball program before VanPelt, only totaled two winning seasons, and quickly VanPelt brought the program to new heights. In his first four season, the Falcons rattled off four-straight winning seasons, including the first 20-win season in program history in 2004-25. The Falcons also won 20 games in 2011-12, including a Conference Championship, and NCAA Tournament appearance. The Falcons during VanPelt's tenure also totaled 10 conference tournament appearances, after having zero from 1984-2004. In the 2013-14 season, the Falcons reached highest ranking in program history, being ranked 15th after starting the season 12-0.
Off the court, VanPelt led four mission trips to the Dominican Republic and a trip to Panama. He also helped grow the Falcons summer basketball camps to one of the largest in the state with around 500 campers per summer. The Falcons players have also achieved high standards in the classroom, consistently having a team GPA above 3.4 and were recognized multiple times by the NABC for raking amongst the top programs in the country in team GPA.
From
Rick VanPelt, 'In 1987 I came to Messiah as a wide-eyed kid just wanting to play some hoops. Over the next four years under the mentorship of Coach Mike Shaker, Coach
Jack Cole and Coach Sam Harris I grew up, and fell in love with Messiah and Messiah Men's Basketball. However, It was the two years after college, when coach Harris gave me the opportunity to be a part time coach, that I started dreaming of someday getting a chance to be a head coach at the college level. After teaching and coaching at Big Spring High School, I was able to come back to Messiah in 1999 and spent four great years as an assistant to coach Dave Manzer. Then in 2003 I got the chance to not only realize that dream, but to do it at Messiah! For the past 22 season I have been in my "Dream Job" and loved every minute of it! I am grateful for the many memories from the past 38 years that I share with teammates, players, assistant coaches, coaching colleagues… I wish I could name you all, but please know that these memories will remain some of my most prized possessions! I'm looking forward to seeing what the team can accomplish next year – keep making memories!!
From Messiah Women's Basketball Head Coach Mike Miller, "Rick and I have worked as close colleagues for 26 years. He has been the consummate team player as we've navigated the ups and downs each basketball season, both wins and losses and logistics of sharing gym space. Beyond that, Rick has championed the women's basketball program which is uncommon. Rick is my close friend and golf buddy. I value his friendship tremendously. I will miss him greatly, especially when the battles begin again next November."
From Executive Director of Athletics,
Sarah Gustin-Hamrock, "Thank you to Rick for your dedication over the last two decades leading the men's basketball program at Messiah. We appreciate all of your hard work, passion, and faithfulness to the program and Messiah Athletics as a whole. We are praying for you in your next journey and wish you success in what comes next."
The search for the next Messiah men's basketball head coach is currently ongoing.
