VanderWal enters his first season at the helm of the Thunder Men’s Basketball program. With him he brings a wealth of success and experience at the NCAA Division III level after 18 seasons leading the Marietta College Pioneers program. VanderWal compiled a 341-150 record in his tenure, he led Marietta to a 14-9 record in NCAA Tournament play. VanderWal is 6-3 against MIAA competition and is 341 victories are the most in Marietta history.
Under VanderWal’s guidance, the Pioneers captured eight Ohio Athletic Conference championships and five OAC Tournament titles. The Pioneers not only experienced success in one of Division III’s most competitive conferences but also at the national level. VanderWal guided MC to nine NCAA Tournament appearance, making runs to the Sweet 16 in 2011 and 2017, the Elite 8 in 2015 and 2019, and a trip the Final Four in 2022.
VanderWal was named OAC Coach of the Year in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2022, Regional Coach of the Year in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2022 and earned NCAA Division III Glen Robinson National Coach of the Year honors in 2015. In his time at Marietta, VanderWal’s players earned 51 All-OAC, 16 All-Great Lakes Region, 5 All-America, and 4 OAC Player of the Year selections.
VanderWal is a 2001 graduate of Albion College where he was named All-MIAA twice and led the Britons to an MIAA Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament Appearance.
