INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Marietta College head men's basketball coach
Jon VanderWal led the Pioneers to the best season in school history this winter advancing to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight and setting several school records along the way. In recognition of those accomplishments, VanderWal was named the recipient of the Glenn Robinson Award Friday (April 3) evening at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet.
The Glenn Robinson Award is presented annually to the top Division III coach in the nation. The award is named after the longtime Franklin & Marshall coach. Robinson has over 800 wins and is currently twelfth on the all-time wins list. He took Franklin & Marshall to the NCAA Division III tournament 22 times and guided the Diplomats to the Division III Final Four in 1979, 1991, 1996, 2000 and 2009.
VanderWal led the Pioneers to a 28-4 record this season setting a new program record for wins in a season. Marietta captured the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season championship and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
The Pioneers started the season with 21 straight victories rising as high as third in the national rankings. The highest Marietta has ever been ranked. The Pioneers and the University of Kentucky were the last two undefeated men's basketball teams standing this winter.
VanderWal was tabbed the OAC Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Great Lakes Region Co-Coach of the Year. He was a finalist for the Glenn Robinson Award in 2011 after leading the Pioneers to the Sweet 16.
VanderWal is 139-81 in his eight seasons at the helm for the Pioneers. He currently ranks fourth on the program's all-time wins list but is poised for a jump to number two on the list next season. VanderWal will surpass Doug Foote (147 wins in 15 seasons) and William Whetsell (148 wins in 13 seasons) next winter. Phil Roach tops the list with 213 wins in 19 seasons.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
