--- title: "Dordt's Brian Van Haaften recipient of 2025 Don Meyer Award" date: 2025-04-01T08:54:00-05:00 author: Sarah Moss canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-brian-van-haaften-recipient-of-2025-don-meyer-award" section: News --- [ View Dordt News](https://www.dordt.edu/news) [Athletics](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=athletics) [Notable](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=notable) Apr 1, 2025 # Dordt's Brian Van Haaften recipient of 2025 Don Meyer Award Dordt University Men's Basketball Coach Brian Van Haaften is the recipient of 2025 Don Meyer National Coach of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top head coach in NAIA college basketball. ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/DSC_0553.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=66&h=57&f=webp&c=17595957&v=30fc924bbbd4fa374203da24173be187a790dbbc2d83dcda7a3a701cfbab973a) ![]()Collegeinsider.com has announced its national coach of the year award winners, and Dordt University's [Brian Van Haaften](https://godordt.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/brian-van-haaften/484) is the recipient of [2025 Don Meyer National Coach of the Year award](https://www.donmeyeraward.com/), presented annually to the top head coach in NAIA college basketball. ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/DSC_4295.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=30&f=webp&c=820ab78f&v=64f4b4d2c05354927dae17c631e93732d3967c78e188b17990afa264c204516d) ![]() ![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Van Haaften led Dordt University to a 28-4 record, a No. 6 ranking and 2nd round appearance in the NAIA Men's Basketball Championship. The 28 wins is tied for the second most all-time in program history. "When all these things come together, special things happen," said Joe Dwyer, President of CollegeInsider.com. "It was a special season for [Brian Van Haaften](https://godordt.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/brian-van-haaften/484) who has had a lot of special seasons in his illustrious career. Everybody want to win, but mentoring young men to win in life is more important to Coach Van Haaften." Van Haaften was named Great Plains Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Defenders to the regular season GPAC title and an 18-2 overall mark and the program's fourth straight NAIA National Championship berth. Over the past four years Dordt has posted a 93-33 record and Van Haaften's record at Dordt in seven seasons is 152-63. His overall collegiate coaching record is 566-241. **About the Don Meyer Award** The Don Meyer Award is named in honor of the sport's winningest coaches. In 38 seasons at Hamline, Lipscomb and Northern State, Don Meyer compiled an astounding 923-324 record. He led Lipscomb to the NAIA national championship in 1986 and coached the two highest-scoring players in the history of college basketball, John Pierce and Philip Hutcheson. His 1989-90 team at Lipscomb won a record 41 games and was the highest scoring team in college basketball history. In 2010, he received the John Bunn Award at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Meyer retired from coaching in February 2010. Coach Meyer lost his long battle with cancer on May 18, 2014, at the age of 69. For more information, please see [godordt.com](https://godordt.com/news/2025/3/31/mens-basketball-brian-van-haaften-named-don-meyer-coach-of-the-year.aspx). --- **About Dordt University** As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. --- [Previous Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/nisoconcert.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=57e3b7b3&v=6186ac04d5295d717cd41086b0b7cd337a5939f51c979517614333bbd484a7e2) Events Music Apr 01, 2025 ## NISO to present the Brahms Requiem with Sioux County Oratorio Chorus and Dordt Concert Choir The Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra (NISO) will perform the Brahms Requiem on April 15th, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in Sioux Center, IA, with guest conductor Dr. Ryan Smit and soloists Shannon Salyards-Burton (soprano) and Mitchell Widmer (baritone). Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/niso-to-present-the-brahms-requiem-with-sioux-county-oratorio-chorus-and-dordt-concert-choir) [Next Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/Tyra.jpg?mode=crop&pos=0.4797-0.3902&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=d587f2de&v=1c30a8a7a519c4bcb4dcc21c475cf8b768c678b02a398192a7135af9dea99308) Academics Education Research and Scholarship Apr 01, 2025 ## Dordt education student recognized for research at annual NASUP conference Tyra Hulstein, a senior elementary education student from Sioux Center, Iowa, received the Student Research Award at the NASUP annual conference in New Orleans, LA. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-education-student-recognized-for-research-at-annual-nasup-conference) [ ![]() ## View All Dordt News View News ](https://www.dordt.edu/news) Aug 20 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-20) Aug 20 Athletics Men's Soccer #### [8/20 8:00 PM Dordt University Men's Soccer at Carroll - Nelson Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-22-100-pm-dordt-university-mens-soccer-at-carroll) Aug 21 Athletics Women's Soccer #### [8/21 Dordt University Women's Soccer at Bethel - Thresher Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-21-dordt-university-womens-soccer-at-bethel) ![A picture of campus behind yellow prairie flowers](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2021-22/Buildings-and-Campus/2021-09-23_001574-1.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=50&f=webp&c=3d670641&v=d2bdb7cbdc83e5be46d3a10afe8a1214a0e770536697eb0ddbe29e017d2e9577) <![CDATA[YII-BLOCK-BODY-END]]>