Episode 20 - Jon VanderWal - Head Basketball Coach Marietta College (Ohio) - a podcast by Jon Cook

Jon Vanderwal became the head basketball coach at Marietta College in 2007 at 28 years of age.  The Cadillac, Michigan native had a four-year playing career at Albion College (Mi.) then served as Graduate Assistant Coach at Defiance College before becoming the lead assistant at Ohio Wesleyan University in 2003.  When Coach VanderWal took over in Marietta, the Pioneer program had just concluded a 5-year run with a combined record of 32-96.  After 3 difficult years to begin his tenure, Coach VanderWal led his 2010-2011 squad to a record of 27-4 (15-3 OAC)! The Pioneers won their first Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title in 36 seasons and the school claimed it's first ever OAC Tournament title.  From 20010-11 through 2019-20 Marietta Basketball is 227-62 (.785).  They claimed 5 consecutive OAC titles between 2014-15 and 2018-19 (the only school in the history of the OAC to claim at least a share of five titles in a row).  Marietta has made 8 NCAA Tournament appearances in the past 10 years with 4 Sweet Sixteen appearances and 2 trips to the Elite Eight.  No program at any level of college basketball can claim a more dramatic turnaround in less than two decades.  Please enjoy my conversation with Jon VanderWal of Marietta College!  

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