Mike Van Diest
{{Short description|American football coach (born 1950s)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Mike Van Diest
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Circa|{{Birth based on age as of date|46|1998|12|12}}}}
| birth_place = Helena, Montana, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1971–1972
| player_team1 = Wyoming
| player_years2 = 1974
| player_team2 = Wyoming
| player_years3 = 1975
| player_team3 = Washington Redskins*
| player_positions = Guard, linebacker
| coach_years1 = 1977
| coach_years2 = 1978
| coach_team2 = Wyoming (DT)
| coach_years3 = 1979
| coach_team3 = Wyoming (co-JV)
| coach_years4 = 1980–1985
| coach_team4 = Montana (DL)
| coach_years5 = 1986
| coach_team5 = UMass (DL)
| coach_years6 = 1987–1990
| coach_team6 = Northwestern (DL)
| coach_years7 = 1991–1998
| coach_team7 = Wyoming (DL)
| coach_years8 = 1999–2018
| coach_team8 = Carroll (MT)
| coach_years9 = 2020 (spring)
| coach_team9 = Mary (assistant)
| coach_years10 = 2020
| coach_team10 = Helena HS (MT) (volunteer)
| coach_years11 = 2021
| coach_team11 = Montana State–Northern (DC)
| overall_record = 203–54
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record = 35–8 (NAIA playoffs)
| championships = 6 NAIA (2002–2005, 2007, 2010)
14 Frontier (2000–2011, 2013–2014)
| awards = 4× NAIA Coach of the Year (2003, 2005, 2007, 2010)
2× AFCA NAIA Coach of the Year (2007, 2010)
| coaching_records =
}}
Mike Van Diest (born {{Circa|1951 or 1952}}) is an American college football coach. He was the head football coach at Carroll College in Helena, Montana from 1999 to 2018, compiling a record of 203–54. Van Diest's Carroll Fighting Saints won six NAIA National Championships, four consecutively from 2002 to 2005, a fifth in 2007, and a sixth in 2010.
Playing career
Van Diest played college football for Wyoming between 1971 and 1974. He was listed as a tight end and offensive guard throughout his career.{{Cite news |date=September 26, 1985 |title=Mike Van Diest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-missoulian-mike-van-diest/145725844/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=The Missoulian |pages=36}} Following his graduation in 1975, he signed with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker.{{Cite news |date=March 26, 1975 |title=Mike Van Diest signs with Redskins |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-record-mike-van-dist-red/3832541/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=The Independent-Record |pages=9}}
Coaching career
Van Diest began his coaching career in 1977 as a graduate assistant for his alma mater, Wyoming.{{Cite news |date=January 13, 1980 |title=Mike Van Diest joins UM staff |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-record-mike-van-diest-jo/145726285/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=The Independent-Record |pages=11}} In 1978, he was promoted to the defensive tackles coach position. In 1979, he served as the co-head coach of the junior varsity team for Wyoming.{{Cite news |last=Shurmur |first=Sally Ann |date=May 22, 1979 |title=Lewis previews UW grid program |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune-lewis-previews-uw-gr/145726210/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |pages=9}} In that same year he was hired as the head strength and conditioning coach.{{Cite news |date=June 14, 1979 |title=Van Diest hired |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune-van-diest-hired/145726364/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |pages=12}}
In 1980, Van Diest was hired as the defensive line coach for Montana. He maintained that position for six years before being hired in the same position for UMass.{{Cite news |date=April 19, 1986 |title=UMass gets new grid assistant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-hampshire-gazette-umass-gets-new-g/145725903/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=Daily Hampshire Gazette |pages=17}}{{Cite news |last=Perlmutter |first=David |date=July 24, 1986 |title=Building Div. 3 grid power means work, work, work |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-hampshire-gazette-building-div-3/145725955/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=Daily Hampshire Gazette |pages=25}} After only one season with UMass, he was hired as the defensive line coach for Northwestern.{{Cite news |last=Cole |first=Milton |date=April 28, 1987 |title=Ex-Patriot is UM coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-hampshire-gazette-ex-patriot-is-um/145726028/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=Daily Hampshire Gazette |pages=21}} In 1991, he rejoined his alma mater as the defensive line coach.{{Cite news |last=Mossman |first=John |date=September 1, 1991 |title=Wacky WAC certain to feature excitement |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/great-falls-tribune-wacky-wac-certain-to/145726103/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=Great Falls Tribune |pages=97}}
In 1999, Van Diest took his first head coaching position as the head football coach for Carroll College.{{Cite news |date=December 12, 1998 |title=Van Diest new Carroll football coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-van-diest-new-carro/145725792/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |work=The Billings Gazette |pages=24}} He maintained the position for twenty seasons and led the team to an overall record of 203–54 and six NAIA National Championships.{{cite news |author= |title=Carroll coach Mike Van Diest retires after 20 seasons, 6 NAIA titles |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25258585/mike-van-diest-retires-carroll-college-coach-20-seasons-6-naia-titles |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=November 12, 2018 |access-date=November 19, 2018 }} He retired after the 2018 season.{{Cite web |last=Mansch |first=Scott |title=Coach Mike Van Diest: A Carroll College football legend retires |url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2018/11/12/coach-van-diest-carroll-college-football-legend-retires/1982448002/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=Great Falls Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Carroll football coach Mike Van Diest retires after 20 seasons {{!}} The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/nov/12/carroll-football-coach-mike-van-diest-retires-afte/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=www.spokesman.com}}
In the spring of 2020, Van Diest came out of retirement to coach for Mary.{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2020 |title=Legendary coach Mike Van Diest joins Marauders football coaching staff |url=https://goumary.com/news/2020/2/10/legendary-coach-mike-van-diest-joins-marauders-football-coaching-staff.aspx |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=University of Mary Athletics |language=en}} The season was ultimately cancelled due to COVID-19 before he coached a game for the Marauders.{{Cite web |last=Shepard |first=Daniel |date=July 13, 2021 |title='Coaching is my lifeline': Hall of Famer Mike Van Diest returns to Frontier Conference as Lights' defensive coordinator |url=https://www.khq.com/regional/coaching-is-my-lifeline-hall-of-famer-mike-van-diest-returns-to-frontier-conference-as/article_f28d9e75-492c-5adf-b5ed-837cde17c86d.html |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=NonStop Local KHQ |language=en}} He spent the fall of 2020 as a volunteer assistant for Helena High School. In 2021, he joined Montana State–Northern as the team's defensive coordinator—his first coordinator position of his entire career.{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2021 |title=Mike Van Diest excited for opportunity to return to college football |url=https://www.montanasports.com/frontier-conference/mike-van-diest-excited-for-opportunity-to-return-to-college-football |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=MontanaSports.com (MTSPX) |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Mike Van Diest excited to return to coaching |url=https://www.havredailynews.com/story/2021/08/09/sports/mike-van-diest-excited-to-return-to-coaching/534865.html |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=Havre Daily News |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Ferguson |first=George |title=Carroll, NAIA legend Mike Van Diest hired to coach at MSU-Northern |url=https://www.havredailynews.com/story/2021/07/12/sports/carroll-naia-legend-mike-van-diest-hired-to-coach-at-msu-northern/534562.html |newspaper=Havre Daily News |location=Havre, Montana |date=July 12, 2021 |access-date=November 2, 2021 }} He retired after one season.
Head coaching record
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = NAIA }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Carroll Fighting Saints
| conf = Frontier Conference
| startyear = 1999
| endyear = 2018
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1999
| name = Carroll
| overall = 5–6
| conference = 5–3
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2000
| name = Carroll
| overall = 10–4
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 3
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2001
| name = Carroll
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 3
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 2002
| name = Carroll
| overall = 12–2
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 1
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 2003
| name = Carroll
| overall = 15–0
| conference = 8–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 1
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 2004
| name = Carroll
| overall = 12–2
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 1
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 2005
| name = Carroll
| overall = 14–0
| conference = 8–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 1
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2006
| name = Carroll
| overall = 11–2
| conference = 9–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Quarterfinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 5
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 2007
| name = Carroll
| overall = 15–0
| conference = 10–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 1
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2008
| name = Carroll
| overall = 13–1
| conference = 10–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 2
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2009
| name = Carroll
| overall = 13–1
| conference = 8–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 3
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = national
| year = 2010
| name = Carroll
| overall = 14–0
| conference = 10–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 1
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2011
| name = Carroll
| overall = 13–2
| conference = 9–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 2
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2012
| name = Carroll
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 7–3
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 21
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2013
| name = Carroll
| overall = 12–2
| conference = 9–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Seminfinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 3
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2014
| name = Carroll
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 9–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NAIA Quarterfinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 5
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2015
| name = Carroll
| overall = 4–6
| conference = 4–6
| confstanding = T–4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2016
| name = Carroll
| overall = 4–6
| conference = 4–6
| confstanding = T–5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2017
| name = Carroll
| overall = 4–6
| conference = 4–6
| confstanding = T–5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2018
| name = Carroll
| overall = 5–6
| conference = 4–6
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Carroll
| overall = 203–54
| confrecord = 144–41
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 203–54
| bowls = no
| polltype = Rankings from final NAIA Coaches' Poll
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://carrollathletics.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/mike-van-diest/117 Carroll (MT) profile]
{{Carroll Fighting Saints football coach navbox}}
{{AFCA Division II Coach of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Diest, Mike}}
Category:Year of birth uncertain
Category:Carroll Fighting Saints football coaches
Category:High school football coaches in Montana
Category:Mary Marauders football coaches
Category:Montana Grizzlies football coaches
Category:Montana State–Northern Lights football coaches
Category:Northwestern Wildcats football coaches
Category:Strength and conditioning coaches
Category:UMass Minutemen football coaches
Category:Wyoming Cowboys football coaches
Category:Wyoming Cowboys football players
Category:Sportspeople from Helena, Montana