Mike Van Diest

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Mike Van Diest
Biographical details
Bornc. 1951 or 1952 (age 71–72)
Helena, Montana, U.S.
Playing career
1971–1972Wyoming
1974Wyoming
1975Washington Redskins*
Position(s)Guard, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1977Wyoming (GA)
1978Wyoming (DT)
1979Wyoming (co-JV)
1980–1985Montana (DL)
1986UMass (DL)
1987–1990Northwestern (DL)
1991–1998Wyoming (DL)
1999–2018Carroll (MT)
2020 (spring)Mary (assistant)
2020Helena HS (MT) (volunteer)
2021Montana State–Northern (DC)
Head coaching record
Overall203–54
Tournaments35–8 (NAIA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
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)

Mike Van Diest (born c. 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[edit]

Van Diest played college football for Wyoming between 1971 and 1974. He was listed as a tight end and offensive guard throughout his career.[1] Following his graduation in 1975, he signed with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker.[2]

Coaching career[edit]

Van Diest began his coaching career in 1977 as a graduate assistant for his alma mater, Wyoming.[3] In 1978, he was promoted to the defensive tackles coach position.[3] In 1979, he served as the co-head coach of the junior varsity team for Wyoming.[4] In that same year he was hired as the head strength and conditioning coach.[5]

In 1980, Van Diest was hired as the defensive line coach for Montana.[3] He maintained that position for six years before being hired in the same position for UMass.[6][7] After only one season with UMass, he was hired as the defensive line coach for Northwestern.[8] In 1991, he rejoined his alma mater as the defensive line coach.[9]

In 1999, Van Diest took his first head coaching position as the head football coach for Carroll College.[10] He maintained the position for twenty seasons and led the team to an overall record of 203–54 and six NAIA National Championships.[11] He retired after the 2018 season.[12][13]

In the spring of 2020, Van Diest came out of retirement to coach for Mary.[14] The season was ultimately cancelled due to COVID-19 before he coached a game for the Marauders.[15] He spent the fall of 2020 as a volunteer assistant for Helena High School.[15] In 2021, he joined Montana State–Northern as the team's defensive coordinator—his first coordinator position of his entire career.[15][16][17][18] He retired after one season.

Head coaching record[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs NAIA#
Carroll Fighting Saints (Frontier Conference) (1999–2018)
1999 Carroll 5–6 5–3 3rd
2000 Carroll 10–4 6–2 1st L NAIA Semifinal 3
2001 Carroll 10–2 7–1 1st L NAIA Semifinal 3
2002 Carroll 12–2 7–1 1st W NAIA Championship 1
2003 Carroll 15–0 8–0 1st W NAIA Championship 1
2004 Carroll 12–2 6–2 T–1st W NAIA Championship 1
2005 Carroll 14–0 8–0 1st W NAIA Championship 1
2006 Carroll 11–2 9–1 1st L NAIA Quarterfinal 5
2007 Carroll 15–0 10–0 1st W NAIA Championship 1
2008 Carroll 13–1 10–0 1st L NAIA Championship 2
2009 Carroll 13–1 8–1 1st L NAIA Semifinal 3
2010 Carroll 14–0 10–0 1st W NAIA Championship 1
2011 Carroll 13–2 9–1 1st L NAIA Championship 2
2012 Carroll 7–4 7–3 3rd 21
2013 Carroll 12–2 9–1 1st L NAIA Seminfinal 3
2014 Carroll 10–2 9–1 1st L NAIA Quarterfinal 5
2015 Carroll 4–6 4–6 T–4th
2016 Carroll 4–6 4–6 T–5th
2017 Carroll 4–6 4–6 T–5th
2018 Carroll 5–6 4–6 7th
Carroll: 203–54 144–41
Total: 203–54
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mike Van Diest". The Missoulian. September 26, 1985. p. 36. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "Mike Van Diest signs with Redskins". The Independent-Record. March 26, 1975. p. 9. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Mike Van Diest joins UM staff". The Independent-Record. January 13, 1980. p. 11. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Shurmur, Sally Ann (May 22, 1979). "Lewis previews UW grid program". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 9. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "Van Diest hired". Casper Star-Tribune. June 14, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "UMass gets new grid assistant". Daily Hampshire Gazette. April 19, 1986. p. 17. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  7. ^ Perlmutter, David (July 24, 1986). "Building Div. 3 grid power means work, work, work". Daily Hampshire Gazette. p. 25. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Cole, Milton (April 28, 1987). "Ex-Patriot is UM coach". Daily Hampshire Gazette. p. 21. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Mossman, John (September 1, 1991). "Wacky WAC certain to feature excitement". Great Falls Tribune. p. 97. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Van Diest new Carroll football coach". The Billings Gazette. December 12, 1998. p. 24. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Carroll coach Mike Van Diest retires after 20 seasons, 6 NAIA titles". ESPN. Associated Press. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  12. ^ Mansch, Scott. "Coach Mike Van Diest: A Carroll College football legend retires". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  13. ^ "Carroll football coach Mike Van Diest retires after 20 seasons | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Legendary coach Mike Van Diest joins Marauders football coaching staff". University of Mary Athletics. February 10, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Shepard, Daniel (July 13, 2021). "'Coaching is my lifeline': Hall of Famer Mike Van Diest returns to Frontier Conference as Lights' defensive coordinator". NonStop Local KHQ. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "Mike Van Diest excited for opportunity to return to college football". MontanaSports.com (MTSPX). July 15, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Mike Van Diest excited to return to coaching". Havre Daily News. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  18. ^ Ferguson, George (July 12, 2021). "Carroll, NAIA legend Mike Van Diest hired to coach at MSU-Northern". Havre Daily News. Havre, Montana. Retrieved November 2, 2021.

External links[edit]

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