Mike Van Diest

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Bornc. 1951 or 1952 (age 72–73)
Helena, Montana, U.S.
1971–1972Wyoming
1974Wyoming
1975Washington Redskins*
Mike Van Diest
Biographical details
Bornc. 1951 or 1952 (age 72–73)
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.

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

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

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs NAIA#
Carroll Fighting Saints (Frontier Conference) (1999–2018)
1999 Carroll 5–65–33rd
2000 Carroll 10–46–21stL NAIA Semifinal3
2001 Carroll 10–27–11stL NAIA Semifinal3
2002 Carroll 12–27–11stW NAIA Championship1
2003 Carroll 15–08–01stW NAIA Championship1
2004 Carroll 12–26–2T–1stW NAIA Championship1
2005 Carroll 14–08–01stW NAIA Championship1
2006 Carroll 11–29–11stL NAIA Quarterfinal5
2007 Carroll 15–010–01stW NAIA Championship1
2008 Carroll 13–110–01stL NAIA Championship2
2009 Carroll 13–18–11stL NAIA Semifinal3
2010 Carroll 14–010–01stW NAIA Championship1
2011 Carroll 13–29–11stL NAIA Championship2
2012 Carroll 7–47–33rd21
2013 Carroll 12–29–11stL NAIA Seminfinal3
2014 Carroll 10–29–11stL NAIA Quarterfinal5
2015 Carroll 4–64–6T–4th
2016 Carroll 4–64–6T–5th
2017 Carroll 4–64–6T–5th
2018 Carroll 5–64–67th
Carroll: 203–54144–41
Total:203–54
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

References

External links

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