-
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
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- Phone:
- (231) 349-2607
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- Email:
- westenk@ferris.edu
Bio
The Ferris State University women's basketball program filled
its vacant full-time assistant coaching position with the
appointment of Kurt Westendorp prior to the
2010-11 campaign.
Westendorp, who spent the previous three seasons as the assistant
coach at NCAA Division III Albion, filled the role previously held
by Mark DeNoyelles. He assists with all aspects of the
program including administrative, recruiting and on-floor coaching
tasks.
"Words can't begin to express how excited I am that Coach
Westendorp has chosen to become a Bulldog," Dorow said. "His
background, knowledge and passion for the game is
exceptional. He also has strong connections with coaches
across the state of Michigan and his enthusiasm will attract
student-athletes to Ferris State University.
"He works hard to develop and refine player skills and will do
whatever it takes to maximize the potential of our women's
basketball players," she added.
A native of Dowagiac, Westendorp helped Albion post a 48-31
overall record in his three years under head coach Doreen Carden.
The Britons went 22-5 and reached the Michigan Intercollegiate
Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament Championship Game his
initial season in 2007-08 before posting 15-11 and 11-15 records in
2008-09 and 2009-10, respectively.
Along with his duties as the assistant women's basketball coach at
Albion, Westendorp also served as the program's head women's golf
coach and directed the squad to a fourth-place MIAA finish in
2008-09. He was the school's basketball camp coordinator and
also served as the women's basketball program's head junior varsity
coach.
Prior to his stint at Albion, Westendorp directed the varsity
girls basketball program at New Buffalo (Mich.) High School, where
he helped the program grow from 12 student-athletes in 2005 to 30
for the 2007-2008 school year. The Bison also improved on the court
under Westendorp by winning nine games, including a 5-3 record in
the Red Arrow Conference, in 2006.
Westendorp also served as the coach of New Buffalo's junior high
boys squad from 2005-07 where his teams combined to go 19-4 along
with a 14-2 record in league play. He was the head coach of
the Southwest Michigan Storm AAU Basketball Club in 2006-07 and
coached six elite players who went on to play college
basketball.
"Coach Westendorp genuinely cares about the kids in our program,
he sees the talent they possess and he will help me push them to
elevate their level of play," said Dorow. "I am thrilled to
have him on staff and believe that with coaches like himself, we
have high aspirations to return to the NCAA tournament."
He got his first taste for coaching at the collegiate level as a
student manager with the Valparaiso University men's and women's
basketball programs from 2001-05. Westendorp assisted the coaching
staff in office work, video recording and film breakdown,
recruiting visits, individual workouts, practice management, game
management, equipment management and travel.
In Westendorp's time with Valparaiso's NCAA Division I program,
the Crusaders combined for three Mid-Continent Conference regular
season championships and two Mid-Continent Conference tournament
championships while advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and
2004. They also played in the NIT in 2003. He
administered summer workouts for the men's team in 2002 under then
head coach Scott Drew.
Besides his collegiate and prep coaching experience, Westendorp
has also served as a camp coach at numerous locations over the
years including Michigan State, Notre Dame, Valparaiso and Stanford
along with camps ran by Athletes In Action, the Michigan All-State
Camp and the Dick Baumgartner Shooting Camp.
Westendorp, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from
Valparaiso, was a four-year member of the golf and basketball teams
during his prep career at Dowagiac Union High School. He played on
the prep level for his father, Allen, who's the current head coach
of the girls basketball program at Berrien Springs High School.