EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University athletic department announces that Corey Anderson will become the ninth men’s basketball coach in school history. He is joined by fellow former assistant coach Mark Holmes, who has been elevated to Associate Head Coach. Both assignments are effective immediately.
Michael Fuller, Vice President for Student Development, said, “We are very excited to have both Corey Anderson and Mark Holmes leading our men’s basketball program. I believe that Corey and Mark have the passion, knowledge, commitment, and ability to bring Northwest Christian University basketball to another level. Throughout each of their careers they have demonstrated the ability to be both leaders and teachers, something that is very important to me and Northwest Christian. They are men of strong character who will lead our student-athletes and embrace NCU’s mission. This is an exciting day for Beacon Basketball.”
Anderson has been an assistant coach with the program for the past four seasons. Prior to joining the Beacons coaching staff in 2005, Anderson had a very successful coaching career at Marist High School in Eugene, Oregon, where he set a school record for wins and led the Spartans to six state tournament appearances, earning four trophies. In 2001, Marist won the 3A State Championship after a 21-9 season, earning Anderson the OACA Coach of the Year award. He also earned Sky-Em League Coach of the Year honors in 2003. Anderson spend over eight years as the Athletic Director at Marist, with seven years combined as the AD/Head Coach.
Coach Anderson said, “I am very excited and humbled to be named the Head Basketball Coach at Northwest Christian University. My experience at Marist and especially my last four years working with Coach Lipp here at NCU have prepared me well for this roll. We met with the guys today and they were very excited and relived to have both Mark and I still involved in the program. Mark and I will be a great team together, leading by example of what true teamwork can accomplish. While the task to fill his shoes will be great, Coach has left the program with the cupboards full and well stocked for its immediate future.
Anderson is the successor to Dave Lipp, who announced his retirement last week after 23 years as the head men’s basketball coach for the Beacons. Anderson will begin his coaching and recruiting duties immediately, while also retaining his responsibilities as the Athletic Director for Northwest Christian.
A Northwest Christian University alumnus, Holmes has been an assistant coach for the past three seasons. Holmes was a member of the 1998 and 1999 NSCAA National Championship teams with the then Crusaders. He also previously worked as the Head Boys and Girls Basketball Coach at Crow High from 2000-2003, where he led his teams to back-to-back state playoff appearances.
Coach Holmes said, “I am honored to have the opportunity to continue coaching with the basketball program here at NCU. I am excited about the strong returning players and newly signed recruits who together have a good shot at being one of the top teams in our conference next season. Corey and I have worked together for the past three seasons and we have found that our individual coaching strengths really compliment one another. I look forward to working with Corey to continue the great tradition that Coach Lipp has built here at Northwest Christian University.”
The Northwest Christian men’s basketball team is coming off a successful 2008-2009 season. Picked to finish tenth in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, NCU went 11-9 in CCC play, finishing sixth. The Beacons won five of their final seven games, including upset victories over three teams ranked in the NAIA’s top-25.