Notebook: Three long-time basketball coaches step down
Joe Modderman spend parts of 19 years at Allendale High School. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - There will be a few new faces on the sidelines next season in the West Michigan coaching ranks.
There are at least three job openings for boys varsity high school basketball coaches, according to employment website Indeed.com.
The openings are at Allendale, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and Wyoming Godwin Heights.
Joe Modderman was a star basketball player at Allendale before going onto star at Grand Valley State and Iowa State. He would coach Allendale after is playing career was done.
This is what Allendale High School posted on Twitter: “After 19 years, as a player, assistant coach and head coach with the AHS Boys’ Basketball program, Varsity Head Coach Joe Modderman is stepping down. The legacy he leaves from his APS Hall of Fame career, will be fondly remembered by everyone in our school community!”
Allendale was 2-21 last season.
Tyler Whittemore took over the Godwin Heights program in 2014 and the Wolverines have been a dominant force ever since. He led the Wolverines to the Class B state championship in 2015. The Wolverines were 14-8 last season with an 8-5 mark in the O-K Silver.
At Forest Hills Central, Kyle Carhart stepped down after the season. The Rangers were 12-11 overall and 8-6 in the O-K White Conference. Carhart, who graduated from FH Centrall, took over for Ken George in 2018. He previously coached at Lowell High School.
Former Godwin Heights coach Tyler Whittemore, left, and former Forest Hills Central coach Kyle Carhart have stepped down after the 2022-23 season. (Photos | Lenny Padilla).
CALVIN UNIVERSITY: Freshman Jalen Overway was named All-American third team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The 6-foot-9 center also was named MIAA Player of the Year in March.
CALVIN UNIVERSITY: Calvin is hosting three high school basketball camps this summer. A commuter camp June 19-23, an overnight camp July 24-27 and the Knight-Storm camp July 31-August 3. For more information, see mbball.calvinsportscamps.com
CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Dylan Jergens has transferred from Central Michigan to Concordia University. The graduate of Howardsville Christian High School has three years of eligibility left.
GODWIN HEIGHTS: Markeese Hastings is on the move again. The Godwin Heights grad has transferred from Western Michigan University to Robert Morris University. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 8.3 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Broncos. Hastings played his first two college seasons at Butler.
GRAND HAVEN: Harrison Sorrelle has committed to play basketball at the United States Air Force Academy. The 6-foot-6 senior guard was one of the top players in the O-K Red Conference this season. He also had an offer from Army. Sorrelle played travel ball for MBA Lakeshore the past two seasons.
SOUTH CHRISTIAN: First-year coach Taylor Johnson was named Region 7 Coach of the Year by the Boys Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. Johnson led his team to a 25-4 record and reached the Division 2 state title game.
