O-K Conference has at least 10 new coaches this season

Mike Thomas coaches his team during the Cornerstone Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27, 2022. This is his first season at East Kentwood after stops at Kalamazoo Central and Grand Blanc. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - There are a lot of new faces in the coaching ranks this season.

At least 10 O-K Conference schools with new boys varsity basketball coaches.

One of the biggest changes was East Kentwood hiring Mike Thomas, who has won three state championships, including leading Grand Blanc to each of the past Division 1 state title games. His team won the title in 2021.

“I like new challenges wherever I go,” Thomas said earlier this season. “I like the challenge of bringing history to different communities and programs. Even at Grand Blanc, they had never won a state title, that’s something that attracts me. I want to bring new experiences for the young men on the team.”

Thomas also won back-to-back Class A state titles at Kalamazoo Central in 2010 and 2011.

Taylor Johnson is in his first season at South Christian, one of the top programs in West Michigan every year.

He had been an assistant coach at Grand Valley State for the past six seasons. 

“I don’t think I would have taken this job without the kids,” Johnson said of the South Christian athletes. “They’re great kids. I had the opportunity to recruit a couple of them when I was at Grand Valley State. We had some of them out to campus, so I knew them a bit. This summer, just being a basketball fan in the area, I was at tournaments and I’m like ‘wow, that kid is pretty good’ and I find out they’re all on the same high school team. I’m like ‘whoa, that’s a big deal’.”

Jared Redell is the new coach at West Ottawa. He spent the past decade as the coach at NorthPointe Christian, where he led the Mustangs to the Class C state title game in 2015. Redell is a grad of West Ottawa, so he returns home. Justin Yoder, a former Cornerstone basketball player, replaced Redell at NorthPointe.

Matt Veltema is in his first year at Calvin Christian. The former Calvin College basketball player had been the school’s JV coach. He replaces Ryan Stevens, who stepped down after 24 seasons.

A different Ryan Stevens takes over at Comstock Park. Stevens was an assistant coach at and former player at Alma College. 

Jason Majerle begins his coaching career at Cedar Springs. Majerle played basketball at Rockford, under his dad Steve Majerle. He is the nephew of former CMU and NBA player Dan Majerle. He also played basketball at Alma College with Ryan Stevens. 

Another Rockford native returned to West Michigan. Joel Visser is the new coach at Greenville. He played on the 2003 Class A state championship team at Rockford.

Jared Redell on the sidelines during a game at Zeeland West on Dec. 9, 2022. Redell is in his first season at West Ottawa after a decade at NorthPointe Christian. He is a grad of West Ottawa, where he played basketball. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).