By Greg Chrapek
WKTV Contributor
While a student at Wyoming Park High School during the early 80s, Wyoming boys basketball coach Thom Vander Klay was influenced by a virtual who’s who of Wyoming Park coaches. It should have been no surprise that some 40 years later Vander Klay reached a coaching milestone when he won the 400th game of his head coaching career.
The only coach the Wolves have ever had for boys basketball and the former coach at Wyoming Park before it merged with Wyoming Rogers to form Wyoming High School, Vander Klay won game No. 400 when the Wolves defeated Holland Christian 51-49 on Jan. 30 this season. He was then recognized for the achievement during Wyoming’s victory against Grand Rapids Union on Feb. 9.
Wyoming Park grad and three-sport athlete
A 1982 graduate of Wyoming Park, Vander Klay was a three-sport athlete for the Vikings playing football, basketball and running track before heading off to Hope College where he played football and basketball.
Vander Klay credits his former coaches at Wyoming Park for getting him started down the path of coaching.
“We just had some fantastic coaches at Park,” Vander Klay said. “We had Jack Verduin for football and Rich Renzema for basketball and Frank Grimm was the track coach. Ron Engels was the baseball coach forever and Dick Locke was another outstanding coach. Those were some really, really good coaches in high school and I knew that I was going to pursue that.”
After graduating from Hope College in 1986, Vander Klay returned to Park where he began his coaching and teaching career. His first coaching jobs were with the junior varsity football and basketball teams at Wyoming Park.
“I was really a football guy and I planned to eventually coach the football team,” Vander Klay said, “but coach Verduin kept going and going and then our varsity Coach Kelly McEwen retired so I took over the basketball team in 1995. I worked under Coach Verduin in the fall and Coach McEwen in the winter and I learned tons of knowledge from both of them.”
Vander Klay parlayed that wealth of knowledge into a legacy of success at both Wyoming Park and later at Wyoming when Park and Rogers merged 12 years ago.
Whether at Park or Wyoming, the style of play has been very consistent.
“We usually have the same type of style,” Vander Klay said. “Our players are usually quite small, but they play quite fast. We have to play fast, shoot well and play hard. We play pressure defense and play up-tempo on offense. We play very fast on both sides of the court.”
During his coaching career Vander Klay has experienced plenty of highlights. A couple, however, stand out after all the years.
1998 team and Mr. Basketball Drew Neitzel stand out
“The run we had in 1998 when we came out of nowhere to win the league is one team that stands out,” Vander Klay said. “Of course, the teams that had Drew Neitzel, who won Mr. Basketball in 2004, stand out. That team was the only team to sell out the Breslin Arena when we played against Detroit Renaissance in the state semifinals.”
Those teams were not alone, however, in making memories that stand out.
“So many teams and players and moments to remember”
“There were so many teams and so many players and moments that you remember,” Vander Klay said. “It’s not only the successful teams either. I remember so many kids and teams. Looking back on all the kids you coach and the success they eventually have as adults. Those memories last with you. The relationships are what make it special. Also, our coaching staff. We have had such a consistent coaching staff throughout the years. The assistant coaches I’ve had have made it so easy for me as a head coach.”
The memories flooded back for Vander Klay during the ceremony commemorating his 400th win during the union game.
“It was so nice when they had the little ceremony at the game,” Vander Klay said. “Seeing the former teams and the former players and receiving the plaque. It was surprising and fun. The 400 wins is a longevity thing. I’ve coached a long time so you are going to pick up some wins.
“Wyoming is really important to me. I grew up here and live here, my kids went here, my grandson went here. Wyoming is an important piece of who I am. In so many ways it’s what I was called to do.”
