Fall 2023 Issue

Longtime Central College Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Jack Walvoord ’54, passed away in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 23, 2023. He was surrounded by family members, including his youngest daughter, Jane Walvoord Newman ’80. He was 92.

Walvoord journeyed to Central from Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, in 1950. He was a four-year letterwinner as Central’s point guard, served as a team captain and returned 12 years after graduating as the men’s head basketball coach — becoming the longest-tenured and winningest men’s basketball coach in school history.

Walvoord succeeded his college coach, Marinus Kregel, at Central in 1966. He posted a 380-315 record over 29 seasons, the third-longest tenure of any Dutch head coach in any sport. His teams captured 10 Iowa Conference titles, including nine in his final 19 seasons, along with eight NCAA Division III tournament berths. He had a combined high school/college record of 505-375. He was also Central’s baseball coach from 1966-67 and men’s cross country coach from 1966-73.

Walvoord was inducted into Central’s Athletics Hall of Honor in 2012.