Head Coach Rick Van Pelt
Date of birth:
April 28, 1969		 Hometown:
Columbiana, OH
High school:
South Range High School (1987)		 College:
Messiah College (1991)
Years at Messiah:
9 overall/5 as Head Coach		 Family:
Wife (Marie), three daughters (Hannah, Rachel, Sarah)
Record at Messiah:
86-45		 Career Record:
N/A
Messiah reached back into its past to move into the future in Men's Basketball. When Rick Van Pelt was hired as the Men's Basketball coach at Messiah College in March of 2003, he had one goal-to firmly establish the Men's Basketball program as one of the top Christian College programs in the country. Through the first three full seasons, Coach Van Pelt has done exactly that. In his first season as coach of the Falcons, the blue-and-white turned in a 13-12 overall record. In his second season, the team posted a 20-6 record, its first 20-win campaign since the mid 1970's. Last season, the Falcons won the Commonwealth Conference Championship for the first time, and went to the NCAA Division 3 National Basketball Tournament before bowing out in the Round of 32.

Van Pelt, 36, a 1991 graduate, was a four-year varsity letterman. During the 1991 season Van Pelt captained the team that posted a 15-10 record and won the MAC Northwest Championship with a 12-4 record. After graduating from Messiah in 1991, Van Pelt spent two years as a part-time assistant coach under his former coach, Sam Harris.  

From 1994-1998 Van Pelt moved to the local high school ranks and was the head Boys basketball coach at Big Spring High School. During those four years he led the program to two District 3 playoff appearances after a nine-year absence. The Bulldogs also captured the 1995 and 1996 Mid Penn III Championships.

Van Pelt holds an Undergraduate Degree from Messiah College and a Masters Degree from Penn State University. He teaches several courses during the fall and spring semester in the Health and Physical Education Department.

Van Pelt resides in nearby Mechanicsburg with his wife, Marie, and their three daughters: Hannah, Rachel, and Sarah.