KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Former Northwestern men’s basketball head coach Kris Korver has been selected for induction into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Fame.
In 25 seasons at the helm, Kris Korver accumulated a record of 574-225, closing his time on the Bultman Center sidelines with the 26th-most wins among current and former NAIA coaches, and fourth among active NAIA coaches. Since starting his collegiate coaching career in 2000, Korver won two NAIA Division II national titles (’01, ’03), made 19 trips to the NAIA tournament, finished atop the GPAC standings nine times, and won the GPAC tournament title six times. In their 19 NAIA tournament appearances, Korver’s teams went 28-17 and made the field in eight of his final nine seasons.
Under Korver’s direction, 49 Raiders received All-American accolades. He coached one NAIA Player of the Year (Brandon Woudstra, ’03), seven GPAC Players of the Year, five GPAC Freshmen of the Year, and two GPAC Defensive Players of the Year.
“Coach Korver is well-known in the college basketball world as a legend on the sidelines,” Northwestern Vice President for Athletics Tony Hoops stated. “Coaches across the country admired how his team competed with tremendous intensity and strong attention to detail. I realized while working with him the Hall of Fame-worthy impact he has made on the game, our community, and the lives of thousands of young men.”
Korver’s influence grew beyond the basketball court into the campus community. His ministry through basketball helped prepare young men to be faithful husbands and fathers and to develop “healthy and Holy habits.” Korver introduced Northwestern’s Monday Mornings for Men, a weekly gathering of men from Northwestern and beyond who work to better themselves through Biblical relationships and community. Additionally, he mentored students as an instructor in kinesiology for various coaching, leadership, and activity courses.
His service to the school exceeds his years as a head coach, as the 1992 Northwestern graduate was a four-year member of the basketball program and served in admissions prior to his coaching career. Korver was a guard for the 1991-92 Red Raider team that finished as national runners-up under coach Todd Barry.
Korver resides in Orange City with his wife, Ann (’93). Their three children, Christian (’20), Elizabeth (’23), and Luke, have all attended Northwestern.
He becomes the fourth coach in Northwestern history to be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, joining Larry “Bubb” Korver, Paul Bartlett, and Earl Woudstra.
ABOUT THE NAIA HALL OF FAME
Since it was founded in 1952, the NAIA Hall of Fame Award has been the highest honor presented by the Association. Honorees have demonstrated high moral character, fine leadership ability and must be held in high esteem by their colleagues, coaches and athletes. The Hall of Fame consists of a division for each sport currently or formerly sponsored by the Association and a division for general meritorious service to the NAIA. Each sport division is divided into three categories: athlete, coach and meritorious service.
