Tony Hoops is the new vice president for athletics at Northwestern College. A graduate of Bethel College, where he also served as the athletic director for six years and the men’s basketball coach for four years.
Other administrative achievements include multiplying both Bethel’s fundraising efforts and booster club membership by a massive percentage. With all this work, it is naturally difficult to pull oneself and family away to take on the next challenge elsewhere.
Hoops has plans to bring the athletics department to new heights while emphasizing the importance of mental health of athletes.
“The mental health epidemic of student-athletes is one that we will address much like concussions were addressed 15 years ago. I’ll lead our staff to be a caring resource for our athletes first, caring and supporting from Biblical perspectives the way Jesus taught us,” said Hoops.
He will be leading a study on a book for athletics staff by Jeff Duke, an expert on coaching. This work will assist coaches in having a holistic perspective in the development of student-athletes who often struggle with anxiety and depression.
Hoops plans to bring in a line-up of Christian speakers that will address this issue, as well as diversity, in workshops.
“We have an opportunity to enhance diversity within our athletic department both on our staff and on campus. By doing so, we can all grow collectively together to live out the mission of Northwestern College.”
Stan Johnson and Associates are the leaders of the NAIA and NCAA diversity initiative. Johnson will offer sessions at NW to educate students and staff. Big-name speakers and visions for the department will be partnered with a group of NW student-athletes, called student-athlete-leadership-team (SALT).
Other growth areas include the Raider Athletic Advancement Board, gameday student sections and marketing and social media.
“Our gift back to [God] is to use those to the fullest by bringing glory and honor to him being excellent in all that we do,” said Hoops.
