Dwight Gingerich, who has more than four decades of coaching and educational leadership experience and a track record of success, has been named as Goshen College’s new athletic director and head men’s basketball coach.
Gingerich, a member of the Iowa High School Basketball Hall of Fame who currently serves as head of school and head boys basketball coach at Hillcrest Academy in Kalona, Iowa (formerly named Iowa Mennonite School), will begin his new roles on July 1.
“I am thrilled that Dwight will join the Goshen College community in these important leadership roles,” said President Rebecca Stoltzfus. “Dwight is exceptionally qualified for this dual role, with a long and distinguished career that has demonstrated educational leadership and exceptionally competitive basketball coaching. He is fully committed to the student-athlete experience, creating a faith-based culture of excellence, and brings a combination of passion, composure and discipline. We look forward to welcoming him back to the Goshen community.”
Gingerich has been a leader in high school administration and athletics at Hillcrest Academy for almost all of his 40-plus-year career. He has been the head boys basketball coach at Hillcrest from 1981-2000 and then again from 2001-2025. His only gap was during a one-year leave of absence when he came to Goshen to serve as the interim head men’s basketball coach for the Maple Leafs in the 2000-01 season, and was named the conference co-coach of the year. With a career record of 759-239, Gingerich ranks fourth all-time in wins in the history of Iowa high school basketball coaches. He was an inductee into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024. The last time one of his teams had a losing record was in 1996 and Hillcrest has honored him by naming the gymnasium after him.
Since 2018, Gingerich has served as the principal and head of school at Hillcrest. He was the athletic director at Hillcrest Academy from 1986-87 and again from 2011-19. He has also served as assistant administrator and school counselor during his tenure. Gingerich was the volleyball coach for 13 years and compiled a record of 345-101.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve at IMS, now Hillcrest Academy. I have been blessed with great teammates on our staff and amazing support from our school community,” Gingerich said. “And now, I’m truly excited for this new opportunity, and I look forward to how I can serve the Goshen College student-athletes and community as a leader and coach. I love to see a team come together selflessly, encourage one another and bring out the best in each other.”
While his teams haven’t always been characterized by their height, speed or athletic talent, Gingerich is known for maximizing every player’s individual strengths, uniting them and focusing on the power of the collective system. His basketball teams made it to the state tournament 12 times: winning the 1992 Iowa state championship game, being runner-ups four times and finishing third on another occasion. He has been recognized as coach of the year 26 times by coaching organizations in Iowa and twice by national organizations.
“Our family loved our time at Goshen and I am very grateful to President Stoltzfus and the search committee for this opportunity to return,” Gingerich said. “I am excited to lean into the college’s core values of Christ-centeredness, passionate learning, servant leadership, compassionate peacemaking and global citizenship, as we work together to grow Maple Leafs Athletics.”
Gingerich earned his bachelor’s degree in health/physical education from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and a master’s degree in counselor education from the University of Iowa. He has served on the Board of Directors at Hesston College since 2017 and was previously a board member of the Iowa College Access Network Advisory Board and the Iowa Basketball Association. During his year working at Goshen College, he also served as an admissions counselor and physical education instructor. Eastern Mennonite University honored him as the Alumnus of the Year in 2010.
Gingerich is married to Mo Rhodes Gingerich, a 1986 Goshen College alumna. Their three young adult children, Michaela, Eli and Caleb are also GC graduates.
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