MSUM COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
· Average 21 wins per year.
· Won 300th game vs Bemidji State on Jan, 11, 2019
· National Coach of the Year & Central Region Coach of the Year (2015).
· Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year (2015).
· Six NCAA Tournament appearances (2012, 2015 ,2016, 2017, 2021 & 2022).
· Four NSIC North Division Titles (2014-17).
· Two NSIC Regular Season Championships (2015, 2017).
· Won school’s first ever NSIC Tournament Championship (2022).
· Won or played for a NSIC championship seven out of last 11 seasons.
· 110-24 overall and 73-15 conference record during four consecutive seasons (2014-17).
· Led teams to five NSIC Tournament Championship games (2012, 2015, 2016, 2021 & 2022)
· In second season led team to 1st NCAA Tournament appearance since 1965.
· In second season led team to 1st 20 win season since 1981-82.
· Six players have received All-American or All-Central Region honors
· 24 players selected All-NSIC, with two players receiving NSIC Player of the Year honors.
· Coached 10 1,000-point scorers.
· National Coaches Poll ranked 31 straight weeks (highest ranking #3), including 24 weeks in top 10 over the course of two seasons (2014-16).
· Ranked 1st in NCAA Team: Fewest Fouls per Game (2013), Assist/Turnover Ratio (2015), Fewest Turnovers per Game (2015 & 2017).
· Ranked 1st in NCAA Individual: Free Throw Percentage (2015), Assist/Turnover Ratio (2016 & 2017).
· Two of Walthall’s assistant coaches have been hired as head coaches in the NSIC (UMD, Crookston).
Head Coach
In 12 seasons as head men’s basketball coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Chad Walthall has continued to enhance his reputation as a program builder, and now a perennial leader in the NSIC. Walthall remarkably has led teams to winning seasons in conference play for 18 of his 19 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
The Dragons continue to be recognized as one of the most consistent programs in the country, as they have averaged 21 wins per year in his 12 seasons at MSUM. He garnered national recognition at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet in April 2015, where Walthall was awarded with the Clarence “Big House” Gaines National Coach of the Year Award. The honor is given annually to the top Division II coach in the country. In addition, Walthall was also recognized as Central Region Coach of the Year and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year.
Posting an 89-16 record from 2015-17, including a 58-8 record in conference play, MSUM is poised to continue its success in the future under Walthall. The Dragons’ 12-year success under Walthall has seen MSUM produce a 240-120 record, and an outstanding 160-86 in NSIC play. In the five years before Walthall was hired, the Dragons posted just a 63-74 record. MSUM has reached 19 or more wins 9 out of 11 seasons (shortened covid year not included) during Walthall’s tenure, including earning 30 or more wins in back-to-back seasons (2014-15, 2015-16).
In 2021-22, MSUM put together an outstanding stretch to close the season, winning eight games in a row on its way to the first NSIC Tournament Championship in school history. The Dragons beat two teams ranked in the top 12 nationally (No. 5 Augustana and No. 12 Minnesota Duluth) in back-to-back games in the semifinal and championship games to record the title. Junior Gavin Baumgartner earned NSIC Tournament MVP honors with Gatdoar Kueth and Lorenzo McGhee earning all-tournament honors. The conference tournament championship clinched the sixth NCAA tournament trip in Walthall's tenure. McGhee was named to the All-NSIC First Team while Baumgartner earned second team honors. Freshman guard Jacob Beeninga earned the NSIC Elite 18 Winner, giving MSUM the award three straight years.
The global pandemic made the shortened 2020-21 season unprecedented. The Dragons were a tightly united team that despite many challenges associated with the virus, which included the cancelation of games, persevered with just one loss in conference play. During the regular season the Dragons defeated the No. 1 ranked team in the country Northern State on their home floor. The Dragons advanced to the NSIC tournament Championship game which also assured a NCAA berth for the fifth time in the last 10 seasons. The Dragons won their NCAA first round game vs Wayne State and advanced to the regional semi-finals. Junior Lorenzo McGhee was recognized with first-team All-Conference honors, and also named to the All-District Central Region second team. Junior Bryce Irsfeld was selected All-NSIC second team while honorable mention went to sophomore Dane Zimmer. Junior Gavin Baumgartner reached the 1,000-point club and senior Jake Mertens was selected Academic NSIC Elite 18 winner for the second year in a row.
In 2019-20 the Dragons were inexperienced as it consisted of only one senior and two juniors. Despite the youthful roster the Dragons earned a third seed in the NSIC conference tournament and advanced to the semifinals with wins vs Wayne State and Upper Iowa. Senior captain Johnny Beeninga finished his career as part of the 1000 point club and sophomore Gavin Baumgartner was recognized for his outstanding play with first-team all-conference honors. Also, Jake Mertens was named NSIC Elite 18 winner for achieving the highest academic standard among his peers.
The 2018-19 season showed great improvement and optimism for the future as the Dragons led the NSIC with a 12-win improvement from the previous year. The team also led the NSIC in offensive points per game (86.1) and field goal percentage (52%). This was accomplished playing 5 freshmen that started or played significant minutes. Seniors Addison Park (first-team All-Conference) and Traevon Coad (second-team All-Conference) led the team thru out the season. Addison also finished his Dragon career as a member of the 1,000-point club.
During 2017-18, the Dragons greatly improved thru out the season as they strived for long term success and their continued tradition. The season was highlighted by an upset over NCAA regional semi-finalist Southwest State. Senior point guard Tanner Kretchman finished his career as the all-time assist leader in Dragon history. Tanner led the NCAA for two seasons in assist/turnover ratio in 2016 & 2017.
In 2016-17, an experienced group of upperclassmen posted a 24-6 record, winning the NSIC Regular Season Championship for the second time in the last three years, and the NSIC North Division title for the fourth consecutive season. MSUM made its third consecutive NCAA Tournament, marking four out of six years under the direction of Walthall. For the second consecutive season, the Dragons posted a 19-3 mark in NSIC play. Senior guard Aaron Lien was honored with Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Year, D2CCA All-Central Region First Team, NABC Division II All-District Central Region First Team and NABC All-American. Junior guard Tanner Kretchman was awarded spots on the NSIC All-Conference First Team and 2017 NABC Coaches' Division II All-District Central Region Second Team.
In 2015-16, the experienced MSUM team posted a 30-6 record and won the NSIC North Division title for the third consecutive season. MSUM’s postseason run included a trip to the NSIC Tournament Championship game and another NCAA Tournament appearance, the third in five years under Walthall. The Dragons posted a 19-3 conference record and recorded a school record of 16 straight victories during the season. Under Coach Walthall, MSUM has been ranked in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Poll for 31 straight weeks, including 24 weeks spent in the top 10 of the poll. The 2015-16 Dragons ended with a No. 7-ranking and earned the highest ranking in school history at No. 3 during the season.
The 2014-15 season was a memorable one as Walthall led the Dragons to a 35-4 record (most wins in school history) and a NCAA Tournament appearance for the second time in his tenure. MSUM’s postseason run included a trip to the NSIC Tournament Championship game, a NCAA Central Region Championship and an Elite 8 appearance, the first appearance in school history. The Dragons were crowned NSIC regular season champions and NSIC North Division champions after posting a 20-2 conference record. Walthall was named NSIC Coach of the Year while senior guard Jordan Riewer was named Player of the Year.
In 2013-14, a young MSUM team with only two seniors posted a 21-8 record and won their first NSIC North Division title in the last regular season game in overtime vs University of Mary. It was a memorable night as the Dragons had won their first championship in 32 years (1981-82). They would advance to the conference semifinals with wins over Concordia St. Paul and Upper Iowa.
In 2012-13, MSUM started the season with a 13-1 record, but due to untimely injuries the Dragons went thru a difficult mid-season slump only to end the regular season winning 3 games in a row to finish with an over-all record of 19-11.
In Walthall’s second season (2011-12), the Dragon squad advanced all the way to NSIC conference championship game as well as returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1965. The Dragons recorded a first-round win in the tournament and advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals, posting a 21-10 record in the 2011-12 campaign. It was the first 20 win season for the MSUM program since 1981-82.
In Walthall’s first season (2010-11), he proved he was more than capable of rebuilding the Dragon basketball program. In 14 years prior to his arrival, the program had won only 40 percent of its games and posted just two winning conference seasons. Walthall led the Dragons to their first over-all (15-12) and NSIC (12-10) winning season since 2002-03.
MSUM PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
- Dragons have earned 24 individual first or second team NSIC All-Conference honors.
- Two players have been named Most Valuable Player in the NSIC.
- Six players have received All-American honors or named to the All District Central Region team.
- Lorenzo McGhee was named to the 2021 NABC DII All-Central District Second Team
- In the 2016-17 season, Aaron Lien, was named the NSIC Player of the Year, and named to the Division II Conference Commissioner's Central Region Men's Basketball All-Region First Team.He was also selected to the NABC Division II All-District Central Region First Team, the NABC All-American Team and was awarded a spot in the 2017 Reese's Division II All-Star Game.
- Tanner Kretchman was a 2017 NABC Division II All-District Central Region Second Team selection, as well as NCAA Statistical Champion for the 2nd consecutive season (‘2016 & ‘2017) in Assist/Turnover Ratio.
- After the 2015-16 season, Isaac Sevlie was selected to compete in the NCAA Division II NABC All-Star game, was named the Division II CCA All-Central Region Second team and the NABC All-District team. Sevlie was also named the NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year.
- Jordan Riewer was named NSIC Player of the Year and was named an All-American in three different publications.The NABC First Team, Basketball Times Second team, and the Daktronics Third team).
- Walthall produced another player in Alex Novak who played for the Dragons from 2009-2013.Alex finished his career as an All-Central Region Second team selection, and a CoSida Capital One Academic All-American.
- Walthall has produced nine players who have scored over 1,000 points in their college career.
Prior to arriving at MSUM, Walthall was an assistant coach in the Big Ten Conference at Iowa from 2007-10. While on the Hawkeye coaching staff, he assisted in recruiting Iowa's 2010 recruiting class which was ranked 20th in the nation and third in the Big Ten, by Van Coleman. Walthall also served as interim Head Coach for the Hawkeyes for four games, while Head Coach Todd Lickliter (2007 NABC Coach of Year) was sidelined due to health reasons.
Walthall’s head coaching experience has a history of rebuilding basketball programs. In 2000 he was hired as Head Basketball Coach at Loras College. He served seven seasons (2000-07) becoming the third winningest coach in school history. He also served as Director of Athletics from 2004-07.
Walthall was named 2006-07 Iowa Intercollegiate Conference (IIAC) Coach of the Year while leading the Duhawks to a 15-1 conference record and the IIAC title. It was the first IIAC title for Loras since the 1950-51 season and its most conference wins in school history. Along with achieving regular season success, Walthall led Loras to its first IIAC tournament title and first NCAA tournament berth in school history. His seven-year mark at Loras was 116-69.
In Walthall's first season of rebuilding the program, Loras dramatically improved to finish fourth in the IIAC and hosted its first conference tournament game in school history. Walthall progressively built Loras into a perennial league contender and one of the top Division III programs in the West Region.
Walthall led Loras to winning seasons in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in each of his seven seasons. In his last three years, Loras won 77 percent (37-11) of its league games, more than any other basketball program in the IIAC. In his final two seasons, Loras posted a 22-3 home record, including 11-game winning streaks in both 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Walthall has continuously proven he is a highly successful recruiter. He left the Loras program in strong shape, as they returned all five starters after Walthall left. Those graduating seniors had the best conference (50-14) and overall record of any IIAC team during their four-year career. Additionally, they ended with the second best winning percentage of any four-year period in school history. Walthall recruited 11 players who earned 19 all-conference selections, including an IIAC Player of the Year, a two-time all-region honoree, a two-time All-American and five 1,000-point scorers. In 2005, Loras was recognized as the best small college recruiting class in Chicago by Hoop Scoop magazine.
Walthall took over the Loras program after serving as assistant coach at Eastern Michigan for two years (1998-2000) and St. Olaf College for four years (1994-98). He was a high school head coach at Redwood Valley for one season (1993-94), and graduate assistant coach at St. Cloud State University for two years (1991-93). While at St. Cloud State he also served as head coach for a Collegiate All-Star team that traveled to Europe.
Seven assistant coaches who have worked with Walthall at MSUM and Loras have advanced to head coaches at the collegiate level.
PERSONAL
Walthall attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., earning a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Health. While at St. Cloud State he earned his master's degree in Athletics Administration. As a collegiate athlete at Concordia, Walthall played quarterback and was part of two Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) football championships. He earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior.
As a high school athlete in Staples, Minn., Walthall was captain, and three-year starter in football, basketball, and baseball, earning numerous All-Conference honors. His 1986 basketball team placed as a state runner-up and he was selected to play in the Minnesota All-Star basketball game as a senior. With his success as a high school athlete, Chad was selected into the Staples-Motley Hall of Fame in just its third year.
Walthall is a native of Staples, Minn. and currently resides in Moorhead. He and his wife, Jenni, have four children, a daughter Brooke, twin sons Brady and Blake, and son Beau.
CHAD WALTHALL FILE
2010-2022: Minnesota State University Moorhead, Head coach
2007-2010: University of Iowa, Assistant Coach
2000-2007: Loras College, Head Coach
1998-2000: Eastern Michigan, Assistant Coach
1994-1998: St. Olaf College, Assistant Coach
1993-1994: Redwood Valley High School, Head Coach
1991-1993: St. Cloud State University, Graduate Assistant
