Men's Basketball Assistant Coach Tyler Whitcomb Joins Admissions

A familiar face on the Kuyper campus is taking on more
responsibilities for the College.

Tyler Whitcomb already has been working for Kuyper for the past two
years as the head coach for the College’s men’s developmental
basketball teams. This fall he has added adjunct teaching in the
Kuyper Sports Management minor and also is now the first-ever
Athletics Liaison/Admissions Counselor for the College, a part-time
position housed in the Admissions department.

Director of Admissions Ann Essenburg noted that the brand-new position
for Kuyper plays right into Whitcomb’s many strengths as it sees him
working closely with the athletic department and all coaches to
recruit incoming student-athletes and assist them through the
admissions process.

“Tyler has been highly successful at recruiting students to Kuyper for
the basketball program and is connected around the state within the
athletics community,” she said. “He is respected as a coach and brings
incredible experience to the position.”

Whitcomb has a Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Recreation Management
from Concordia University of Chicago and has worked in athletics for
most of his life, including most recently as principal, athletic
director and director of operations at Martin High School. He also has
extensive experience on the business side of sports and was a Grand
Rapids Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree for top business Leaders
as a result of his work as owner of the Grand Rapids Flight and the
Holland Blast of the International Basketball League.

He said transitioning from pro sports and high school sports to Kuyper
athletics has been seamless, and he’s thrilled to be joining the
admissions team.

“From the start, I loved the Kuyper mission,” he said. “I also loved
working with young men who are looking to be inspired and the
recruiting and networking aspects of my basketball role. Over the past
two years, I’ve given over 200 campus tours, and my passion for
recruiting and connecting with students led to opportunities to teach
at the College. When the Admissions position opened up, it felt like a
natural next step for me.”

Whitcomb said the chance to contribute to Kuyper in multiple ways,
including in Admissions as a counselor, in the classroom as a teacher
and on the sidelines as a coach, is a dream come true.

“I’m excited to collaborate with a dedicated team to streamline and
enhance the enrollment experience,” he said. “I look forward to
working with colleagues to develop innovative strategies that make the
admissions process more engaging and effective.”

Who Kuyper is as a Christian college is always at the center of his
work, he added.

“Being a student-athlete at a Christian college means integrating
faith into every aspect of your life,” he said. “It’s about pursuing
excellence not just in your sport but in your character and academic
performance, guided by Christian values.”

Community, he said, also is a big part of the student-athlete
experience at Kuyper.

“This is a close-knit community that values learning through a
Christian perspective,” he said. “And we have a faculty and a staff
that is dedicated to guiding all of our students in their educational
journey while supporting their personal and spiritual development. I’m
eager to contribute to Kuyper’s mission by helping prospective
students find their place within our vibrant community and ensuring
they have a smooth transition into their academic and athletic
pursuits.”