Head basketball coach John Tharp finished in second place for the Fan’s Choice Division II Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year award by Hero Sports. Tharp received 34 percent of the votes, losing first place to Bart Lundy from Queen’s University of Charlotte by just 28 votes, which amounted to less than half of a percentage point.
Tharp lead the Chargers to 21-10 record in the 2017-18 season, which ended with a berth to the NCAA tournament — Hillsdale’s first since 2012
According to members of Tharp’s team, it’s Tharp’s action both on and off of the court which make him a great coach.
“I really like Coach Tharp. He’s very intense, but he’s good at being a friend,” junior forward Gordon Behr said. “He pushes the idea that we’re like a family away from home.”
Tharp has coached at Hillsdale College for 11 years. He previously coached at Lawrence University for 13 years and played as a point guard for Beloit College. He said one of his goals as a coach is to “make the players the very best player and very best young men we can make them.”
Junior forward Nick Czarnowski said Tharp is someone who genuinely cares about the athletes he coaches.
“He’s continually pushing me,” Czarnowski said. “He’s put in a lot of time with me. He cares about his players.”
According to Tharp, the family-like atmosphere of the team is part of what make the Charger program special.
“It’s a very close-knit group of people,” Tharp said. “It’s the idea that we’re here for each other not only for the four years at Hillsdale, but the rest of our lives.”
