Westerlund Steps Down as Director of Athletics and Head MBB Coach
April 5, 2023
LANSING, Mich. - Great Lakes Christian College has announced that Richard Westerlund, Athletic Director and Head Men's Basketball Coach, has resigned to take another head coach position. Westerlund was instrumental in creating an athletic program that grew from just over 20 to almost 100 student athletes. In Westerlund's five years, he took the Men's Basketball team to the National tournament four times, coached nine All Americans, won Great Lakes' first Regional Championship in 2023 and finished with 101 wins. He was instrumental in Great Lakes' Women's Soccer team winning its first National Championship in 2021.
Although this is difficult news for our campus family, we believe that just as the LORD brought Richard to GLCC, God has prepared someone to step into this role. The College wishes him the utmost success in his venture to come.
President Frank Weller commented: "The administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni wish Richard God's blessings on his future endeavors. Rich is a friend, and I and the GLCC family will always consider him a Crusader." Commenting on his transition, Coach Westerlund said, "I want to thank Great Lakes Christian College, the student-athletes, coaches, colleagues, President Carter,
President Weller, and Vice President Stauffer for giving a 27-year-old kid a chance to run a collegiate athletic department. This college is home and will always be home for me. You helped me grow in ways I never imagined. We achieved so much in the last five years that many didn't think was possible, and I am proud of those achievements. God blessed me with this opportunity, and it will always be in my heart. I will be cheering on my Crusader family for the rest of my life. Thank you for the memories."
President Weller, and Vice President Stauffer for giving a 27-year-old kid a chance to run a collegiate athletic department. This college is home and will always be home for me. You helped me grow in ways I never imagined. We achieved so much in the last five years that many didn't think was possible, and I am proud of those achievements. God blessed me with this opportunity, and it will always be in my heart. I will be cheering on my Crusader family for the rest of my life. Thank you for the memories."
Interested candidates for the position may contact Greg Stauffer, gstauffer@glcc.edu.