Chris Fear is the new head coach of the Kansas Wesleyan Men’s Basketball program as announced by Director of Athletic Programs Dr. Matt Williams.
Fear was selected after a nationwide search that produced nearly 200 applicants. The search was narrowed to five candidates who interviewed last week.
“Coach Fear fits the mold of what we are looking for at Kansas Wesleyan,” said KWU President Fletcher Lamkin. “He is committed to excellence on and off the floor, raising the bar in our basketball program just as we are in all university activities.”
“I feel Chris is an outstanding choice to lead the Men’s Basketball program,” said KWU Head Women’s Basketball Coach Gordon Reimer, who served on the search committee. “His experience at Dana College makes him a great fit for Kansas Wesleyan. He knows how to recruit the type of student-athlete we need to be successful in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.”
Fear wants complete success for the student-athletes in his charge. He emphasizes that student-athletes should work to become the best players they can be on the court and the best scholars they can be in the classroom.
A rival coach disclosed, “Coach Fear’s reputation is to have his players well prepared and they go out and play hard every night. His goal is to not only have his teams succeed on the floor, but in the classroom and ultimately in life as well.”
Fear was most recently at Midland University in Fremont, Neb., where he served as an assistant coach after spending the previous ten seasons at Dana College in Blair, Neb. Dana abruptly closed on June 30 due to financial difficulties after 126 years.
Fear inherited a program at Dana that had won just 30 percent of its games in school history and led the Vikings to their highest winning percentage of any decade in school history. During his last three seasons as head coach, the Vikings defeated eight nationally ranked opponents and had a .513 winning percentage outside of GPAC play. He coached two NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball All-Americans, 27 All-Conference selections and 23 NAIA Scholar-Athletes while at Dana. His teams had 20 straight semesters with a grade point average over 3.0.
Prior to Dana, Fear spent four seasons at Calvin College (Mich.) as head assistant for the men’s basketball program. During his tenure at Calvin, the Knights were 82-27 overall and twice won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship, and also won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2000.
As a player, Fear prepped at Clay Central – Everly (Iowa) where he was named an All-Iowa State performer. He continued onto an excellent playing career at the University of Sioux Falls before joining the Calvin College staff.
Fear graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health and Physical Education with a minor in Social Science from Sioux Falls in January, 1996, and continued on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Physical Education from Western Michigan University in 1999.
Fear and his wife Kari have three children Alix, Emma and Madison.
What others are saying about Coach Fear:
“Kansas Wesleyan is getting a great basketball coach and even better person. Chris will work hard every day. He knows the game and teaches the game well. He is a relationship builder; his teams will feel a strong sense of community that will ultimately spill over to the entire campus.” – Kevin Vande Streek, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Calvin College
“Chris was a great Colleague at Dana College. We worked side by side the last six years and we were always strong allies. He and Kansas Wesleyan will have great success together.” – Bill Danenhauer, Former Athletic Director, Dana College
“Chris is an outstanding person. His personal and professional lifestyle is impeccable, his family values are evident in all that he does and his Christian commitment is obvious in his daily living. He will represent himself on and off the basketball court in a manner that reflects well on Kansas Wesleyan University. Chris characterizes excellence as a coach. His knowledge of the game, his coaching style, his demeanor on the sidelines, and his desire to grow professionally serve him well. Mr. Fear’s experiences at Dana College will effectively support him as the Head Basketball Coach at Kansas Wesleyan University. His teams at Dana College were always well prepared, executed game plans with precision, played consistently to their fullest potential, and represented the college well.” – Les Douma, Former Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director, Northwestern College (Iowa)
“Kansas Wesleyan has made an excellent choice by selecting Chris Fear as their next basketball coach. Coach Fear has a great passion for the game and will build the program with incredible work ethic and great integrity!” – Todd Barry, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Briar Cliff University