Former NBA First Round Draft Pick Shaun Vandiver is the 16th head men’s basketball coach at Emporia State University. He is 78-93 with the Hornets at the end of his sixth season at Emporia State.
Vandiver led the Hornets to a 13-16 overall record and a 9-10 conference record in the 2016-17 season. The Hornets made it to the MIAA tournament for the fifth time in his six seasons. The Hornets lost five four year players in the 2017 class.
During the 2015-16 season, Vandiver led the Hornets to a 13-16 record, 10-12 in the MIAA, and making the MIAA Tournament for the fourth time in his five seasons. Terrence Moore made All-MIAA Second Team as a senior guard to lead the way for Emporia State. Transfers Charles McKinney and Kevin Allen both made honorable mention.
Vandiver failed to make the MIAA Tournament for the first time with Emporia State during the 2014-15 season. The Hornets compiled a 12-16 record, going 5-14 in the MIAA. Terrence Moore led the way as a junior guard, making All-MIAA Third Team.
He led the Hornets to an 18-13 record in the 2013-14 season and had increased the win total every year he has been at Emporia State. He has had a top eight seed in the MIAA Tournament in each of his first three years and in 2011-12 he became just the second coach in the MIAA to take his team to Kansas City for the conference tournament in his first head coaching job.
He spent ten years as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level, most recently at Boise State University. Vandiver was a key part of one of the biggest turnarounds in Boise State history in 2010-11. The Broncos were 22-13 and advanced to the semifinals of the CBI Tournament before falling to the Oregon Ducks 79-71 in Eugene, Ore. The 22 wins were a seven game improvement over the previous year.
“He has played the game at the highest levels, and he has a unique advantage teaching young men how to reach their potential in academics, basketball, and in life,” said ESU Director of Athletics Kent Weiser. “He’s a man known and respected throughout the coaching profession, and is known for his integrity, his skill as a teacher of the game, and his talent for recruiting.”
He began his coaching career in 2001-02 as volunteer assistant coach with Colorado while finishing his degree in sociology. In 2002-03 he moved on the University of Wyoming as a graduate assistant where he helped guide the Cowboys to a 21-11 record and NIT berth. His first full-time coaching position was at Bowling Green State in 2003-04. He moved on to Northern Colorado for the 2004-05 season as the Bears were finishing their transition to NCAA Division I. He returned to Wyoming for the 2005-06 season and was with the Cowboys for five seasons. The Cowboys played in the Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship game in 2006 and were in the CBI in 2009. In the classroom, Wyoming received its highest annual score in the history of the APR for the 2007-08 school year.
“It’s exhilarating to work at a university that shares the same passion for men’s basketball that I do,” said Vandiver. “My goals are to continue to bring success to Emporia State, maintain high academic standards and provide not only valuable basketball skills for the team, but important lessons for achieving success in life after basketball.”
The Bolingbrook, Ill. native was a key component in Hutchinson CC’s tournament run to the 1988 NJCAA National Championship. He transferred to Colorado following his freshman year and was named Big Eight Newcomer of the Year in 1989. His senior season, he led the Buffs to the National Invitation Tournament finals in New York City, where they finished third. He averaged a double-double in his career for the Buffaloes and ended his career as the third leading scorer (1,876) and rebounder (962) in CU history. After earning First-Team All-Big Eight honors as a junior and senior, he was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 25th pick of the 1991 NBA Draft.
After his collegiate career, Vandiver enjoyed a nine-year professional playing career in Europe. He played for teams in: Bologna, Italy (1991-92); Bilbao, Spain (1992-93); Girona, Spain (1993-94); Reggio Calabria, Italy (1994-95); Las Palmas, Spain (1995-97); and Madrid, Spain (1997-2001).
Vandiver is married to the former Danielle Dodgion, a native of Newton, Kan, They have five children - Aubrey, Amber, Garin, Alessandra and Gage.
Vandiver Year by Year
Emporia State head coach
Year Overall MIAA
2011-12 9-18 5-15 MIAA Tournament
2012-13 13-14 8-10 MIAA Tournament
2013-14 18-13 10-9 MIAA Tournament
2014-15 12-16 5-14
2015-16 13-16 10-12 MIAA Tournament
2016-17 13-16 9-10 MIAA Tournament
Total 78-93 42-70
Vandiver vs. MIAA Opponents
Central Missouri..............3-5
Central Oklahoma...........3-9
Fort Hays........................2-8
Lincoln University............5-4
Lindenwood University....2-3
Missouri Southern...........3-7
Missouri Western.............5-2
Nebraska-Kearney...........4-4
Northeastern State...........4-6
Northwest Missouri...........1-8
Pittsburg State..................6-5
Southwest Baptist.............5-5
Washburn University.........4-9
