I believe change will energize the program. A different style and philosophy will be healthy as Utah Valley University continues to move forward. It is time to see a ‘new’ green sports coat on the sideline. – UVU coach Dick Hunsaker
Dick Hunsaker is leaving the Utah Valley sidelines after 13 seasons as the school’s men’s basketball coach.
Hunsaker announced his decision to step down, effective June 30, following the Wolverines’ regular-season finale on Saturday, a 74-69 victory over CSU Bakersfield.
“It has been a privilege to coach so many outstanding young men, and have them continue to include me in their lives has been extremely gratifying,” Hunsaker said in a statement. “I thank them for their positive influence on me and my family.”
UVU will play CSU Bakersfield on Thursday in the first round of the WAC tournament in Las Vegas. The Wolverines are 11-18 this season, including 5-9 in conference play.
Hunsaker has been a college coach for more than three decades, including stints as a Weber State assistant (1977-87), Ball State’s head coach (1989-93), an assistant at Utah (1998-2000) and the interim coach for the Utes in the 2000-01 season. That year, head coach Rick Majerus took a leave of absence after one game and Hunsaker led Utah to an 18-12 record; in the process, he was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.
At Ball State, he led the Cardinals to the NCAA tournament twice, including making the Sweet Sixteen his first season in 1989-90.
During his time as head coach at Utah Valley, Hunsaker has compiled a 198-128 record and helped the school transition from junior college status to becoming a Division I member — UVU made the move in 2003 and became a full-time Division I member in 2009 after a five-year transition period.
Last year, the Wolverines won the Western Athletic Conference regular-season title and made their first appearance in the NIT.
Hunsaker said the move will allow him to spend more time with family, including giving him and his wife the chance to pick up their son, Zachary, from his LDS Church mission in Africa.
“It has been a privilege to coach so many outstanding young men, and have them continue to include me in their lives has been extremely gratifying. I thank them for their positive influence on me and my family,” Hunsaker said in the statement.
“I believe change will energize the program. A different style and philosophy will be healthy as Utah Valley University continues to move forward. It is time to see a ‘new’ green sports coat on the sideline.”
One of his former student-athletes, Ronnie Price, sent his congratulations to his former coach on a successful career.
"Coach Hunsaker is the best coach that I have ever played for. He is a leader, role model, counselor, and since I've left UVU he has become and even closer friend to family and I,” the former UVU guard said in a statement. Price is a 10-year NBA veteran currently with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“He prepared me for the NBA, as well as life after basketball. I'm honored to have had a chance to play for him, and grateful to be able to call him family."
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