Greg Tonagel Announced as 2025 Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award Winner

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Kansas City, MO – Small College Basketball is extremely excited to announce Greg Tonagel as the 2025 Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award winner. Coach Tonagel is the sixth recipient of the distinguished Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award. Harry Statham had this to say about Coach Tonagel:

 

“Greg is a terrific selection for the Coach of Impact Award,” stated Statham. “He is the winningest coach in Indiana Wesleyan's basketball program history. He has won three NAIA National Championships and three National Coach of the Year awards. Greg is the youngest coach to reach 500 wins and has done it the fastest.  His accomplishments in such a short time are amazing. I am proud to be presenting Greg this award.”

 

Tonagel just completed his 20th season as the Head Coach of Indiana Wesleyan University. During his illustrious career, Tonagel has compiled a record of 550-144 and a 271-75 record in conference play. Tonagel has guided the Wildcats to three NAIA National Championships in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Furthermore, Tonagel’s teams have collected 13 Crossroads League Regular Season Championships and five Crossroads Leage Tournament Championship. Coach Tonagel had this to say about being named the 2025 Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award Winner:

 

"I am absolutely honored and appreciative to be recognized as this year's recipient of the Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award,” mentioned Tonagel. “The significance of this award is amplified by both what it stands for and the incredible legacy of the man it honors—Coach Harry Statham. Although Coach Statham had lots of success, it was his purpose in positively impacting young people that was his legacy.”

 

Tonagel is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Secondary Education and Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning. As a player, Tonagel led Valparaiso to four NCAA Tournaments. He helped win 20 games in each of his four years as a starter. Tonagel set the single season free throw record. Plus, Tonagel was an Academic All – Conference recipient, two – time Team Captain and Team Chaplain and Bible Study Leader.

 

Over the past 20 years, Tonagel has coached 24 NAIA All – Americans and a two time NAIA Player of the Year in Kyle Mangas. Mangas was also named the Bevo Francis Award Winner in 2020. Tonagel’s teams finished the season as the top ranked team in NAIA Division II four times. Indiana Wesleyan University Athletic Director Deane Webb had this to say about Tonagel:

 

“We are thankful for Greg and his desire to lead young men towards Christ,” stated Webb. “As a passionate, driven, and competitive coach, he has found considerable success on the court. That pales in comparison to his desire to see those in his program grow. Congratulations on this incredible and much deserved award!”

 

Tonagel has been named the NABC/NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year three times. He was named the 2021 Fellowship of Christian Athletes John Lotz “Barnabas” Award Winner. Tonagel currently holds the program records for: Winning Percentage, Total Wins, Most NAIA National Tournament Victories, Most National Tournament appearances, Most Crossroad Regular Season Championships, and Most Crossroads League Tournament Championships. Tonagel’s coaching mission is: To raise a generation of men who will trade the pursuit of “me” for the pursuit of “three.”

The purpose of the Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award is to honor a Coach that has used the power of the coaching platform to make a positive impact on players, coaches, and others. The Coach will be a person of high character and integrity who has served as an excellent role model, and who has deeply impacted the lives of others.

 

The annual winner of the Harry Statham Coach of Impact Award must have coached at the small college level for a majority of his career, and must have a high degree of personal character and integrity. The Coach may be a current or former Coach, and Small College Basketball will honor a living Coach with this award annually. In 2019 Bob Burchard, former Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Columbia (MO), was named the inaugural award winner. Concordia’s Ken Ammann was named as the winner in 2020, and there was no winner in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Steve Ridder of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical was named the winner in 2022. In 2023, Steven Jenkins of Evangel University received the award. After the 2024 season, Dave Holmquist of Biola was the recipient of the award.

 

The award is named after Harry Statham, former Head Basketball Coach at McKendree University. Coach Statham is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Basketball Hall of Fame. Upon the conclusion of his 52-year career at McKendree, Coach Statham’s 1,122 wins were the most by any men’s or women’s coach at a four-year college or university in the United States The only other coaches at a four-year institution with 1,000 wins are Pat Summitt, Danny Miles, Mike Krzyzewski, Herb Magee, Dave Holmquist, Tara VanDerveer, Geno Auriemma and Sylvia Hatchell.

 

Coach Tonagel will receive his award at the National Awards Show April 27th in Kansas City, MO. To nominate a candidate for the award, please send detailed information about the coach, along with examples of how the Coach has impacted the lives of others, to

harrystathamaward@gmail.com.

 

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