Kim Elders (Head Coach) kim_elders@cornerstone.edu
No program in NAIA Division II has experienced more success over the past six years than Cornerstone University’s. During that period, head coach Kim Elders has led his Golden Eagle teams to four Final Fours, three 30-plus win seasons, and one National Championship. Elders tops all coaches over the six-year span with 179 victories.
Elders, who begins his twelth season as the CU Coach, has a career record of 280-116. Elders’ teams have averaged 25 wins/year since he took the helm in 1993. His victories and winning percentage (.703) rank number one at the school. Since the 1995-96 campaign when the CU program began to establish national level status, Elders has garnered several coaching awards, including: WHAC Coach of the Year (’96 & ’99), NAIA National Coach of the Year (’99), NABC National Coach of the Year (’99), and BCAM Coach of the Year (’99). Elders also earned National Coach of the Year in 1996 in the NCCAA.
During his tenure, CU has been in the Top 20 seven times. He has coached nine academic All-Americans, 20 All-Conference players and nine All-Americans.
On three different occasions Elders has taken his teams overseas on mission’s trips. The first one was in 1998 to the Philippines. Two years later they spent three weeks in Singapore, ministering and putting on clinics. This past May, the team took a 12 day trip back to the Philippines, sharing the Gospel in many of the areas they did four years earlier.
“These trips were highlights of my career,” says Elders. “To use the abilities that God has given us to help further His kingdom is an opportunity not everyone gets. They were life-changing events for all of us.”
Elders began his coaching career in 1981 at Grand Rapids Baptist Academy, leading the JV Mustangs to a 70-29 record in five seasons. The next four years he spent at Freedom Baptist Academy where he guided that athletic program during it’s inaugural years. He served as Athletic Director and Boys Basketball Coach during that time.
Arriving at Cornerstone in 1990, Elders responsibilities included Assistant Basketball Coach and Baseball Coach. Three years later, he was named Head Basketball Coach, inheriting the team that went 8-24 the previous season.
Elders is a 1977 graduate of Grand Valley State University where he earned his B.A. in Physical Education. In 1993, he received his M.A. in Athletic Administration from Western Michigan University.
Besides coaching, Elders’ other responsibilities at CU include Associate Athletic Director and professor in the Kinesiology Department. He is married to Holly and has four step children: Nic , Zac, Cam, and Missy.
Jared Crandell - Assistant Coach
When Cornerstone University started to rise to national prominence in the mid-90’s, Jared Crandell was wearing his #4 uniform and scoring points for the Golden Eagles. A lot of points. By the time his career was over in 1996, Crandell had become Michigan’s All-Time Collegiate Scorer with 2,772 career points. A year later, his jersey was retired.
Crandell, who scored 1,006 of his points during his junior campaign, was named WHAC Player of the Year that season and also as a senior. Each of his final three years, Crandell was also selected as a NAIA All-American. As a senior he led CU to their first ever WHAC title and a Top 20 rating in the national polls. The Golden Eagles finished with a 24-10 record that year.
Crandell, equally successful in the classroom, maintained a 3.5 GPA and was a NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete both as a junior and a senior.
“Jared was certainly instrumental in turning our program around. He gave us instant credibility both locally and nationally. He was an incredible player not only to coach, but to watch,” says Elders.
Crandell, who is beginning his eighth year as an assistant coach CU, lives in Kentwood with his wife Ronda. They have one daughter, Madeline who will be two years old in December. He is currently in his fifth year of teaching social studies at Byron Center High School. Prior to this, Crandell taught social studies and coached Boys varsity soccer.
Lance Roark - Assistant Coach
Lance Roark has been an integral part of Cornerstone’s basketball success for fifteen years – three as a player and twelve as an assistant coach.
As a player, Roark is still considered one of the best point guards to put on a Golden Eagle uniform. During his senior year, he established a single season record when he dished out 243 assists, a mark that still stands. To go along with his 7 APG, Roark also averaged 15 PPG and 7 RPG, which earned him 1st Team All-Conference honors. He was equally successful in the classroom, maintaining a 3.3 GPA and was named to the WHAC All-Academic Team that same year.
As a coach, Roark has lent his expertise and experience to the CU program since his graduation in 1994. During the 1998-99 season, he took a one year leave of absence to coach the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team at
“Lance was an inspirational leader who played with passion, intensity and a great understanding of the game. I feel fortunate to have been able to coach him for one year. I feel equally fortunate to have him on my staff. Lance brings the same characteristics as a coach that he did when he played for me,” says Elders.
Roark is currently in his 13th year of teaching at
