Coaching Staff
Carla Fles (Head Coach) carla_fles@cornerstone.edu
Carla Fles enters her eleventh season as Head Basketball Coach of the Golden Eagles. In the last ten years as head coach, she has compiled an overall record of 245-90 and a .731 winning percentage. She has led her team to four WHAC championships, six WHAC Tournament Championships, one appearance at the National Tournament, five Sweet 16 finishes at the national tournament and a runner-up national championship.
Fles was named WHAC Coach of the Year twice in 2004 and 2000, Champions of Character coach of the year in 2009 and was named regional coach of the year by the WBCA in 2004. She was also named BCAM (Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan) College Coach of the Year in 2002. She has coached thirteen NAIA All-Americans, twelve NAIA Academic All-Americans, one WHAC Player-of-the-Year, and four WHAC Newcomers-of-the-Year.
Prior to coaching at Cornerstone, Fles was an assistant coach for her alma mater, Central Michigan University . She coached at CMU for one season before being offered the head coaching position at CU and the opportunity to return "home". "I have always dreamed of being a head coach and what better place than my home town of Grand Rapids to fulfill that dream," said Fles.
Fles also brings a tremendous amount of playing experience to this program. Before coaching at CMU, she played professionally overseas and in the inaugural season of the American Basketball League. In 1997-98 she played for Olivaris/Ceres, a first division professional team in . She helped lead her team to its first ever national championship and was named the tournament MVP.
Fles played with Athletes in Action, the athletic division of Campus Crusade for Christ, in 1997 on a tour to . She also played with the group in late 1995 against Division I schools and in 1993 on a tour to Moscow . She was drafted as an alternate for the Colorado Explosion with the ABL and played with the New England Blizzard for 10 weeks as a replacement player. "Basketball has taken me all over the world to places I never would have dreamed of going," said Fles.
Fles has left her mark in the record books at CMU. She was inducted into Central Michigan's Hall of Fame in 2004. She was a four year starter (1989-93) while averaging 13.9 points and 7.9 rebounds. She was a three-time All-Conference pick (twice 1st team, once 2nd and was also a three-time academic All-Conference selection. She ranks 1st on their career list in blocks (104), second in scoring average (13.9) and points scored (1,539) and 4th in rebounds (880). Fles graduated from Central in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
Fles is a graduate of Grand Rapids South Christian High School where she lead the team to a 28-0 record and Class B State Championship in 1988. She was named runner-up for the Miss Michigan Basketball Award.
Carla is married to Ron Fles, he is currently studying to take the bar exam and is a recent graduate of Cooley Law School. They live in Byron Center with their two children; Ellie (2) and Josh (6 months).
Jill Peterson (Assistant Coach) jill_c_peterson@cornerstone.edu
Jill Peterson begins her first full season as an assistant coach. She began the 2008-2009 season as a student assistant and was able to come out of retirement and finish her career by playing in 8 games. Peterson played her freshman and sophomore year before tearing her ACL in the ninth game of the season her junior year. She medically red-shirted her senior year and willed her way back to finish her career on the floor. “Jill possesses so many of the intangibles that will make a great coach. Although her career as an athlete was different than she would have expected, she never complained. Instead she used the trials that were given to her to be an encouragement to others. I’m thankful she decided to stay in Grand Rapids and be on my staff this year.” Peterson currently is working in the athletics department as the office manager and she graduated from CU with a degree in business.
Jenna Plewes (Assistant Coach) jenna_j_plewes@cornerstone.edu
Jenna Plewes enters her first season as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles after completing a record setting career as a player. Her senior year she was named only the third NAIA first team All-American in Cornerstone history. She is a two time NAIA Academic All-American, named first team All-WHAC twice, second team as a sophomore and WHAC newcomer of the year her freshman year. She is the second all-time leading scorer at Cornerstone with 1,736 points. In addition she places third all-time in assists (454) and rebounds (856). Next to Cathi Velzen (Powell) Plewes was the most decorated player to ever play at Cornerstone. “When Jenna stepped out onto the court she gave everything she had to help the team be successful. She played so hard all the time and with so much energy that you couldn’t help but admire her,” expressed Fles. Plewes decided to stay in Grand Rapids so she could coach at Cornerstone. “I’m so thankful that Jenna stayed around to coach with me and give back to this team. She will be a valuable asset on the bench as well as a recruiter,” states Fles. Plewes graduated from Cornerstone in 2009 with a degree in learning disabilities.
Lance Veldkamp (Student Manager)
Lance enters his second season as manager of the women’s basketball team. In addition to doing managerial duties, he is also helping lead and organize team devotionals, setting up team service projects and helping head coach Carla Fles with various behind the scenes office work. “Lance has been such a blessing to have on our team. He is a hard worker and is like a big brother to the girls on the team,” states Fles. Veldkamp is a junior and an intercultural studies major.
Cornerstone Under Carla Fles
W L PCT WHAC NAIA
1999-2000 21 9 .700 1st --
2000-2001 27 8 .771 2nd Sweet 16
2001-2002 25 12 .676 2nd Runner-Up National Champions
2002-2003 20 13 .606 2nd --
2003-2004 28 6 .823 1st Sweet 16
2004-2005 29 5 .853 1st-T Sweet 16
2005-2006 21 10 .677 3rd-T --
2006-2007 22 11 .667 3rd National Tournament
2007-2008 25 9 .735 1st-T Sweet 16
2008-2009 27 8 .771 2nd Sweet 16
Career 245 90 .731
