Women's Basketball



Coaching Staff

Carla Fles (Head Coach)  carla_fles@cornerstone.edu

Carla Fles enters her ninth season as Head Basketball Coach of the Golden Eagles. In the last eight years as head coach, she has compiled an overall record of 193-74 and a .723 winning percentage. She has led her team to three WHAC championships, five WHAC Tournament Championships, one appearance at the National Tournament, three 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 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 eleven NAIA All-Americans, eleven NAIA Academic All-Americans, one WHAC Player-of-the-Year, and three 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 have a daughter Ellie who was born in January, 2006.   

 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
Career                  193          74           .721

  Mindy Rader, Assistant Coach       Mindyrader@valuepointfinancial.com

Mindy Rader enters her fourth year as an assistant coach for Cornerstone University.  She received her degree in physical education and is currently working at Value Point Financial in Grand Rapids. 

“As soon as Mindy finished her playing career at CU I didn’t have to think twice to ask her to be part of our staff,” said Fles.  “She has been an integral part of our team’s successes over the past four years.  Mindy desires to see CU basketball continue to succeed and this is a way that she can gain experience towards some of her future goals.”

 Rader was a three year starter for the Golden Eagles where she was a team captain her junior and senior year.  She was named Third Team All-WHAC her sophomore year and was voted Most Improved player that year by her teammates.  She was voted team Co-MVP her senior year after guiding the team to a third trip to the national tournament.  Rader led the Golden Eagles to two Sweet 16 finishes at the national tournament and a runner-up national championship finish her sophomore year (2002).  She led the team to a WHAC Championship and three WHAC Tournament Championships in her four years as a Golden Eagle.  She finishes fifth in career steals (161) and assists (393) at CU. 

 

 

Kerry Chomic, Assistant Coach

Kerry Chomic enters her first year as an assistant coach.  She graduated from CU in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies.  Kerry played for four years on the women’s basketball team and served as team captain her junior and senior campaign.  She was named to the Academic All-WHAC team her junior and senior years.  In addition, her senior year she received the WHAC Champion of Character Award and was voted by her teammates as the team’s Golden Eagle award winner at the end of the year banquet.

 Chomic was a member the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 teams that were WHAC Champions, WHAC tournament Champions and who also advanced to the NAIA National Tournament Sweet Sixteen.  She finished her career with a 4.6 rebound average (498 total rebounds) and scored 383 career points.

 “Kerry is a great addition to our staff,” states Fles.  “She has a passion for ministry and her desire is to help young people grow in their faith in Christ.  It is great to have former players come back to coach.  Kerry has an inside perspective of the program.  She will assist with game day operations, practice, recruiting and development of the post players.”

 

Mike Riemersma, Assistant Coach

Mike Riemersma enters his first year an assistant coach.  Mike graduated with a double bachelor degree from Grace Bible College (BRE in Business Administration) and Davenport University (BA in Business Administration) in 1992. He also graduated with his MBA from Davenport University in 2000. He currently serves as the Champions of Character Director as well as Sports Camps Director.  
Mike was the assistant men’s basketball coach at Grace Bible College from 1996-2002.  He also is very active in coaching girl’s high school soccer at Byron Center High School where he has been the head coach since 2003.  
Mike was a four year starter in basketball and soccer at Grace Bible College. He was named to the All-Region soccer first-team all four years and was a first team All-American his Senior year.  He helped his team win three regional championships en route to three national tournament appearances.  

Mike has been married to his wife, Amy for 15 years. They live in Wyoming with their two children; Lauren (10) and Justin (6).