Chargers to Hire Tharp as New Basketball Coach

Chargerblue.com has learned that Lawrence University (Wisc.)’s John Tharp will be named the new men’s basketball coach at Hillsdale College. For the second time in a row, athletic director Mike Kovalcik has nabbed a coach from the Division III ranks with a long history of success.

Tharp has spent the last 14 seasons as head coach at Lawrence and developed one of the elite D3 programs in the country.

Midwest Conference Champions – 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006
NCAA Division III National Tournament – 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006
NCAA Division III Elite 8 – 2004
NCAA Division III Sweet 16 – 2004, 2006

2005-2006 season highlights:
25-1 Record – Best record in the country
Perfect 16-0 Midwest Conference season
3rd Consecutive Midwest Conference Title
3rd Consecutive Midwest Conference Tournament Champion
NCAA Division III National Tournament Sweet 16 (2nd time in 3 years)
.852 Winning % over last 3 years – Best of any Division III team in the nation

His 2005-2006 squad finished 25-1 and spent a month ranked number one in the nation.

Read his complete bio at The Lawrence Men’s Basketball Webpage.

This single quote from his Lawrence bio states why he should be a good fit for Hillsdale: “When I came to Lawrence, there was an aura that you couldn’t win here, you couldn’t mix academics and athletics,” Tharp said. “We eliminated that thought process immediately.”