2014 Maple Leaf graduate will enter sixth year as assistant and third at GC this season
GOSHEN, Ind. — The Goshen College men’s basketball program has promoted Kyle Capps to associate head coach for the 2021-22 season. Head coach Jon Tropf announced the move Wednesday.
Capps is a 2014 GC graduate who played four years of basketball for the Maple Leafs. The 2021-22 season will be his sixth as a collegiate assistant coach and his third at Goshen: he was previously a GC assistant in 2016-17 and 2020-21, with the two stints separated by three seasons at Siena Heights University in Michigan.
The Mount Clemens, Michigan, native also has experience coaching at the middle school and high school levels in addition to spending two years as the athletic director at the Boys and Girls Club in Middlebury, Indiana.
“Kyle earned this title with his loyalty, hard work and relentless desire to be the best he can be,” Tropf said. “When Kyle returned to Goshen for the second time as an assistant, I was struck by how much initiative and drive he had to make our program better. He has a knack for meeting players where they are at and is intentional with his relationships. He is bought in to the vision and culture of our program and does not cut corners in the profession. Kyle is a rising young coach who will continue to make a strong impact on the lives of our players.”
The promotion to associate head coach will see Capps take on the role of recruiting coordinator for the Maple Leafs in addition to increased responsibilities around practice planning and in-game substitutions. He is the first person to serve as associate head coach in the program since his boss, Tropf, held the title in 2016-17 under head coach Neal Young.
“Kyle has shown he is more than capable of serving in this capacity, and this title reflects my opinion of how valuable he is to our program, Goshen College, and the coaching profession in general,” Tropf said. “He bleeds purple and loves Goshen College, which always helps, but this is not a title he was simply given—he earned it.”
“I’m truly thankful for Coach Tropf’s trust in my ability to assist him on and off the court,” Capps said. “Being here as a student-athlete and a coach has given me a well-rounded view of what it takes to be successful at Goshen College. Coming back to GC during the pandemic was a tough choice, but it was the best decision I made. Goshen has always challenged me to grow and never be complacent, and that is what I hope to pass on to help our guys and program continue to climb.”
What His Players Say About Coach Capps:
Robert Sanders, junior guard:
“Kyle Capps is definitely a great addition to the Goshen family. His heart and passion for the game and developing us as players is felt throughout the program. He has a knack for understanding how the game should be played so this position will be good for him.”
Austin Branagan, senior forward:
“Coach Capps’ biggest strength is being that guy that can understand each individual and create a relationship with them while still being able to be that tough coach when it is needed.”
Goshen College will compete in its 66th season of intercollegiate varsity men’s basketball this fall, with practices slated to begin in September ahead of a season opener in late October.
Goshen College is an affordable, nationally-ranked Christian liberal arts college in Northern Indiana known for leadership in intercultural and international education, sustainability and social justice.
The Maple Leafs compete in 14 varsity sports in the NAIA’s highly competitive Crossroads League and Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, continuing a tradition of intercollegiate athletics that dates to 1956 and included women’s competition nearly a decade before Title IX. For more information on GC athletics, visit www.GoLeafs.net and follow the Maple Leafs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @GCMapleLeafs.