Nampa - Mike Terpstra, men's basketball coach at Northwest Nazarene University, announced his resignation today effective July 31, 2005. Coach Terpstra will continue to work with the program until the end of this academic year. Coach Terpstra will return to California where his family has resided for the past two years.

"Working at NNU has been a wonderful opportunity the last two years. Having the privilege of coaching at my alma mater has been very exciting and a challenging experience," said Terpstra. "I thoroughly enjoyed my team this year and I am extremely proud of their accomplishments on and off the floor. I am going to miss my team and my colleagues at NNU tremendously."

"NNU offered me a fair contract, but with my oldest daughter Andrea starting high school and my youngest daughter Michelle starting middle school at Ripon Christian, we feel it is important to remain in California at this time, added Terpstra."

Dr. Richard Hagood, president of the university, commented, "I will always be grateful to Mike Terpstra for returning to his alma mater to help move our mens basketball program to a competitive Division II level."  He continued, "He provided leadership during a very challenging time of coaching transitions and always put the well-being of the university above his own personal needs. Not only were we enthusiastic about the won-loss record, but I have been impressed with the development of mental toughness with the players-a trait he himself models."

"Now, we wish Mike and his family the best as he returns to California and spends the kind of quality time with his family that both they and he deserve."

"Mike's team this year really came on strong towards the end of the season. Mike helped the team adapt to some tough circumstances too, because of last years departure of Ed Weidenbach," said Vice- President Dr. Eric Forseth. "We support him in this type of family decision and wish him the best in the next steps of his professional and personal endeavors. On our campus, Mike did a good job with such initiatives as the faculty honorary coach program. Mike brought NNU's basketball program to a new competitive level."

"Mike did a great job in some very difficult circumstances. He picked up the pieces after Ed had his stroke a year ago January and got us through that difficult season," said athletic director Rich Sanders. "This year he led the mens basketball program to a 17-10 record and posted the best finish for our mens program at the NCAA Division II level. Our men finished fourth with an 11-7 record in the tough GNAC conference and finished the season ranked ninth in the NCAA Western Region. Mike's team was arguably the hottest team in the West during the last month of the season with victories over the regions best teams. His team was edged out of the regional tournament by the smallest of margins."

Coach Terpstra will continue with the program through the end of July working on recruiting, fundraising and summer camps.

Under Coach Terpstra's direction the Crusaders had first time victories over NCAA Division II opponents Bakersfield, Western Washington, Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade. The Crusader men also had their first ever GNAC All-Conference first team selection in junior forward Mesut Ademoglu, a Terpstra recruit. The men were also ranked for the first time in the NCAA Western Region finishing the season at the number nine spot.

A search will begin immediately to fill the position. Assistant mens coach Ryan Orton is under contract for next year and is considered a viable candidate for the position.