Hope College Men's Cross Country

Brian VanZanten has been a member of the cross country coaching staff since 1999. He became associate head coach for the Flying Dutch and Flying Dutchmen beginning in the 2016 season. VanZanten started his competitive running career as a junior for the Flying Dutchmen.  VanZanten earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and biochemistry from Hope in 1995 and immediately began working for several local pharmaceutical companies. Following several years of product development, he returned to school to earn a teaching certificate in chemistry and biology. Today he is a teacher for West Ottawa Public Schools, having completed a master's degree in secondary and adult education at Grand Valley State University with further graduate work in chemistry education.VanZanten's wife, Jenifer (Hodge), is also a 1995 graduate of Hope and a former cross country athlete for the Flying Dutch. The couple enjoys sharing their love for Hope College with their three children, Joel, Grace, and Ana.

Morrison assisted in coaching 10 All-MIAA First team conference honorees, 12 NCAA Great Lakes All-Region honorees, and 15 USTFCCCA Academic All-Americans. In the fall of 2013 Sheri McCormack ran to All-American status placing 17th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Morrison attended Michigan State University to complete his doctorate and was also employed by Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital working as a pediatric exercise physiologist. A former distance runner at Hope, Morrison ran both cross country and track for four years. His senior season he was named captain and achieved Academic All-American honors during the cross country season. During both his junior and senior seasons, he was an All-MIAA Second Team honoree. He also was awarded the William and Mabel Vanderbilt Family Award for scholarship, integrity, and service both his junior and senior years. Morrison graduated from Hope College in 2004 with a B.A. in Kinesiology and minor in biology. He currently holds the rank of assistant professor of Kinesiology in the Exercise Science Division and directs the Foundations for Fitness program, a community-based childhood wellness initiative. He and his wife, Penelope reside in Holland with their two children Aidan and Audrey. View: | Desktop

Mark Northuis '82 has guided the cross country fortunes of his alma mater since 1988. Under his guidance, the Flying Dutchmen have placed in the top 10 at NCAA regionals 25 times, including a regional crown in 2025 and earned an MIAA title in 2025. The Flying Dutch finished in second or third place in the men's conference standings 33 times over 37 seasons. Northuis guided Hope to a 23rd-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships. He was named the Great Lakes Regional and MIAA Men's Cross Country of the Year. Northuis has coached 25 all-region honorees since the USTFCCCA award began in 2010 and 125 All-MIAA selections, including a program-record 10 in 2025. A professor of kinesiology, Northuis is also an assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field teams.  He has served on the NCAA Division III advisory committee for cross country and track and field. Northuis was a five-time MIAA all-conference cross country and track runner at Hope. He won the 1979 Hope Cross Country Invitational and the 1980 MIAA cross country championship. He finished in the top five at the MIAA meet each of his four years. He was among the nation's top small college cross country runners, finishing 27th as both a junior and senior at the NCAA Division III national championship meet. In track, Northuis won the 5,000-meter run at the 1980 MIAA Field Day. He is still the Hope record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and six-mile run. Northuis earned a master's degree in exercise physiology at the University of Michigan and received a Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Pam Bulthouse, a 1981 Hope College graduate, have five children, Anders, Elizabeth, Klare, Madalyn, and Michaela.   Head Coach MIAA NCAA Season Jamboree/Duals Championships Regional  Championship 2025 1st 1st 23rd 2024 2nd 3rd 29th 2023 2nd 4th 2022 2nd 7th 2021 2nd 9th 2020 Canceled Canceled Canceled 2019 t-3rd 15th 2018 4th 16th 2017 4th in jamboree 4th 16th 2016 4th in jamboree t-4th 9th 2015 2nd in jamboree 2nd 11th 2014 3rd in jamboree 2nd 6th 2013 2nd in jamboree 2nd 9th 2012 2nd in jamboree 2nd 12th 2011 3rd in jamboree 2nd 6th 2010 t-2nd in jamboree 3rd 6th 2009 2nd in jamboree 2nd 10th 2008 2nd in jamboree 2nd 10th 2007 3rd in jamboree 3rd 18th 2006 2nd in jamboree 2nd 5th 2005 2nd in jamboree 2nd 9th 2004 3rd in jamboree 3rd 7th 2003 3rd in jamboree 3rd 7th 2002 3rd in jamboree 3rd 12th 2001 2nd in jamboree 2nd 10th 2000 2nd in jamboree 2nd 11th 1999 3rd in jamboree 3rd 6th 1998 2nd in jamboree 2nd 7th 1997 3rd in jamboree 3rd 10th 1996 t-2nd and 3rd in jamborees 3rd 14th 1995 2nd in both jamborees 2nd 9th 1994 2nd in both jamborees 2nd 9th 1993 Sabbatical 1992 2nd and 3rd in jamborees 3rd 13th 1991 2nd in both jamborees 2nd 3rd 1990 3rd (4-2 in duals) 3rd 2nd 21st 1989 2nd (5-1 in duals) 2nd 4th 1988 2nd (5-1 in duals) 2nd 4th