Longtime Unity Christian coach and dean chooses family over the game: ‘It was now or never.’
Scott Soodsma’s retirement, which was effective March 25, concludes a 34-year tenure at Unity Christian, where the 66-year-old served as both a varsity coach and the dean of students.
HUDSONVILLE — Scott Soodsma, the longtime face of basketball at Unity Christian High School, has officially retired, marking the end of a 43-year coaching career defined as much by a state championship as by the mentorship he provided to the students he guided through the dean’s office.
Soodsma’s retirement, which was effective March 25, concludes a 34-year tenure at Unity Christian, where the 66-year-old served as both a varsity coach and the dean of students.
While multiple state titles punctuated his career, Soodsma said the decision to step away was driven by a desire to be present for his family.
“The biggest reason was, you know, my ability to spend time with my kids and my grandkids,” Soodsma said, noting that his 11 grandchildren live in Denver, Seattle and Sioux Falls.
“I want to be part of their life. That was one of the big driving forces. I have not been able to celebrate birthdays and do Christmases with them. Grandkids are getting older. It was now or never. And I definitely wanted to choose now.”
Soodsma’s coaching journey began far from the Hudsonville sidelines.
A Wisconsin native, he originally intended to run track and play basketball at Dordt College in Iowa before a pivot led him to play four years of varsity baseball instead. After graduating, he coached in South Dakota and at McBain Northern Michigan Christian — where he won a state title — before arriving at Unity Christian in 1991.
While multiple state titles punctuated his career, Soodsma said the decision to step away was driven by a desire to be present for his family. [Courtesy photos]
At Unity, Soodsma became known for a grueling work ethic and a devotion to the game.
Unity Christian Athletic Director Jeff Engbers recalled Soodsma’s reputation as a devoted coach who would arrive as early as 4 a.m. on the day of a state final to watch film.
Beyond his work on the court, Soodsma occupied a unique role as dean of students for 34 years. It was a position that allowed him to connect with students who struggled, often drawing on his own experiences as a youth.
“I want to be part of their life. That was one of the big driving forces. I have not been able to celebrate birthdays and do Christmases with them. Grandkids are getting older. It was now or never. And I definitely wanted to choose now.” ~ Scott Soodsma
“The kids that I dealt with, you know, the ones that were in trouble were a little bit like me when I was a kid, so I can relate to them pretty well,” Soodsma said.
The pinnacle of Soodsma’s career, however, was not a specific trophy but a shared moment on the court with his daughter, Amber, who is now 36.
In 2006, while coaching the girls’ varsity team, they secured the state championship during her senior season.
“She jumped in my arms, and we got to celebrate as a, you know, a father-daughter situation, winning a state championship,” Soodsma recalled. “It's probably the crowning moment of my coaching career."
Soodsma credits much of his longevity to his wife, Mary, who managed team statistics and traveled to games with their three children: Abbie, 41; Josh, 39; and Amber.
He noted her unwavering commitment, recalling a time when the family boarded a bus for the state finals at the Breslin Center when their second child was only 2 weeks old.
"She went to both games, stayed overnight in a hotel room," Soodsma said. "She was the epitome of a coach's wife. I couldn't have asked for a better one."
As he transitions into retirement, Soodsma admits to having mixed emotions about leaving a lifelong passion.
“It's hard to step away from something like that,” he said. “I've been really blessed with a great career, so I can't complain about anything.”
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
