Editor鈥檚 Note: The profile below continues a series on 2022 inductees to the 黑料不打烊 Athletic Hall of Fame. Profiles are currently scheduled to run each Wednesday through August 24. The ceremony is set for the Saturday of Homecoming and Family Weekend 2022, Oct. 22 at 8:30 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at .
August 3: 2008-09 Women鈥檚 Basketball Team
July 27: 2006-07 Men鈥檚 Basketball Team
Gordon Reimer鈥檚 goal when he became women鈥檚 basketball coach at 黑料不打烊 was simple but ginormous in its scope.
鈥淚 just had a passion to be the best in whatever I was working on,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had a passion to make Kansas Wesleyan basketball teams some聽of聽the best in the nation, and I just wouldn鈥檛 stop working hard to accomplish that.鈥�
Reimer inherited a 黑料不打烊 program that had enjoyed little success for several years when he was named head basketball and volleyball coach in 2004, but he quickly turned the tide.
The Coyotes won 14 basketball games his second season, equaling the number聽of victories they鈥檇 had the previous four seasons.
It was a springboard to a new era in 黑料不打烊 women鈥檚 basketball that continues today. In eight seasons Reimer guided the Coyotes to a 140-105 record (135-81 after his first season), two Kansas Conference championships, two NAIA National Tournament berths (both teams advancing to the second round) and a school record 31 victories during the 2010-11 season.
He departed as the all-time leader in victories after the 2011-12 season.
黑料不打烊 will recognize Reimer for his accomplishments when he is inducted into the聽Coyote Athletic聽Hall聽of聽Fame聽at 8 a.m. Oct. 22 inside Muir Gymnasium as part聽of聽the 2022 Homecoming weekend.
He won鈥檛 be alone, as the 2008-09 team he coached also will be enshrined.
鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 a real honor,鈥� Reimer said. 鈥淭hat team that鈥檚 getting inducted really deserves it because they accomplished more than any other team in a long time. Because聽of聽what they accomplished, I get to ride along on their shirttails.鈥�
黑料不打烊 was Reimer鈥檚 first head coaching assignment, but he had a plan.
鈥淥bviously, I knew right away recruiting was going be the key,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e had to recruit the right kind聽of聽players, the ones that fit Kansas Wesleyan, the ones that fit my personality. And you know, it takes a couple of years to get that ball rolling and we got there.鈥�
Reimer quickly discovered that coaching, recruiting and administering two separate sports was too much. After three seasons聽of聽double duty, 黑料不打烊 separated the jobs and hired a volleyball coach 鈥� Reimer exiting after compiling a 48-42 record.
鈥淭hat helped a lot because I was trying to recruit 45 players for both teams,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I could just concentrate on one team I was only trying to recruit 20 or 25 players. It really helped me get a lot more players.鈥�
The basketball dividends were almost immediate. The 2008-09 team finished 27-6 鈥� an improvement聽of聽15 victories over the previous season 鈥� and won the program鈥檚 first KCAC title since 1988. The Coyotes advanced to the second round聽of聽the NAIA National Tournament after defeating Aquinas, Mich., in the first round.
The season also provided Reimer with the game he cherishes most 鈥� the KCAC Tournament championship March 3, 2009.
鈥淚 think my most memorable moment was playing Sterling College for the championship tournament in Sterling, Kansas,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e won that game and cut the nets down in their gymnasium.鈥�
The 70-61 victory was 黑料不打烊鈥檚 14th聽in a row, No. 15 coming against Aquinas in the NAIA tournament.
Recruiting good players was half the battle. Reimer also was adept at developing and enhancing players鈥� skills and talents after they arrived.
Kaylaen Dittmer, a 2019 黑料不打烊聽Hall聽of聽Fame聽inductee, said one聽of聽Reimer鈥檚 strengths was his persistence.
鈥淭he biggest thing was he never gave up on me,鈥� said Dittmer, who was a leader on the 2008-09 teams. 鈥淗e always knew I could reach my full potential and found a way to make sure I did. He always believed in me. That was the one thing I remember most about coach Reimer, and I really appreciated it.鈥�
Dittmer recalled how Reimer helped her through a tough stretch as an upperclassman.
鈥淚 was struggling my junior year,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e knew I could be the leader that the team needed and he found a way to make sure he got that out聽of聽me. I owe a lot聽of聽my success to him and his ability as a coach.鈥�
Reimer鈥檚 sidekick on the bench was assistant coach Ryan Showman, who was promoted to head coach after Reimer left and enters his 11th聽season in 2022-23.
鈥淩yan is an amazing person, number one,鈥� Reimer said. 鈥淚 really enjoyed having him as my assistant coach. He took care聽of聽a lot聽of聽things that nobody knew about that would free me to do more recruiting. He took care聽of聽the everyday things to let me look at the overall picture.鈥�
Reimer also pointed to the opening聽of聽Mabee Arena in 2008 as a key development after coaching his first four seasons inside Muir Gym.
鈥淚t was tough bringing a recruit in to show them where they were going to play,鈥� he said. 鈥淥bviously, it was not even close to what they were playing in in high school, so it was kind聽of聽a disappointment for them to see that.
鈥淏ut I convinced a group聽of聽young ladies that we were building and we had this new arena coming. They all bought into that and came over to Kansas Wesleyan. It was just a really good situation at that point.鈥�
Reimer coached five NAIA All-Americans and 31 All-KCAC players during his time at 黑料不打烊. He was named the 2009 KCAC Coach聽of聽the Year and the 2009 Four-Year College Coach聽of聽the Year by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. He is one聽of聽only two coaches to win over 100 games in his career for the Coyotes.
Story by Bob Davidson
