Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Basketball Welcomes New Director of Operations
12/9/2020 11:19:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Rhonda Vander Zwaag assumes new role after serving as EMU's Senior Admissions Advisor
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team is now fully staffed as it welcomed its next Director of Operations, Rhonda Vander Zwaag, to her new post Monday, Dec. 7. Vander Zwaag takes over for EMU assistant coach Katie Hempen, who was elevated to her new coaching role this fall.
Although it is her first full-time role within intercollegiate athletics, Vander Zwaag brings a wealth of knowledge after a nearly decade-long stint in the EMU Office of Admissions, seven of which she spent as the Senior Admissions Advisor.
"I am happy to announce Rhonda Vander Zwaag as our new Director of Basketball Operations," said fifth-year head coach Fred Castro. "I have known Rhonda since my arrival in Ypsilanti and she has always been a true supporter of all things EMU! Her experience on campus allows her to hit the ground running , which is ideal considering the timing. Rhonda has a passion for athletics which is undeniable. Our student-athletes will greatly benefit from all the hard work she will put in to help them be successful."
While with admissions, Vander Zwaag worked very closely with the Department of Athletics and the women's basketball team, specifically, as she served as admissions' liaison to the athletic department. In that portion of her role, she collaborated with coaches and the compliance office to complete student-athlete application requirements, conducted transcript evaluations for admissions consideration, and met with recruits and families on official and unofficial campus visits, among other roles. Those skills will bode well in her new position, as Vander Zwaag will now be tasked with leading the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the women's basketball program. Her main responsibilities will include travel coordination and budget oversight.
In addition to her admissions experience, Vander Zwaag has a wealth of athletics experience. A team camp staffer for EMU women's basketball in previous years, she also completed a summer internship in EMU's Office of Athletic Compliance. She served as both an athletics compliance and athletics academics services intern at Kent State University between 2012-13, and worked briefly with the Hiram College football team as an intern in 2012.
A native of Holland, Mich., Vander Zwaag attended Holland Christian High School before earning her bachelor's degree in Music from Albion College in 2011. She also holds master's degrees in both Higher Education and Student Personnel from Kent State, which she earned in 2013, and in Sport Management, a degree she completed at EMU in 2019.
Vander Zwaag resides in Ypsilanti with her husband, Nicholas Clements.
EMU will look to move to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play when it travels to the Buckeye State for a matchup with Bowling Green State University on Friday, Dec. 11. Tipoff from the Stroh Center is set for 6 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team on social media at, @EMUWBB.
Although it is her first full-time role within intercollegiate athletics, Vander Zwaag brings a wealth of knowledge after a nearly decade-long stint in the EMU Office of Admissions, seven of which she spent as the Senior Admissions Advisor.
"I am happy to announce Rhonda Vander Zwaag as our new Director of Basketball Operations," said fifth-year head coach Fred Castro. "I have known Rhonda since my arrival in Ypsilanti and she has always been a true supporter of all things EMU! Her experience on campus allows her to hit the ground running , which is ideal considering the timing. Rhonda has a passion for athletics which is undeniable. Our student-athletes will greatly benefit from all the hard work she will put in to help them be successful."
While with admissions, Vander Zwaag worked very closely with the Department of Athletics and the women's basketball team, specifically, as she served as admissions' liaison to the athletic department. In that portion of her role, she collaborated with coaches and the compliance office to complete student-athlete application requirements, conducted transcript evaluations for admissions consideration, and met with recruits and families on official and unofficial campus visits, among other roles. Those skills will bode well in her new position, as Vander Zwaag will now be tasked with leading the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the women's basketball program. Her main responsibilities will include travel coordination and budget oversight.
In addition to her admissions experience, Vander Zwaag has a wealth of athletics experience. A team camp staffer for EMU women's basketball in previous years, she also completed a summer internship in EMU's Office of Athletic Compliance. She served as both an athletics compliance and athletics academics services intern at Kent State University between 2012-13, and worked briefly with the Hiram College football team as an intern in 2012.
A native of Holland, Mich., Vander Zwaag attended Holland Christian High School before earning her bachelor's degree in Music from Albion College in 2011. She also holds master's degrees in both Higher Education and Student Personnel from Kent State, which she earned in 2013, and in Sport Management, a degree she completed at EMU in 2019.
Vander Zwaag resides in Ypsilanti with her husband, Nicholas Clements.
EMU will look to move to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play when it travels to the Buckeye State for a matchup with Bowling Green State University on Friday, Dec. 11. Tipoff from the Stroh Center is set for 6 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU women's basketball, visit EMUEagles.com or follow the team on social media at, @EMUWBB.
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