Peter Stuursma, head coach of Hope College football, has built a successful program. He joined the Coach and Coordinator Podcast and shared three components that are a part of this succes. By developing staff autonomy, a strong team culture, and seeking continuous improvement through outside evaluation, the Dutchmen have experienced success. In seven seasons, Stuursma has led the Flying Dutchmen to a 54-17 record, including two MIAA titles and an NCAA Division III playoff appearance in 2019. His success at Hope is a natural extension of his deep ties to the college and his impressive career at East Grand Rapids High School, where his teams won seven state championships. This combination of experience, leadership, and innovative coaching has made Stuursma a leader in collegiate football.
Trusting Coaches to Lead
Stuursma firmly believes in empowering his staff by giving them the autonomy to lead their respective units. He attributes much of his success to allowing his coordinators and position coaches to act as “head coaches” of their groups, encouraging creativity and ownership in the game-planning and program development process. This approach ensures that each coach brings their best ideas to the table, fueling a dynamic and adaptable program.
“I trust my coordinators to be the head coaches of their sides of the ball,” Stuursma explains. “They have full autonomy to make decisions, and I step back and let them do their jobs.”
This leadership style was honed over years of experience. Before returning to Hope as head coach, Stuursma built a powerhouse at East Grand Rapids, where his teams won 162 games and made 13 state playoff appearances in 16 seasons. His ability to delegate and trust his staff played a significant role in that success. Now at Hope, he continues to use that same philosophy to promote innovation and growth among his coaching staff.
Valuing Every Player
While staff autonomy drives leadership and creativity, culture is the glue that holds the program together. For Stuursma, building a strong, inclusive culture starts with ensuring that every player, regardless of their role, feels valued and supported. His approach to team culture is built upon mutual respect, where players are responsible for mentoring each other and embracing the team’s values.
“I will get upset if I see any upperclassmen mistreating the younger guys,” Stuursma says. “Every player, from freshman to senior, needs to feel valued. That’s how you build a strong, winning culture.”
This commitment to culture extends to all aspects of the program. Stuursma’s dedication to cultivating a sense of family within the team mirrors the strong bonds he built as a player at Hope, where he served as co-captain of the football team during his senior season. His leadership earned him the team’s prestigious Allan C. Kinney Award, despite a season-ending injury.
Stuursma understands that a cohesive culture can propel a team through adversity, and that philosophy has been a cornerstone of his career. It was instrumental during his time at East Grand Rapids, where culture helped his teams dominate the Michigan high school football scene, winning seven state championships. His experience has taught him that culture doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intentional effort and leadership from both players and coaches.
Continuous Improvement
Stuursma’s commitment to improvement goes beyond his own staff and team culture. He regularly invites outside coaches, including those from other sports, to evaluate his practices and provide feedback. This openness to external perspectives allows Stuursma to continuously evolve his program and avoid stagnation.
“We invite high school coaches and other professionals to watch our practices,” says Stuursma. “I give them our practice schedule and ask them to evaluate what they like and what they don’t like. Their feedback helps us see things we might overlook.”
This practice of inviting outside evaluation reflects Stuursma’s humility and desire for constant growth. Even after leading Hope to multiple conference titles and becoming a Hall of Fame high school coach, he remains open to new ideas and constructive criticism. He knows that to stay competitive, continuous improvement is essential—whether it’s tweaking practice routines or rethinking game-day strategies.
A Collaborative Framework for Success
Stuursma’s approach seamlessly weaves together staff autonomy, culture building, outside evaluation, and other elements of his program into a collaborative framework that drives success. By empowering his coaches to lead, he creates a culture of innovation and accountability. At the same time, his strong emphasis on team culture ensures that every player feels valued and supported, creating a sense of unity and purpose. Finally, his commitment to outside evaluation keeps the program evolving, incorporating fresh ideas and preventing complacency.
His leadership has turned the Flying Dutchmen into one of the top teams in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), with Hope winning two conference titles and achieving a 9-2 record in 2019, one of the best in school history. Stuursma’s approach ensures that his team is always moving forward.
About Peter Stuursma
Coach and Coordinator Podcast Announces Week 1 D3 Head Coach of the Week Presented by Hansen Ratings
Peter Stuursma, Head Coach at Hope College, Honored for Leading Team to a 49-0 Victory Over Loras College
September 13, 2024 – The Coach and Coordinator Podcast, in collaboration with Hansen Ratings, proudly recognizes Peter Stuursma, head coach at Hope College, as the D3 Head Coach of the Week for Week 1. Stuursma’s leadership resulted in a commanding 49-0 win over Loras College, with the Hope offense and defense firing on all cylinders from start to finish.
Notable Stats:
- Hope College led 42-0 at halftime.
- Outgained Loras College by a staggering 662 total yards to 123.
- Averaged 8.8 yards per play, while holding Loras to just 2.2 yards per play.
- Dominated the first down battle with 29 first downs compared to Loras’ 10.
- Scored touchdowns on every first-half drive.
- Seven different players recorded rushes of at least 14 yards.
- The defense tallied 11 tackles for loss, with 11 different players contributing to the effort.
Stuursma staff is recognized with this honor as well. The Hope staff is Andrew Hawken, Jacob Pardonnet, Hunter Thompson, Matt Bird, Jim Caserta, Jake Vanderveen, Jinks Arnold, KJ Landis, Cal Pimpleton, Ted Manning, and student assistants Zay Hicks, Luke Madsger, and Ty Rynbrandt.
Stuursma’s coaching staff executed a balanced, dominant game plan that allowed both the offense and defense to control the game from the opening snap. Their impressive execution in all phases of the game earned them this week’s Head Coach of the Week honors.
