HELENA, Mont. -- When you think of success at Carroll College, you think of Mike Van Diest. 

It's part of the reason his peers around the country elected him into the NAIA Football Hall of Fame, where he'll be inducted this January. 

After his 20th season, a campaign where he earned his 200th win as a head coach, Van Diest has decided to retire from coaching football at Carroll College.

"What coach Van Diest has meant to the Carroll Athletic Department is immeasurable," Saints Athletic Director Charlie Gross said. "Not only did he bring national prominence to the football program, but he created a culture of excellence for all of us in the athletic department to model.   His passion for Carroll is unwavering, his love for the students is contagious and his persistent energy is invigorating."  

As the all-time winningest coach in Saints' history, Van Diest won -- and won often. 

The legendary coach brought six NAIA National Championships to Carroll College, boosting the acclaim of an already well established Catholic liberal arts college to a whole new stratosphere. Van Diest's Saints won championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2010, one of the greatest stretches in college football history. 

He coached his teams to Frontier Conference titles -- winning 14 total, including 12 consecutive from 2000-2011 -- and brought a new respect to small college football in the Queen City. 

Accolades stacked up. National media turned attention to the school nestled near the Rocky Mountains. Sports Illustrated put Carroll College linebacker Brandon Day on its cover in 2007. 

Van Diest became the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year 10 times. He was selected as the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005. The American Football Coaches Association picked him as the Coach of the Year in 2003, 2007 and 2010. 

Four players earned top honors under Van Diest: Tyler Emmert (twice), Owen Koeppen (2008) and Chance Demarais (2011) all became the NAIA Player of the Year. 

The team that donned the Purple and Gold left opponents black, blue and purple with a bruising style of play. Van Diest-coached teams always played tough defense, smashmouth offense and very disciplined. 

As the team's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, the Saints were built to be tough. 

They were also built to be smart. 

The Saints owned the highest GPA in the NAIA at the end of the 2017 season at 3.22. 

While the honors and achievements are nearly innumerable, it's the quality of his character that distinguishes Van Diest most. 

"Coach Van Diest's records and accomplishments speak for themselves," Carroll College President John Cech, PhD, said. "I would like to focus on his coaching and the thousands of student relationships he has amassed over the past 20 years at Carroll. Not only has Van Diest been a coach to the Fighting Saints, he has also been an integral part of the lives of the players during their time at Carroll and continuing after graduation. Coach Van Diest shared with me that he and his wife Heidi plan their summer weekends around the weddings of former players. He said most weekends involve attending at least one wedding. I mention this because I believe it helps underscore the deep relationships and commitment Coach Van Diest has with his players."  

Van Diest coached his son Shane, who, of course, eventually became a linebacker at Carroll. His youngest son, Clay, plays hockey at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. He and his wife Heidi recently became grandparents for the first time. 

The 1970 graduate of Helena High first coached in 1976 when he served as an assistant at University of Wyoming until 1979. He moved on to University of Montana as an assistant from 1980-85. He had a one-year stint at the University of Massachusetts in 1986. He became an assistant at Northwestern University from 1987-90. His final assistant coaching stop was back at Wyoming at an assistant from 1991-98. 

His head coaching career at Carroll ended as it began, with a 5-6 season leading the Saints. 

In between, he and the Saints made history. 

"We are witnessing the retirement of one of our nation's football coaching legends," Cech said. 

MIKE VAN DIEST'S RETIREMENT PRESS CONFERENCE



VAN DIEST BY THE NUMBERS
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 6
TOTAL W-L: 203-54 (.790)
PLAYOFFS: 38-8

2018: 5-6
2017: 4-6
2016: 4-6
2015: 4-6
2014: 10-2
2013: 12-2
2012: 7-4
2011: 13-2
2010: 14-0
2009: 13-1
2008: 13-1
2007: 15-0
2006: 11-2
2005: 14-0
2004: 12-2
2003: 15-0
2002: 12-2
2001: 10-2
2000: 10-4
1999: 5-6