Tony Hoops is completing his sixth year as the Director of Athletics at Bethel College
after taking over these duties in the Summer of 2017. Prior to this, Hoops spent four
seasons as the head coach of the Bethel men's basketball program, holding both
responsibilities during the 2017-18 season.
Hoops’ tenure as the director of athletics has brought with it a revitalization of the
athletic department in multiple ways. Multiple facility projects and upgrades have been
able to take place, including the installation of new turf, a new locker room and suite
viewing area at Thresher Stadium, a new track and a videoboard at Thresher Stadium,
new bleachers and scoreboards in Thresher Gym, a new clubhouse with restrooms and
fan seating at the Ward Tennis Center, and a new clubhouse, restrooms, scoreboard,
concessions stand, and press box at Wedel Softball Field.
Hoops oversaw what was perhaps one of the most successful years in the history of
Bethel Athletics during the 2020-21 school year. The Threshers were able to clinch
KCAC regular season championships in football, men’s basketball, and competitive
cheer, while the men’s basketball team also won the conference postseason
tournament championship. All three of these teams plus women’s basketball qualified
for their respective national championships through the NAIA. The men’s basketball
team was able to win its first-ever national tournament games, and made their way to
the Round of 16. Bethel also led all KCAC institutions with seven total KCAC Teams of
Character; softball, volleyball, golf, football, men’s soccer, competitive dance, and
women’s outdoor track & field.
Bethel was able to produce 18 NAIA All-Americans in 2020-21, 89 individual All-KCAC
honorees, and 83 KCAC Scholar-Athletes. All of these accomplishments represent the
most the department has seen since at least the past decade.
Due to his department’s all-around success, Hoops was named the 2020-21 KCAC
Athletic Director of the Year.
Under the direction of Hoops, the Threshers have claimed five total KCAC conference
championships, three consecutive in football. Nine Thresher sport programs have
advanced to the NAIA postseason during Hoops’ six years as AD, including three
consecutive by men’s basketball, advancing to the round of 16 twice.
Hoops has been instrumental in guiding the Bethel athletic department to becoming an
NAIA Champions of Character 5-Star Gold Standard school each of the past five years,
a first in school history.
Aside from Hoops’ duties as Director of Athletics, he serves on the Presidential Cabinet,
he is the current chairperson of the KCAC governing council, he chairs the Student-
Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), and Bethel College FCA committee.
Hoops played basketball at Bethel from 2001-05 and was an NAIA Scholar-Athlete in
2005 and KCAC Academic All-Conference player in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He was a
member of the 2002-03 KCAC championship team and played in the 2003 NAIA
National Tournament, the first in Bethel’s history. This team was inducted into the
Bethel College Hall of Fame in 2021. Hoops was named a Champion of Character
scholarship recipient in 2004. He also ran track at Bethel in 2003.
Hoops is a graduate of Belleville High School in Belleville, KS. He received his Bachelor
of Science from Bethel in 2005 in Health Management (Health and Physical Education)
and a minor in Coaching. He received his Masters of Science in School Leadership and
Administration from Baker University in 2013.
Hoops serves on the leadership team of the “New Anthem Community Church” in Park
City and is actively involved in the Kansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is
married to Kelli (Ackerman) Hoops. Kelli, a 2007 graduate of Bethel College, was an
All-Conference volleyball player in 2005 and 2006, All-Region in 2006, the George
Rogers Outstanding Female Athlete recipient in 2006-2007, and helped lead the
Threshers to a conference title in 2005. Tony, Kelli, and their children Kendri, and
Tysen reside in Newton.
