Jim Van Zandt

Jim Van Zandt

Class of 1956

It is said that communities shape people and good people shape their community. Jim VanZandt represents the best of this axiom. Raised in Comstock, he was co-valedictorian of his class with his twin sister. Following an outstanding high school career, Jim took his talents to Kalamazoo College where he was conference champion on an outstanding tennis squad. After graduation, Jim was an education and multi-sport coach at Galesburg-Augusta schools, winning many tennis state championships leading up to his induction in the Michigan High School coaches hall of fame. He since has been a great influence on many young people as an administrator and coach at the collegiate level. Many people will remember Jim as being the right man at the right time to give life changing direction. We will never be able to repay what he has given. Hopefully, respect, love and loyalty for this man will even the scales.

by John Manning



Comstock High School

  • Football - 2 Varsity Letters
  • Basketball - 2 Varsity Letters
  • Tennis - 4 Varsity Letters
    • 1955 & 56 MHSAA Class C-D Regional Singles Champion
    • 1955 MHSAA Class C-D State Runner Up

Kalamazoo College

  • Tennis – 2 Varsity Letters
    • 1959 Most Improved Player
    • 1957-60 - Member of 4 MIAA League Championship Teams
    • 1959 – Number 3 Singles Player for Kalamazoo College’s First NCAA Mideast Regional Championship Team

Galesburg-Augusta Tennis Coach

  • 1961-72 – Dual Meet Record 150-20
  • 11 KVA League Championships
  • 10 Class C-D Regional Championships
  • 6 Class C-D State Championships
  • 4 Class C-D State Runners Up

Kalamazoo College Women’s Tennis Coach – 1994-97

  • 2 MIAA League Championships
  • 2 Time NCAA National Singles Qualifier

Kalamazoo Valley Community College Women’s Tennis Coach – 1994-2011

  • 10 MCCAA State Championships
  • 6 Regional XII NJCAA Championships
  • 11 Time NJCAA National Tournament Qualifiers

Athletic Honors

  • 1987 National Tennis Award
  • 1989 MHSTeCA Hall of Fame
  • 1997 KVA Hall of Fame
  • 2009 Galesburg-Augusta High School Hall of Fame
  • 2011 NJCAA Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame

2013 Comstock Athletic Hall of Fame