Coach Darin Meinders serves as the Athletic Director and Head Women's Basketball Coach at Mission University, bringing more than three decades of coaching excellence to the institution.
During his 26-year high school coaching career, Meinders developed a reputation for building successful programs and mentoring student-athletes with character and discipline. His teams made six Final Four appearances, reached ten State Quarterfinals, won thirteen District Championships, and claimed twelve Conference Championships. Most notably, he led both boys’ and girls’ teams to State Championships, an achievement that underscores his ability to lead and win across all levels of competition. His high school career record stands at an impressive 540–213, with a .717 winning percentage. In recognition of his accomplishments, Meinders was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in April of 2019.
When reflecting on his success, Meinders credits the athletes he has coached, as well as his family. He spent eight years coaching alongside his father, Vern Meinders, and had the privilege of coaching both of his sons, always supported by his wife, Dana.
On March 24, 2019, Meinders accepted the dual role of Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Baptist Bible College (now Mission University), taking on the significant challenge of launching a collegiate basketball program from scratch. In the 2019–20 season, the Patriots finished 17–9 and made a strong showing at the ACCA National Tournament. Building on that momentum, Meinders guided the team to an ACCA National Championship in 2020–21 with a 21–4 record. The following year, with nearly the entire roster returning, the team transitioned into NCCAA competition and claimed another National Championship with a 21–3 finish.
In addition to his on-court accomplishments, Meinders played a key role in the college’s rebranding to Mission University and helped oversee the athletic department’s dual affiliation with the NCCAA and NAIA. His record at the collegiate level now stands at 88–37 in just four seasons, for a .704 winning percentage. Across 31 years of coaching, his career record is 628–250, maintaining an outstanding .715 winning percentage.
Now, in a new chapter of his coaching career, Meinders takes the helm of the Mission University Women’s Basketball Program. His son Dallas, who served as his assistant on the men’s team, has taken over as Head Men’s Coach. Meanwhile, Meinders will continue mentoring his younger son, Dawson, who steps in as the Head Women’s Assistant Coach. Together, the Meinders family continues a proud tradition of coaching that began with Vern Meinders and now spans three generations.
Coach Meinders and his wife Dana have been married for over 30 years. Their sons, Dallas and Dawson, carry on the family’s passion for teaching, mentoring, and building programs that pursue excellence both on and off the court.
