Jesse joined the Royals in August of 2018 and is the eighth women’s basketball head coach at Redeemer University. He has coached at multiple levels with over 20 years of coaching experience at the University, High School and Club Levels. VanHouwelingen has coached senior boys' high school at Central Elgin Collegiate HS, Senior Girls at London Christian District HS and Hamilton District Christian HS. At the club level, he has coached the U17 and U19 St.Thomas Shock and the U15-U19 Dundas Dynamo of the Ontario Basketball Association.
Since he took over the program, VanHouwelingen’s teams have been extremely competitive in the OCAA West and have earned a reputation for being a physically and mentally tough team that always competes no matter the situation. As a former student athlete, Jesse’s passion is to help Royals athletes grow both on and off the court. He believes that Redeemer offers athletes a top-level education as well as a high-level athletic career. His vision is to build young Christian athletes through the school's Vertical Purpose motto.
In 2022-23, he coached the Royals to their first-ever playoff win and provincial tournament appearance. That year, the Royals finished 7th in the OCAA West division and went on the road to Durham College to knock off the #2 seed and 12-2 Durham College. They would eventually go on to lose to the Fanshawe Falcons in the Elite 8 of the OCAA provincial tournament. The following year, the Royals competed in 25 games, the most in program history and qualified for the NCCAA National Championships in Winona Lake, Indiana.
Coaching in his 8th season, their home opener against Mohawk will mark the 100th regular season game as the Head Coach of the Program, second most in program history.
The women's basketball program has produced multiple 1st and 2nd teams OCAA All-stars, multiple OCAA rookie all-star selections and 1 OCAA Player of the Year and CCAA All-Canadian. This is a tribute to the hard work of the athletes, coaches and athletic staff, year after year.
Jesse played varsity basketball at Redeemer University under Coach Moses in 2001 and 2002. After two seasons with the Royals, Jesse completed his Bible and Theology certification with Youth Unlimited/Youth for Christ and moved on to become a youth pastor with Fellowship CRC and Youth For Christ Elgin County. Jesse also attended Fanshawe College for a degree in Recreation and Leadership.
VanHouwelingen is a trained NCCP Level III coach.
Jesse and his wife Lisa have been married for 20 years and reside in Dundas, Ontario, with their 2 daughters, Ava and Claire. They attend Hope Bible Church in Oakville.
