Brian Van Haaften joined BVU in 1994 as an assistant coach for the Beavers and was named head coach in 1996.
Since taking over the head reigns, Van Haaften has put together one of the best active winning percentages in NCAA Division III men’s basketball with an all-time record of 397-179 (.689). He currently ranks in the top-40 in all-time winning percentage among Division III coaches with at least 10 years of coaching. He'll enter the 2017-18 campaign ranked in the top-25 among active DIII coaches in career winning percentage.
Buena Vista has had a winning record in 19 of the 20 years since he took over the head job. In the 17 years prior to his joining the Beavers, the program won just 26 percent of its overall games.
Van Haaften compiled six 20-win seasons in a row (27-2 in 2000, 21-6 in 2001, 23-6 in 2002, 27-4 in 2003, 24-5 in 2004, and 26-4 in 2005) and captured five straight Iowa Conference Tournaments from the 2001-02 season thru the 2005-06 campaign. His teams have also gone 27-10 all-time during the Iowa Conference Tournament, marking the highest number of wins in the event’s history.
The seven-time Iowa Conference Coach of the Year reached the 200-win plateau in just his ninth season, in the 251st game of his collegiate career – faster than nearly any coach in Division III history. This ranks Van Haaften above legendary coaches Roy Williams (of Kansas and North Carolina, who took 252 games to reach the 200 win milestone) and Denny Crum (of Louisville, who collected his 200th win in 254 games).
He later recorded his 300th career triumph in 2010-11 in just his 407th career game before capturing his 350th in 2013-14 (479th career game). He'll enter his 22nd season needing three wins for No. 400.
Van Haaften's career record versus conference opponents (including both regular season and conference tournament games) is a dominating 281-94 (.749). In games decided by five points or less, his record is 103-57 (.644). In home conference and conference tournament games, his squads are 179-31 (.852).
During Van Haaften’s tenure at Buena Vista, his teams have won or clinched a share of the Iowa Conference regular season championship nine times and have finished runner-up six times, third three times, fourth twice, and sixth once. His nine IIAC regular season titles are the third-most in league history.
Fifty players have earned All-IIAC accolades since 'VH' became head coach, including six league MVP's and two Defensive Players of the Year. Every four-year player he has coached has been a part of at least one conference championship.
Van Haaften has deep-seated roots within the Storm Lake community. He served as principal of St. Mary’s High School in Storm Lake from 1992 to 1994. He was also the head basketball coach from 1988-94 and the head baseball coach from 1989-93 at St. Mary’s where he served as a business education teacher and as athletic director.
Van Haaften graduated from Pella High School where he was named to the all-conference basketball team twice and earned Special Mention All-State as a senior. He then attended Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa) where he played varsity for three years and started as a senior. Van Haaften went on to earn his master’s degree in educational administration from Drake University.
He and his wife, Barb, have two children – daughter, Courtney, and son, Jayson, who have each recently graduated from Buena Vista.
Record at Buena Vista:
| Year | Overall | IIAC |
| 1996-97 | 18-8 | 12-4 |
| 1997-98 | 19-6 | 17-3 |
| 1998-99 | 15-11 | 13-7 |
| 1999-00 | 27-2 | 19-1 |
| 2000-01 | 21-6 | 16-4 |
| 2001-02 | 23-6 | 16-2 |
| 2002-03 | 27-4 | 16-2 |
| 2003-04 | 24-5 | 13-3 |
| 2004-05 | 26-4 | 14-2 |
| 2005-06 | 15-14 | 10-6 |
| 2006-07 | 17-9 | 11-5 |
| 2007-08 | 23-7 | 14-2 |
| 2008-09 | 23-3 | 15-1 |
| 2009-10 | 15-12 | 10-6 |
| 2010-11 | 11-15 | 8-8 |
| 2011-12 | 17-11 | 11-5 |
| 2012-13 | 19-7 | 11-3 |
| 2013-14 | 14-13 | 8-6 |
| 2014-15 | 18-8 | 11-3 |
| 2015-16 | 11-16 | 5-9 |
| 2016-17 | 14-12 | 10-6 |
| Totals | 397-179
| 260-88 |
Some of Van Haaften's Accomplishments:
- Has won 9 Iowa Conference regular season and 7 Iowa Conference tournament championships.
- His team's have won an IIAC Tournament record 27 games (27-10)
- Has made 9 National Tournament Appearances.
- Has made it to the Sweet 16 of the National Tournament three times.
- Two of the top records in school history have occurred with Van Haaften (27-2 in 2000, and 27-4 in 2003).
- Set the school record with 23 consecutive victories in season '00.
- IIAC Coach of the Year – '97, '00, '02, '03, '04, '08, '15
- West Region Coach of the Year – '00 (NABC), '06 (D3hoops.com), '08 (D3hoops.com).
- Coached Class 1A State Championship in Baseball in '93 at Storm Lake St. Mary's.
