Florida State College at Jacksonville Names Zack VerHulst Head Men's Basketball Coach
JACKSONVILLE, FL – Florida State College at Jacksonville has named Zack VerHulst as the new Head Men's Basketball Coach, Director of Athletics Jerry Thor announced today. VerHulst brings an impressive track record of player development, Division I placement success, and championship-level experience to lead the Manta Rays program into their next chapter.
"We conducted an extensive national search, and Zack VerHulst emerged as the clear choice to lead our men's basketball program," said Jerry Thor, Director of Athletics. "His ability to develop championship-caliber players while maintaining academic excellence embodies everything FSCJ Athletics values. We're thrilled to welcome him to the Manta Ray family and look forward to the bright future he'll create for our student-athletes."
Coaching History
VerHulst most recently served as Head Coach at Ranger College, where he compiled 47 wins over three seasons (2023-2026) while annually testing his program against one of the toughest schedules in the country.
Before taking the helm at Ranger, VerHulst served as an assistant coach there during the program's breakthrough 2022-23 campaign. The Rangers posted a 27-8 overall record and 12-2 conference mark, capturing the NTJCAC championship, advancing to the Region 5 Championship game, and earning an NJCAA Sweet 16 berth. Five players from that squad signed Division I scholarships with Fresno State, Troy, Milwaukee, Western Illinois, and Cal State Northridge.
VerHulst's championship credentials extend to his 2021-22 season at Chipola College, where he helped guide the team to a Panhandle Conference title and an NJCAA Final Four appearance. Six players from that roster earned Division I scholarships, including Nae'Qwan Tomlin (Kansas State), with others signing to Old Dominion, UTEP, Samford, Southern, and Chicago State.
Player Development
VerHulst has established himself as one of junior college basketball's premier talent developers. During his three seasons as Head Coach at Ranger College, nine players earned Division I scholarships, including placements at Queens, Lamar, East Texas A&M, UMKC, Northern Kentucky, New Haven, Little Rock, Cleveland State, and Alabama A&M.
His players have consistently earned conference and regional recognition. Cam Brown garnered All-American Honorable Mention honors along with All-Region 5, 1st Team All-NTJCAC, and Freshman of the Year accolades. Asjon Anderson and CJ Evans both earned All-Region 5 and 1st Team All-NTJCAC recognition. Additional honorees include Demarco Bethea (1st Team All-NTJCAC), Gavin Headings (2nd Team All-NTJCAC), and Kaylon Mason (2nd Team All-NTJCAC).
VerHulst's commitment to developing complete student-athletes extends well beyond the basketball court. The Ranger College men's basketball program consistently excelled academically under his leadership, posting team GPAs of 3.32 (2024), 3.05 (2025), and 3.11 (2026), demonstrating that championship culture and classroom success go hand in hand.
Education and Background
A native of Grandville, Michigan, VerHulst earned his bachelor's degree in business accounting from the University of Memphis in 2015. He then spent three years (2018-2021) as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan, where he specialized in video coordination and analytics while completing his master's degree in sports management in 2021. Those skills have become hallmarks of his data-driven coaching approach.
VerHulst begins his duties immediately. Additional details regarding his formal introduction to the FSCJ community will be announced later this summer.
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