BY will johnson
sports editor
wjohnson@wardpub.com
An opportunity one could not pass up.
That was the case for former Pacific High School standout basketball player …
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BY will johnson
sports editor
wjohnson@wardpub.com
An opportunity one could not pass up.
That was the case for former Pacific High School standout basketball player Cullen VanLeer.
Serving as an assistant coach at Pacific last season under his dad John VanLeer, Cullen will start his own head-coaching career this coming winter.
Approved unanimously by a 7-0 vote during Monday’s Gasconade County R-2 Board Meeting at Owensville Middle School, Cullen VanLeer was hired as the next head boys basketball coach at Owensville High School replacing Todd Rehmert who stepped down after three seasons.
“This opportunity came and I thought it would be a good place to get started and start my head coaching career,” Cullen VanLeer said. “I’ve had a lot of success in Owensville’s gymnasium and I hope to continue it next winter.”
During his time at PHS from 2012 to 2015, VanLeer racked up an incredible list of honors.
• Four-time Borgia Turkey Tournament All-Tournament Team
• Two-time Union Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP)
• Four-time Owensville Tournament MVP
• Four-time All-Four Rivers Conference (FRC)
• Two-time All-FRC Player of the Year
• Four-time All-District player
• Three-time All-State
• 2015 Missouri Basketball Coaches Asso Missouri Class 4 Player of the Year
• Kansas Army National Guard Tournament MVP
Also rewriting the basketball record books at PHS, VanLeer finished as the all-time leader in Indian basketball history in points, rebounds, 3-point shots made and free throws made.
This led him to earn a NCAA Division I scholarship to play basketball at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
“I’m beyond proud of Cullen,” Cullen’s father John VanLeer said. “I’ve gotten to coach him, watch him play at Mizzou and have him as my assistant coach. Now I get to watch him build a program and coach his own team. I’m one lucky dad.”
In addition to being the Dutchmen head basketball coach, VanLeer will also assume the role of OHS head boy’s golf coach replacing the recently resigned Nathan Cabot.
VanLeer’s accomplishments in his high school golf career include being a two-time All-FRC player in addition to being a two-time state qualifier reaching the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 3 State Golf Championships.
Cullen was also the assistant golf coach under his dad at PHS this past spring before the coronavirus cancelled all spring sports statewide.
