Kyle Steigenga, who is in his eighth season as an assistant coach at Cornerstone University, runs a practice on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Kyle Steigenga was walking through the airport in Charlotte, N.C., when he heard a familiar voice.
It was Sarah Zichterman and her husband Mark Zichterman. All three of them were basketball stars at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids.
“It was pretty random,” Steigenga said. “I’ve known the Zichterman’s for awhile. Randomly, she saw me in the airport. I was on the phone with Coach (Kim) Elders going of the prep for our game.”
Steigenga was heading to Florida as he was being inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame on Nov. 6 in Lakeland, Fla.
“It’s pretty humbling, Steigenga said. “It’s crazy to think coming from Holland Christian and then Cornerstone to be able to get into a hall of fame, it’s very humbling.”
Work never stops for Steigenga, who is in his eighth season as an assistant basketball coach at Cornerstone under legendary coach Kim Elders.
Kyle Steigenga dunks during an alumni basketball game at Holland High School on July 29, 2023. He is the all-time leading scorer at Holland Christian High School. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Steigenga, 30, graduated from Holland Christian High School in 2014 as the Maroons all-time leading scorer. During four years at Cornerstone, he led the Golden Eagles to the 2015 NAIA National Championship. As a senior, he was named NAIA National Player of the Year and finished his career, with a stunning 3,023 career points. At the time, he had the most career points for any college basketball in Michigan all levels. He’s since been surpassed by Antoine Davis, who scored 3,664 points at the University of Detroit Mercy.
“He deserves this more than anyone I know,” said Kayden Bird, a senior on the Cornerstone basketball team. “He’s probably the most accomplished player in Michigan basketball history on all levels. He’s an amazing person, mentor and friend.”
Steigenga, the nephew of former Michigan State star Matt Steigenga, recalls the game he reached 3,000 career points.
"It was, unfortunately, my last career game,” he said. “I hit a three on a pick-and-pop to get it. Its kind of bittersweet to think about since it was in my final game.”
Bird, who was three points short of 1,000 for his career after Cornerstone’s game on Tuesday night against Marian College, can appreciate how many points his coach scored.
“It puts it into perspective how dominate he was at this level,” Bird said. “1,000 is a lot, but 3,000 is just incredible.”
Kyle Steigenga plays during a pickup basketball game on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Ironically, the guy Steigenga surpassed on the all-time scoring list was also inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame with him. Dominez Burnett was a dominant basketball player in Grand Rapids, too, at Davenport University. At the time, Davenport and Cornerstone were both in the same conference, the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.
"Originally, the record was held by Jared Crandall, who graduated from Cornerstone,” Steigenga said. “Dominez is two years older than me. He actually hit the shot on me (while I was defending him) to break the record. Then two years later, I broke his record. I played against him for two years. He was a phenomenal player.”
Steigenga was a three-sport star in high school. He was an elite wide receiver in football and a high jumper in track.
“I would have been very interested in playing football and become a tight end,” he said. “But to become a receiver… I didn’t really have the speed.”
But he still stays active on the basketball court. Although his left wrist is in a cast at the moment.
“I fractured it about eight weeks ago in open gym playing against Kayden Bird,” Steigenga said.
Bird said his coach can still play.
“He still plays open gyms with us and he still dominates,” Bird said. “He plays a more passive role to get guys involved. But when he gets angry, he just goes and scores every time. It just shows his talent is still there.”
Kyle Steigenga, center, coaches along side head coach Kim Elders, left, during a game against Marian College on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
