Hillcrest Academy Principal and longtime basketball coach Dwight Gingerich will be leaving his post at the end of this school year to become the new men’s basketball coach and athletic director at Goshen College in Indiana.

Goshen College initially contacted Gingerich last fall, but he couldn’t take the opportunity immediately due to his obligations to Hillcrest. Following a full interview process, Goshen ultimately decided to bring him on once his contract at Hillcrest Academy was completed.

In an over 40-year career at Hillcrest, where he is also an alum, Gingerich spent time as the school’s basketball coach with a record of 759-239, making him the fourth-winningest coach in Iowa boys’ basketball history, a teacher, a guidance counselor, and the school’s activities director before taking over as principal for the last seven years. During his tenure, he oversaw the school’s name change from Iowa Mennonite School to Hillcrest Academy, saw the school through the COVID-19 pandemic and its transition into a middle/high school after only offering grades 9-12 for nearly 80 years.

Gingerich thanked the people who helped him along the way, “I just want to mention through the years, along with all the amazing athletes I’ve been able to coach, I’m just so grateful for the other coaches I’ve been able to work with.”

He went on to say he was especially grateful for Ron Swartzentruber, Aaron Gingerich and Randy Rumpel, each of whom worked alongside him for over a decade.

Hillcrest Academy’s Operating Board is now looking for an interim principal for the upcoming school year and is beginning a search for a permanent replacement the following year. 

To hear the full interview with Gingerich, tune in to the In Touch With Southeast Iowa Program Wednesday through Friday.