Coach Blake Cleveringa is entering his second season as Head Men's Basketball Coach of Grays Harbor College in the 2024-2025 year. This will be his 9th season coaching, with an array of experiences at the AAU, High School, and Collegiate levels. Coach Cleveringa has already made a great impact, taking on a winless program, bringing in freshman talent, and winning four games in their first season having a very competitive non-league and league schedule with "Coach C" at the helm. Only having two sophomores in Cleveringa’s first year in the 2023-2024 season, both were able to graduate with their Associate’s Degree and receive athletic scholarships at the four-year level. Coach Cleveringa officially started with the Grays Harbor MBB program in May of 2023.
Cleveringa came over after the 2022-2023 season as an Assistant Coach at Central Washington University under Head Coach Brandon Rinta and Assistant Coach Drew Church. His role consisted of recruitment, academic progress, scouting, and player development. Taking a lot of ownership is his role, Cleveringa traveled with the team, led scouting reports, and supported the staff and players in many capacities. CWU advanced to the semifinal game of the GNAC Championships.
From 2019-2022 Cleveringa was the Head Coach at Lincoln High School (Seattle). Cleveringa joined Lincoln HS in their first year of its reopening, which meant they did not have any upperclassmen during his first two years coaching in the Seattle Metro League. Coach was just 24 years old taking on the newly opened school and basketball program. Coaching Freshman and Sophomores against some of the best high school talent in the nation proved to be a great feat to undertake. During his third year, but first year with having seniors at Lincoln HS, they were one game shy of placing in the top 8 and advancing to Districts, losing in OT. Having that much success and winning 11 games was something nobody thought would happen for many years to come.
In the years of 2017-2019 Blake Cleveringa spent time as an Assistant under Keffrey Fazio at the formidable West Seattle HS program, as well coaching/training at various AAU programs. Being a part of highly competitive teams and around high-level players, showed to be advantageous and enriching experiences for him, expressing he was able to develop his voice and coaching style. Fazio is now the Head Coach at the Division II GNAC Seattle Pacific University.
The first team Cleveringa coached was an 15u AAU team at 19 years old, as he co-coached with a college teammate of his. During the years of 2015-2017 Cleveringa trained and coached a variety of teams ranging from 16u girls to 5th grade boys. Getting to work with many personalities and talent abilities, Cleveringa used these experiences to study the game from a holistic approach.Â
Born and raised in Yakima Valley until his family moved to Utah as he attended and played basketball at the powerhouse, Lehi HS where he led the state of Utah in scoring. Cleveringa played on some successful teams during his playing career, including a state final game losing in a nail-biter ending. Cleveringa went on to play at national junior college, Central Wyoming, and at Yakima Valley College under NWAC championship coaches, Ray Funk and London Wilson.
Cleveringa earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Central Washington University in 2017 with a degree in Social Sciences. Cleveringa continued his education at Seattle University, earning his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration and Leadership in 2019. While attending Seattle U, he was a Grad Assistant within the Athletic Department. In addition, he was a practice player and scout coach for the Women’s Basketball team. That year, the WBB team won the WAC Championship.
Cleveringa was surrounded by basketball, playing as soon as he could pick up a ball. Cleveringa always knew he wanted to coach, he says, soaking up all the knowledge he could, being around many well-respected coaches. Crediting and appreciating, always being able to be involved with WIAA HOF’er High School coach Bruce Siebol’s practices, Zillah HS powerhouse, or any team his dad was coaching. Through these experiences, he was able to curate his own coaching philosophies which are centered around value-based leadership. Valuing the relationship from coach to player, focusing on cultivating impactful relationships. Emphasis on personal and professional development with the student-athlete. As a student Advisor at the school, Cleveringa strives to make his players well rounded student athletes and great teammates. He believes that the sport of basketball provides opportunities to learn skills that are applicable well beyond the court. He is married to Amelia and they have a dog named Stevie Nicks. They currently reside in Olympia, WA.
