Staff Directory
VanHootegem, Jim
Jim VanHootegem
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
Jim VanHootegem, a three-time USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year and Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year selection, joined the University of Houston Track & Field program as an assistant coach in June 2025.
VanHootegem (pronounced van-OTT-eh-ghem) will coach the horizontal jumps after spending two seasons at South Plains College. During his time with the Texans, he was named the 2025 USTFCCCA Indoor Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year and helped guide the team to three team NJCAA National Championships, including seven individual National Championship titles.
In his career, VanHootegem has helped guide his programs to 15 National Team Championship titles and 27 conference team titles. Additionally, VanHootegem produced 138 All-American honors as an event coach and 63 honorees as a head coach.
His coaching accolades include the 2016 Big 12 Conference Women's Outdoor Head Coach of the Year, three USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, three USTFCCCA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year honors and five Big East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year recognitions.
VanHootegem brings a wealth of Big 12 experience as he served as the head coach at Oklahoma for six seasons from 2013-19. He guided 83 Sooners to NCAA Championship berths, 62 collected All-America accolades and 28 won individual or relay Big 12 titles. Additionally, 65 student-athletes earned All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA.
From 2004-2013, VanHootegem served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M where the Aggies won seven NCAA team titles, 22 individual NCAA Champions and 14 conference crowns. VanHootegem was named the 2009 Men's National Assistant Coach of the Year and a 2012 Mondo Regional Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.
VanHootegem was an assistant coach at Miami from 2001-04, where he won five conference titles and was a member of the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year on five separate occasions.
As a student-athlete at North Central College, VanHootegem helped lead his squad to a pair of NCAA Division III national championships and two third-place finishes. He is a seven-time All-American and was named the team's most valuable athlete and a team captain.
A native of Kewanee, Ill., VanHootegem earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from North Central College. He is currently a USTFCCCA Academy instructor for the jumps curriculum. Van Hootegem is a certified strength and conditioning coach by the USTFCCCA Academy and is Level II certified in the USA Track & Field Coaching Education Program.
VanHootegem is married to the former Carmen Melendez, and they have three children, Tori, Quin and Olivia. The VanHootegems also have two granddaughters, Eden and Hazel.
VanHootegem (pronounced van-OTT-eh-ghem) will coach the horizontal jumps after spending two seasons at South Plains College. During his time with the Texans, he was named the 2025 USTFCCCA Indoor Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year and helped guide the team to three team NJCAA National Championships, including seven individual National Championship titles.
In his career, VanHootegem has helped guide his programs to 15 National Team Championship titles and 27 conference team titles. Additionally, VanHootegem produced 138 All-American honors as an event coach and 63 honorees as a head coach.
His coaching accolades include the 2016 Big 12 Conference Women's Outdoor Head Coach of the Year, three USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, three USTFCCCA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year honors and five Big East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year recognitions.
VanHootegem brings a wealth of Big 12 experience as he served as the head coach at Oklahoma for six seasons from 2013-19. He guided 83 Sooners to NCAA Championship berths, 62 collected All-America accolades and 28 won individual or relay Big 12 titles. Additionally, 65 student-athletes earned All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA.
From 2004-2013, VanHootegem served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M where the Aggies won seven NCAA team titles, 22 individual NCAA Champions and 14 conference crowns. VanHootegem was named the 2009 Men's National Assistant Coach of the Year and a 2012 Mondo Regional Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.
VanHootegem was an assistant coach at Miami from 2001-04, where he won five conference titles and was a member of the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year on five separate occasions.
As a student-athlete at North Central College, VanHootegem helped lead his squad to a pair of NCAA Division III national championships and two third-place finishes. He is a seven-time All-American and was named the team's most valuable athlete and a team captain.
A native of Kewanee, Ill., VanHootegem earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from North Central College. He is currently a USTFCCCA Academy instructor for the jumps curriculum. Van Hootegem is a certified strength and conditioning coach by the USTFCCCA Academy and is Level II certified in the USA Track & Field Coaching Education Program.
VanHootegem is married to the former Carmen Melendez, and they have three children, Tori, Quin and Olivia. The VanHootegems also have two granddaughters, Eden and Hazel.
Recap: Houston vs Colorado
Monday, September 15
Postgame Press Conference: Football vs. Colorado
Friday, September 12
Postgame Press Conference: Football at Rice
Saturday, September 06
Postgame Press Conference: Football vs. Stephen F. Austin
Friday, August 29
