LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The mission of Biola University is to equip men and women in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Biola's faculty do a wonderful job of ensuring this happens during the educational experience, and the Eagles' coaching staff comes alongside them in that effort to provide a transformational experience in character development during a student-athlete's time at the University.
 
One program that has excelled in this area year after year for decades is Biola Men's Basketball. The Eagles, under the leadership of Dr. Dave Holmquist, have been recognized nationally for their character on the court more often than any other program in the NAIA.
 
At the end of the 2016-17 season Biola Men's Basketball earned the NAIA's team sportsmanship award for the fourth time in program history, which is the most times any one program has earned the honor. This year's honor places Biola one ahead of Westmont, Dordt (Iowa) and Arkansas who have each been recognized three times.
 
The heart of the Dr. James Naismith-Emil S. Liston Sportsmanship Award is to recognize one program at the NAIA National Championship tournament that best exhibits respect, civility, integrity and fair play.
 
Most years this award goes to a program that reaches the quarterfinals, semifinals or championship game. However, this year the character of coach Holmquist's Biola Men's Basketball team made such an impression on the field that the team was recognized despite playing just one game.
 
In addition to the team award coach Holmquist was given the Charles A. Krigel Award, which honors the coach that best represents the four qualities listed above.
 
It's the fourth time Holmquist has been a recipient of this particular award. No other coach has been recognized more than twice. Only two other coaches have ever earned it more than once at the same institution.
 
These latest honors just go to show the culture Holmquist has established in his program over the last 38 years. Every individual involved in the program in some way (player, athletic trainer, assistant coach, parent, etc.) plays a role in building a culture where good Christian character is not only embraced, but pushed to the forefront.
 
Coach Holmquist is a NAIA Hall of Fame coach not just because over the course of his career he's been able to win almost 1,000 basketball games, but also because of the type of impact that he, and those who have come through his program, have had on the NAIA, the Golden State Athletic Conference and the local community through their commitment to respect, civility, integrity and a dedication to fair play.
 
Next fall Holmquist begins his 39^th season here and the Biola Men's Basketball begins a brand new chapter as it competes in the NCAA Division II and the PacWest Conference for the first time. Even with all that is new one thing is sure to remain unchanged, and that's the unwavering focus on developing his student-athletes in their character to equip them to impact the world for Christ.