Brandon Rinta has compiled one of the best winning percentages in LCSC men’s basketball history with his record of 141-53 (.727) over six seasons. His teams have won no fewer than 22 games every season with the exception of his first year (2011-12). His 2015-16 squad had the second-most victories in a season (29), while setting the single-season LCSC winning percentage mark of .853 (29-5).
Rinta’s teams have won three Frontier Conference regular-season titles and two tournament championships. The Warriors were runners-up to eventual Frontier Conference champion Carroll College last season.
The 2015-16 season also saw the Warriors advance to the second round of the national tournament for just the third time in program history. Rinta was honored as a finalist for the Don Meyer National Coach of the Year Award after being chosen Frontier Conference Coach of the Year. Four players have earned all-league recognition, four earned all-academic honors and two players, Jacob Wiley and Doug McDaniel, earned All-American honors.
Under Rinta’s tutelage, one player – P.J. Bolte, earned third team NAIA All-American status and six were honorable mention. He also had the 2015-16 conference Player of the Year in addition to numerous all-conference selections. And, after the Warriors’ 2012-13 season, Rinta was voted the Don Meyer National Coach of the Year.
Rinta has strong ties in the Pacific Northwest after having spent five years as an assistant coach at Eastern Washington. During his five years at EWU, he helped form the most successful teams in the program’s history. Those teams competed in the postseason every year; made it to the Big Sky Championship game three times; won the Big Sky Conference title once; won EWU’s first Big Sky Tournament Championship, and participated in the NIT and NCAA tournaments for the first times in school history.
Rinta then spent the next five years as the top assistant and associate head coach at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho – the position he held until he was hired at LCSC. In his time at NNU, he helped guide the Crusaders to their most successful seasons since the program moved to NCAA Division II. During his five years there, NNU tied the record for most wins in a season; claimed its first postseason win, and earned its first national and regional rankings. The team also posted the highest team GPA in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference three out of those five years.
Rinta played two seasons at Yakima Valley Community College. During his second year, the team was co-coached by legendary former Central Washington coach Dean Nicholson. He earned first-team all-NWAACC honors when he averaged 13.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He was the team Most Valuable Player, captain and Most Inspirational Player his final season there.
Rinta then transferred to CWU for his final two seasons. He started 53 games at CWU at guard and helped the team to a 39-17 mark during those seasons. In both years, he served as co-captain and won the team’s Hustle Award. He also won the Most Inspirational Award his senior year.
He averaged 8.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals at CWU. He helped the team to the NCAA Division II West Regional both seasons and the Pacific West Conference regular-season title as a junior.
Rinta earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health Fitness Education from CWU and a Master’s degree in Athletic Administration from Eastern Washington.
Rinta, his wife Deanna, their daughter Kendall and son Shea reside in Lewiston.
