CLARK VER HULST BIOGRAPHY

Clark is the owner and founder of Rec Sports.  He is a Teacher, Coach/Mentor, Recreation Enthusiast, and Community Builder.  His passions in life are his faith, his family and the community. One of his life verses is, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,  plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you a hope and a future” - Jeremiah 29:11.

Clark was born in Big Rapids, Michigan and he grew up in Wyoming, Michigan.  He played football, basketball, and baseball at Rogers High School.  His football team finished 7-2 and his basketball team made it to the state semifinals and was rated number one in the state the majority of his senior year. 

Clark went on to play basketball at Hope College and Grace Bible College.  A sports highlight for Clark was finishing seventh in the nation in NCCAA in free throw shooting (84.2%) while playing at Grace Bible College. He began coaching high school football and baseball and also officiating high school and collegiate games while in college. He also began working in the Zeeland and Holland Recreation Departments. 

During college Clark met his wife, Meribeth, on a blind date and got married after his junior year. He started Rec Sports in 1984 to help pay for college and living expenses. Since 1984, Rec Sports has continued to grow (click here for Rec Sports History) getting into new sports and opening athletic facilities.

Clark graduated from Hope College in 1985 with a teaching certificate and degrees in business, psychology, and religion.  He graduated from Grand Valley State University in 1988 with a master’s degree in business administration.  He coached high school baseball for 10 years and high school football for three years. He has worked with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since his sophomore year of high school.  He taught for 33 years at Rogers High School  which has since merged and become Wyoming High School.  

Clark and Meribeth have three children that also have worked with Rec Sports.  Meribeth spent many years working with Rec Sports and she worked as a special events coordinator at Younkers.  Their oldest son, Jordan, graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in business administration and a sports emphasis. Jordan received his Master’s Degree in Sports Management at the University of Memphis.  He has worked with the University of Memphis and Auburn basketball teams as well as Grand Valley State University and is currently an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Drive.   He is married to Julie and they have a daughters, Kynlee and Caroline and a son, Caleb.  Their daughter, Ashleigh, received her teaching certificate from Hope College and her Master’s in Education from Union College.  She is taught in the Memphis Public School System and currently a realtor in the Memphis area.  She is married to Austin Bettis.  They have two daughters, Amayah and Haddie and a son, Amari.  Zack is also interested in athletics and currently works in the Rec Sports offices and umpires.  Zack graudated from the University of Memphis with a degree in accounting. He is currently a Graduate Assistant with the Men's Basketball team at Eastern Michigan University.