Jordan Weidner is ready for his seventh year as the lead assistant coach for Grace's men's basketball team. He also serves as the Director of the Gordon Health and Wellness Center.
In Weidner's first year with the Lancers, Grace shattered expectations. After being picked as the eighth-best team in the Crossroads League prior to the season, Grace finished third with a 19-12 record. The Lancers clinched a berth in the NAIA National Championships in 2019-20, and head coach Scott Moore was named the league's Coach of the Year.
During the 2021-22 season, the Lancers excelled with a young squad. A team almost entirely comprised of underclassmen won the 2022 Crossroads League Tournament for the first time since 2012. Grace won all three games on the road, including Mt. Vernon Nazarene, No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 12 Marian. The Lancers became the lowest seed (No. 5) to win the CL Tournament in conference history. They then advanced to the NAIA Sweet Sixteen, marking the deepest run for the team since 2013. Grace's 27 wins were the most for the program since 1991-92.
During the 2022-23 campaign, Grace enjoyed a storybook season. The Lancers won the regular season and postseason tournament for the Crossroads League, cutting down the nets at home in a thrilling tournament championship win over Huntington. Grace then cut down the nets again one week later after winning its NAIA First/Second Round pod -- it marked the first time that Grace was selected to host part of the NAIA tournament for basketball in school history.
In 2023-24, Grace was even better, Grace was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country for much of the 2023-24 season. The Lancers won the regular season and postseason championships in the Crossroads League and were the overall No. 1 seed in the NAIA tournament. Grace then enjoyed its deepest run in the NAIA Div. I tournament era, reaching the Fab Four. The Lancers set team records in 2023-24 for longest winning streak (24), most games won (34), best winning percentage (.944, 34-2), least games lost (2), most assists (750) and second-best field goal percentage (.527).
In 2024-25, the Lancers repeated as champions of the Crossroads League, in both the regular season and the postseason tournament. Grace advanced to the NAIA Elite Eight at the national tournament.
Weidner is a familiar face in the Crossroads League. He excelled as a guard for Indiana Wesleyan from 2010-14. He finished his career ranked third on the all-time scoring list with 2,224 points.
He climaxed his career by winning the NAIA national championship as a senior in 2014, being named the Most Outstanding Player in the process. He earned NAIA First Team All-American and Crossroads League Player of the Year honors as well in 2014.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Grace family. Grace College is a special place, and I am eager to see what God is going to do through the men’s basketball program,” Weidner said. “I can’t wait to build on the tradition and culture of this program with Coach Moore. My wife and I are very excited to be joining the Winona Lake community and look forward to making it home.”
Weidner continued his basketball career after college at the professional level. He was drafted No. 1 overall in the NBL Canada draft in 2014 by the Mississauga Power; he made the All-Rookie Team after his first season with the Power.
Weidner joined IWU’s coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2017. He helped the Wildcats to two seasons with at least 30 wins, aiding IWU to an NAIA title in 2018.
