Grand Valley State University Athletics

        RECRUITING AREA: Northern and Eastern Detroit suburbs, Kansas Junior Colleges

Nick Postma enters his 16th year at Grand Valley State in charge of the Laker secondary and also holds the title of Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator. Postma, who has tutored 21 different players that have earned 39 All-GLIAC honors, has created one of the top secondary units in the country.

Under the direction of Postma, the Grand Valley State secondary has become a source of excellence and a key reason why the Laker defense as a whole has become one of the top defensive units in the country. Since 2022, the GVSU secondary has yielded just 173.6 passing yards per game and 34 touchdowns, while picking off 38 passes and recording 178 pass break ups. Opponents have averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt and 10.7 yards per catch. In the last three years Nyzier Fourqurean, Devin Pringle and Terez Reid have moved on to Division I football, while safety Ian Kennelly remained at GVSU and signed with the Detroit Lions. 

The 2021 secondary tallied 65 pass breakups and picked off seven passes as GVSU yielded just 172.5 yards passing per game. Three Lakers earned All-GLIAC plaudits in the secondary as Grand Valley State ranked 18th nationally in turnover margin (+17) and 23rd in scoring defense (19.1) in 2018.  

The Laker secondary led the nation in passing defense, allowing 127.5 yards per game, while allowing just a 50.2 completion percentage in 2017. In addition, the GVSU defensive backfield allowed just four TD passes in 11 games and 267 passing attempts.

The 2016 defensive backfield picked off 19 passes and tallied a combined 135 pass deflections/pass breakups in 13 games. Marquez Gollman, Garrett Pougnet and Donte Carey earned All-GLIAC honors. In addition, the GVSU defense held four opponents to seven points or less. His 2015 defensive backfield picked off 20 passes, the 10th-best total nationally and tallied 74 pass breakups as a group in 2015.  

Postma tutored a young secondary in 2014 that intercepted 13 passes. Deonte Hurst was the lone defender in the secondary that had seen a significant amount of playing time entering that season and he earned all-america honors.

Postma mentored a defensive secondary that earned three All-GLIAC plaudits in 2013. Reggie Williams, Deonte Hurst and Erik Thompson each earned honors and played a major role in the Lakers’ stellar defensive play. The Laker defensive backfield picked off 21 passes and held opponents to 216.8 passing yards per game. The aggressive unit played run support as well as defending the pass, evidenced by five secondary performers ranking among the top 10 in total tackles. In addition, the Laker secondary recorded 58 pass breakups. In this time of pass happy offenses, the GVSU secondary yielded just 20 passing TDs.

Postma tutored three All-GLIAC performers (Matt Bakker, Zach Breen, Rob Carlisle) in 2010 as GVSU’s secondary picked off 18 passes and notched 35 pass deflections as a group in 2010. The Laker defensive secondary ranked among the leaders nationally in pass defense, pass breakups and interceptions.

Prior to his return to GVSU, Postma spent two years as an assistant coach at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio where he coached the defensive backs. Nick spent the 2006 campaign at Gannon University as a defensive backs coach. 

A graduate of Saginaw Valley State, Postma earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science in June of 2005. Postma was a four-year letterwinner and a three-year starter for the Cardinals on the gridiron as a strong safety. Saginaw Valley State appeared in the NCAA Division II playoffs each of his playing seasons, while also capturing a GLIAC Championship in 2003. SVSU compiled an overall record of 39-9 and a GLIAC mark of 34-6 during his career. Postma, who recorded 110 career tackles, earned All-GLIAC honors as a senior.

Postma and his wife, Jessica, reside in Allendale with sons Brayden Sweeney (16) and Cooper (3).