MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State Department of Athletics continues its feature series that highlights members of its Athletics Hall of Fame. This week's spotlight feature highlights Warren Van Der Westhuizen, a member of the fourth class to be inducted into the Clayton State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

One of the best soccer players in the history of Clayton State, Warren Van Der Westhuizen went 48-19-6 with a 0.71 goals against average and mind blowing 37 shutouts in four seasons.

He anchored the program's first two NCAA Division II Sweet 16 teams in 2000 (18-3-1) and 2001 (11-4-5) and led the Lakers to the first championship in program history, claiming the 2000 Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship with a 1-0 victory over USC Upstate on November 5 of that year.
 
A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Van Der Westhuizen joined the Lakers in 1999 and immediately set forth on a career that has been unrivaled by any goalkeeper in the team's history. He would go 7-7 that first season, notching seven shutouts with a 0.71 GAA. Taking over midway through the year, it would be the only time he would not notch double-digit victories in his career.
 
He would come into his own in the 2000 season as he recorded a Peach Belt Conference record 2,093 minutes in goal while going 18-3-1 with an incredible 14 shutouts. The latter is still tied for the third most in NCAA Division II history, trailing the all-time mark of 16 set in 1986.
 
In 2001, Van Der Westhuizen went 11-5-4 and once again helped the Lakers reach the postseason. It would be a year that would see him notch a 0.78 GAA, career-best 101 saves and another 10 shutouts, as the team claimed the PBC Regular Season Championship. He would conclude his playing career with a 12-4-1 mark and another six shutouts in 2002.
 
During his time in the Orange & Blue, Van Der Westhuizen rewrote the Laker record book when it came to goalkeepers. He currently owns four career marks, including first place in minutes (6,840), goals against average (.643) and shutouts (37). The latter is a whopping 22 ahead of second place. He is also second with 313 career saves.
 
In terms of single season records he is first in minutes (2,093 in 2000), GAA (.473 in 2000) and shutouts (14 in 2000) with the last one also being a Peach Belt Conference record. His 10 shutouts in 2001 rank in a tie for third and his seven as a freshman in 1999 are fifth.
 
Additionally, Van Der Westhuizen is 17th in career minutes in NCAA Division II history and never posted a goals against average above 0.94 in any of his four seasons. For his efforts he was a three-time All-Southeast Region and All-PBC selection (2000, 2001, 2002) and led the team in every pertinent goalkeeping category during his four years.
 
Beyond his exploits on the field, he also made a name for himself as a field athlete for Clayton State's track & field program. Competing in his senior year of 2002-03 he set the program record in the javelin with a mark of 54.04-meters.
 
Van Der Westhuizen continued to make an impact on Lakers soccer even after his playing career as he served as an assistant coach from 2003-08. During that time he mentored two-time All-PBC goalkeeper Heath Padgett and had a hand in four more championships as Clayton State won the PBC Tournament in 2005 and 2007 and regular season titles in 2006 and 2007.


2021 Hall of Fame


On July 1, the Department of Athletics announced that the 2011 Clayton State National Championship Women's Basketball Team and coach Dennis Cox will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Tickets and information can be found here. To view the announcement, please click here. 

About the Hall of Fame
Established in 2013, the Clayton State Athletics Hall of Fame was created to honor former Laker student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty/staff and community members who have, by their outstanding achievements, contributed to the ideals of the Clayton State Department of Athletics. Seven classes and 27 former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and special inductees have been enshrined. 

Past Spotlights: 
Leonard Moreland
Keith Herring
Candi Wyatt
Jackeline Nieto
Dr. Harry S. Downs
Robert Conley
Dr. Joseph S. Wilkes
Lisa Williams
Allison Kreutzer
Dr. Charlie Frazier Jr.
Nkiru Okosieme
Carlos Head
Alex Dowling
Mason Barfield