We hear it all the time - Getting in touch with college coaches can be a challenge for recruits.

So we’re simplifying things.

We launched our live Q&A series with D3 coaches to make it easier for our readers to get their questions about school, sports, and admissions answered directly.

And it is already leading directly to D3 college offers.

RSVP for the next Live Q&A on April 12th w/ Swarthmore’s Shane Loeffler

In the most recent episode, we were joined by the Head Coach of Pacific University Men’s Basketball, Justin Lunt.

Get to Know Coach Lunt

Justin Lunt is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, bringing over two decades of collegiate coaching experience to the sidelines. Known for engineering remarkable program turnarounds and implementing a high-octane, fast-paced offensive system, Coach Lunt has established himself as one of the best coaches in NCAA Division III men’s basketball.

For prospective D3 athletes, Coach Lunt has 20+ years of experience at the D3 level and values fierce competitiveness, elite shooting, and a relentless work ethic.

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Pacific University Turnaround and Recent Success

Now in his eighth season (2025–26) at the helm of the Pacific Boxers, Coach Lunt has completely revitalized the program, building a winning culture in Forest Grove.

* Historic 2023–24 Season: Lunt steered the Boxers to a 15–11 overall record and a third-place finish in the highly competitive Northwest Conference (NWC). This marked Pacific’s first winning season in 10 years and ended a 24-year postseason drought by reaching the NWC semifinals.

* National Recognition: In February 2026, Lunt was named the HoopDirt.com Division III Coach of the Week after leading Pacific to a stunning come-from-behind upset over No. 24 Whitworth and sweeping Washington’s powerhouse programs back-to-back for the first time since 2008.

* Silver Waves Honoree: Lunt’s impact extends beyond the court; he has been recognized twice (2020, 2023) as one of the 50 Most Impactful NCAA Division III Head Coaches by Silver Waves Media.

Proven Track Record: University of Puget Sound

Before arriving at Pacific in 2018, Lunt spent 14 years at the University of Puget Sound, including 12 as head coach. His tenure with the Loggers cemented his legacy in the Pacific Northwest:

* Overall Record: 180–129, with a 106–86 mark in NWC play.

* Championship Pedigree: Led the Loggers to three NWC regular-season, first-place finishes (2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09).

* NCAA Sweet 16: In the 2008–09 season, Puget Sound won a school-record 19 consecutive games, claimed the NWC title, and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament, earning Lunt the NWC Coach of the Year award.

* Player Development: Under his guidance, Puget Sound produced 26 All-NWC honorees, four all-region selections, one NWC Player of the Year, and an All-American.

Previous D3 Coach Q&A’s in the series:

Watch all past Live D3 Coach Q&A replays on our Newsletter and stay tuned for more!

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