Van Gent played football and basketball, and ran track at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

During his two seasons as basketball head coach at the University of Missouri, from 1914 to 1916, Van Gent led to the Tigers to a 21–9 overall record.

The University of Texas hired Van Gent as both football and basketball head coach in 1916.

He coached for one season in each sport before joining the military to fight in the World War I.

In 1921, Van Gent coached the Stanford Cardinal football team, compiling a 4–2–2 record.