Professional profile
Gary Grzesk recently completed his second season as St. Norbert College's men's basketball and women’s golf coach. Grzesk, the 13th men’s basketball coach in school history, arrived at St. Norbert in April 2006.

In his second season at St. Norbert, Grzesk established the Green Knights as a contender in the Midwest Conference. St. Norbert finished 14-10 overall and went 10-6 in league play, and qualified for its first conference tournament in six years. The Green Knights also won their holiday tournament with a triumph over St. John's, defeated NCAA Division II foe Northern Michigan for the first time in a quarter century and lost a double-overtime contest to College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin champion Augustana. 

Grzesk’s first team at St. Norbert finished 9-13 overall and 8-8 in a tough Midwest Conference. The Green Knights were a half-game out of first place in the league race halfway through the season despite having just 10 players. St. Norbert also went 7-1 in the league’s unique Friday-Saturday double weekend format, including a 25-point win over conference champion Grinnell.

In three seasons at Lakeland from 2004 to 2006, Grzesk compiled a 51-31 record. The Muskies won the Lake Michigan Conference championship in 2006 and also captured the LMC Tournament title in 2004. Lakeland also appeared in the 2004 NCAA Division III Tournament.

Grzesk’s 2006 team at Lakeland set several standards, including the first 20-win season for a Lake Michigan Conference men’s basketball program since the league moved from NAIA status to NCAA Division III. The Muskies, who fashioned an 11-game winning streak his last season, were ranked as high as sixth in the NCAA Division III’s Midwest Region before finishing 21-6. His first two teams at Lakeland finished 16-13 and 14-12, respectively.Lakeland finished 2005-06 ranked high in several Division III statistical categories. The Muskies were fifth nationally in scoring defense (59.2 points per game), eighth in fewest turnovers per game (11.2), 16th in scoring margin (plus-12.5 ppg) and 24th in field goal percentage defense (39.9).

Grzesk spent the 2002-03 season as an assistant at UW-Green Bay, his alma mater. Prior to returning to Green Bay, Grzesk was an assistant at Youngstown State (Ohio) University for six seasons from 1996-97 to 2001-02. Grzesk was an aide during Youngstown State’s first 20-win season as a Division I member when the Penguins went 20-9 in 1997-98.

A 1996 graduate of UW-Green Bay, Grzesk was a four-year letterwinner for the Phoenix. He earned the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award four times, helping Green Bay to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Grzesk is perhaps best known for guarding NBA lottery pick Jason Kidd in a 61-57 NCAA Tournament first-round win over California in 1994. Grzesk, who started in 107 of the 120 collegiate games he played in, was Green Bay’s captain his junior and senior seasons. He concluded his career with 450 points and 496 assists. The Phoenix was 74-19 in Grzesk’s final three seasons.

Grzesk, a Wauwatosa native, is married to the former Liz Hauger, herself a former college basketball coach at Youngstown State and UW-Green Bay. The couple has a son, Garrett, and a daughter, Gracie.

Location: Schuldes Sports Center
Room: 119
Phone: (920) 403-3137
Fax: (920) 403-3128

Mailing address:
St. Norbert College
100 Grant Street
Schuldes Sports Center, 119
De Pere, WI 54115-2099

gary.grzesk@snc.edu

Academic credentials:
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
M.Ed., Youngstown State University