The Geneva College athletic department is excited to announce the hiring of Michael Grinder as the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Grinder will be taking over for Lori Wynn, who stepped down at the end of this past season to focus on her teaching duties at Geneva.
Grinder comes to Geneva from the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville, where he was the Head Men’s and Women’s basketball coach. Grinder employed a fast-paced offense with both programs that set multiple school scoring records during his tenure coaching at Pitt-Titusville.
“I would like to thank President Dr. Calvin L. Troup, Director of Athletics Van Zanic, and members of the search committee for the opportunity to serve as the next women’s basketball coach at Geneva College,” says Grinder. “I look forward to developing lasting relationships with the players, student body, and the community of Beaver Falls. Knowing the history and tradition of the women’s program at Geneva, I am honored to lead this team and reestablish this tradition.”
Grinder’s time as the head women’s coach at Pitt-Titusville encompassed the last four seasons. During that time, he coached four first-team All-Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) players as well as fourteen All-Academic WPCC players. His women’s team in 2017-18 finished second overall in the WPCC, the school’s highest finish since 2006. This past season, his team improved upon that finish and won the WPCC regular season championship.
“It is an honor to represent the community of Geneva College and be able to guide these young women on their journeys of faith,” adds Grinder. “I look forward to the road ahead, working with the players, and making the Golden Tornados into a must-see women’s basketball program.”
Grinder also had success coaching the men’s team. In his first season as men’s coach in 2017-18, his team matched the win total from the previous three seasons combined, finishing fourth in the WPCC, the highest finish in school history.
Besides coaching, Grinder was involved in the Coalition of Christian Outreach at Pitt-Titusville, speaking twice per semester. He also oversaw intramurals at the school, and he was active in fundraising.
“Coach Grinder is a no non-sense guy that has a competitive edge that we feel confident will translate in helping take our women’s basketball program to a new level,” says Zanic. “He is familiar with Geneva College and its mission and has a deep love for Christ that is central to everything he is about as a coach. Coach Grinder will work extremely hard to help our student-athletes achieve their goals both on and off the court. Through much discussion and prayer, we are confident that the Lord has provided us with the right person to lead our women’s program for many years to come.”
Prior to Pitt-Titusville, Grinder spent time coaching internationally, establishing and developing U18 and U20 youth programs in Moldova and Palestine. Grinder also played overseas professionally in Palestine, Guatemala and Macedonia for five seasons after graduating from Simpson University in 2004.
Grinder and his wife Shannon have two sons, Josiah and Evan.
https://athletics.geneva.edu/news/2019/4/2/grinder-hired-as-geneva-head-womens-basketball-coach.aspx
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