Paul Grove
Head Coach (7th Season)

Grove was the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Mayville State University (ND) for six years prior to coming to UMM in 2002. While at Mayville, he has built a 105-64 won loss record in the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC 10). Grove's teams are 16-6 versus Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) teams. He was named Coach of the Year three times.

While at Mayville State, Grove led his teams to conference championships two consecutive years. He has taken the Comets to a National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament appearance, advancing to the Elite Eight in the 1997-98 season. Grove has coached seven Academic All-Americans.

"I see myself as a teacher of the game of basketball," stated Grove in his comments to the search committee. "I want athletes to enjoy and succeed at basketball, and I want to see them graduate. I look forward to building a high standard for basketball at the University of Minnesota, Morris."

A native of Grey Eagle, MN, Grove, his wife, Sandy, and their three children, Noah, Anna, and Eli, live in Morris.

Education

1989--B.A. in Education and Social Studies, Gustavus Adolphus College.

1994--M.S. in Fitness, Augustana College.

Record at Minnesota-Morris

2002-03: 2-25 overall (0-18 NSIC)

2003-04: 14-13 overall (9-3 UMAC 2nd)

2004-05: 19-8 overall (11-3 UMAC)

2005-06: 13-13 overall (8-6 UMAC)

2007-08: 9-16 overall (6-8 UMAC)

2008-09: 14-13 overall (9-5 UMAC)

email: grovep

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Eli Starzl
Assistant Coach

Elijah Starzl is in his second year as the assistant men’s basketball coach for the Cougars. A native of Columbus, Nebraska, Starzl came to UMM after serving as an assistant coach at Southwest Minnesota State University from 2006-2008.

In his role as assistant at Morris, Starzl is also responsible for film exchange, film breakdown, scouting reports, and recruiting.

In the spring, Starzl coaches the men's and women's tennis teams at UMM.

As a basketball player at SMSU, Starzl earned all-conference (NSIC) honors three straight seasons, and was voted team MVP in 2004 and 2005.

Starzl excelled in the classroom as well, being named to the NSIC's scholar-athlete team twice, and earning a spot on the SWMS Dean's List as an undergraduate and graduate student.

Education

2006--B.S. in Sports Management, Southwest Minnesota State University (minor in coaching).

2008--MEd, Education and Sports Leadership, Southwest Minnesota State University.

email: starz024

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