Leaving a Lasting Legacy | Tim Grosz

Coach Tim Grosz has led University of Northwestern’s Men’s Basketball team for 26 years. As he steps into a new opportunity in northern Colorado, we celebrate his next chapter while reflecting on a legacy that will be deeply missed.

Join us as Coach Grosz looks back on his time at UNW with gratitude. He’s thankful for the players, colleagues, and community who shaped the journey along the way. Hear as he also reflects on the Christ-centered culture that defines his leadership. Coach Grosz’s impact extends far beyond the court.

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💬 Know an alum, faculty member, staff, or student of UNW doing amazing things out in the world? Let us know at alumni@unwsp.edu. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:02

Join as we highlight the people, the purpose, and the pulse of Northwestern. This is the Unwavering Podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Hey everybody, this is Monty.

SPEAKER_04 0:25

And Cassie.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

And welcome to another pulse episode of the Unwavering Podcast. And our guest today is a returning guest, Coach Tim Groz. Coach Groze is stepping away for another opportunity after 26 incredible years leading the Eagles. A University of Northwestern alum and the all-time winningness coach in men's basketball program history. With 475 career wins, the most in UMAC history and among active college coaches in Minnesota, Tim's Impact includes 11 UMAC Coach of the Year honors, multiple conference championships, and memorable NCAA tournament runs, including a sweet 16 appearance, which I'm sure we'll hear about here in a second. But more than the wins, his legacy is found in the hundreds of young men that he's mentored and challenged to compete with purpose, not just on the court, but in life. And now Tim and his wife Tanya are heading to Colorado, where he'll take on a new role as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance at the University of Northern Colorado, stepping into a new season while remaining close to family. So, Coach Grows, thanks for taking some time here to join us again on the Unwavering Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

It is great to be welcome back and be with both of you.

SPEAKER_04 1:40

Thank you, Tim. We are very sad for us, but very happy for you as you take these next steps. So what can you tell us about what the Lord's been teaching you in this transition season?

SPEAKER_00 1:51

Yeah, it and as I I shared off air, it's definitely a bittersweet moment. These 26 years at Northwestern have been amazing. I'm so thankful. I bleed purple and gold. Um, but uh the opportunity to be, as Monty said, um, you know, closer to family, including our first grandchild, due in December, um, is really important to us. And then, you know, I I I really wanted to stay in this world of athletics, um, either as an administrator or as a coach. This opportunity in northern Colorado opened up. Uh, there's not many. There's Northern Colorado, Colorado State, uh, CU. So when it opened up, I just applied for it, not knowing what would happen, but just kind of trusting the Lord and and what he had for us. So I think I think what I've learned is just to really trust, you know, God with the future here. And uh and my wife and I, and when I got offered the job, there was a little moment of anxiety and kind of panic, like, oh, this is real. Like we need to make a decision here. So we just have been very prayerful uh through the whole thing and have just felt a real peace that the Lord's given us um about this decision as hard as it has been.

SPEAKER_04 3:01

For sure. Well, it sounds like the Lord opened the doors, so that's awesome. Um and how are you processing personally?

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Just Yeah, it was uh it's it was very hard. You know, I I I had lunch with Dr. Hill uh to tell him, and uh that was, you know, a hard conversation for sure. Dr. Hill hired me. Uh we went to school together way back when. Um, you know, he's a dear friend. Um and then the next day telling the team was very hard for I think for all of us, uh as well as the staff. So it it's it's been hard, but it's also been very encouraging how many people have reached out. Um uh just the impact uh how God has used Northwestern basketball, has how God has worked in and through Northwestern basketball to impact so many lives, including my own, has has been really, really encouraging and and very fulfilling too.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Well, I know we had you uh on here previously to talk about just setting a culture and building a culture and even the ways that you empower the the young men that are on your team to help be in those builders. So um you've been a part of building a legacy here. It's it's very cool.

SPEAKER_00 4:07

So I appreciate that. And we really have tried hard over the years to, when you say culture, Mani, to you know honor Christ, uh, to build relationships and to pursue excellence. And uh I think over 26 years, you know, the the coaches, the players have have done their best doing that. And it's been really, like I said, just very fulfilling, rewarding uh to be part of that. And um the wins and losses are great, and and I feel good about some of those stats you read, but man, the relationships are are what's gonna last forever. And um, yeah, I as I've talked to so many of our former players, current players, I'm like, it's different, but it's also the same that we're gonna be in each other's lives and we're gonna stay connected and we're gonna support each other. That's good.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

Well, I'm sure there's not too many to choose from. But when you think back over 26 years, uh what moments rise to the top for you?

SPEAKER_00 5:03

Wow. There are there there are a lot. So and again, as I've reflected, you know, over the past few weeks, uh, once the decision was made to leave, you know, what what has stuck with me is the so many great memories, so many great moments, uh, so many great relationships. So, man, I'm just thankful for that, uh, for all those. So, boy, a couple national championships, you know, 2010, 2021 for the National Christian College Division I uh were definitely huge highlights. I think you had referenced earlier beating St. Thomas in 2015 on a buzzer beater to, you know, on our way to the Sweet 16 that year was really special. Uh 2019, we had a huge win up at St. John's in the first round of the playoffs, who was, you know, ranked in the top 10 that year. A five overtime win against uh, no, four overtime, I think, against St. Schalaska in a conference tournament championship game. You know, so many great memories off the court, but then man, just the the trips, the bus trips, the restaurants, the hotels, um, all that, just the memories being so great from there. And then we've also led our team. I've been able to lead our team on uh numerous missions trips um over the years, from the Czech Republic to London to Ecuador to Argentina to the Philippines to Spain, um, and and just seeing how God has used our basketball team, our basketball gift skills to impact people for Christ around the world. I mean, those things I will never forget those trips. And I think if you ask our guys too, like those missions trips are some of the biggest highlights, almost more bigger highlight than the wins, right? Or the championship. So just, you know, for us, basketball has always been ministry and uh for us to be able to use our gifts and talents to share the love of Christ and share the good news of Christ um has just been amazing for the last 26 years.

SPEAKER_01 6:56

Is there a particular season game or relationship or moment that captures what this program has meant to you over those years?

SPEAKER_00 7:05

That's a really good question. Um I think, you know, I mean one that just pops my brain after we won the 2010 national championship. You know, we were definitely like big underdogs and remember a few of our parents before the first game we played were kind of like good luck because as you looked at one end of the court, looked at the other, you know, it it didn't look like we necessarily belonged on the court, uh just the size uh of of the teams. But you know, our guys just uh competed like so well and they just had such a belief in each other, they had such a belief in like what we were doing, they had such a belief like in our culture that it you know, it just it overcame maybe some of those physical disparities that maybe you saw in the court. And and I think just to have fun with that too. At the I I said before the tournament started, the three games, I said, all right, if we win, like you guys can shave my head. And uh sure enough, as soon as we won the championship game, we celebrated in the locker and we came out and the shears came out. Some guy had shears and they shaved my head and it was bald, and my wife was like, What did you do? Because it wasn't the greatest look, to be honest. But uh I I just think like, yeah, we had, you know, we we we pursued excellence, but we had a lot of fun, and I think we just represented Christ really well. So I mean that that moment kind of encapsulates maybe all those things, maybe to answer your question.

SPEAKER_04 8:29

They were motivated.

SPEAKER_00 8:30

Yeah, they were motivated, yeah. I mean it that probably added a little extra motivated, like that shaved coach's head, but yeah, yeah, but it's and again, just uh such a great group of guys. Um, man, I've just I've been blessed to coach so many great alums, uh so many great guys over the years, and my staff too. I mean, I need to give a shout-out to Bill Ani. I mean, he's been our assistant coach at Northwestern for 37 years, 26 with me. Um he played two, we he he and I played two years together. Next year, I was telling somebody this the other day, next year will be his 40th year involved in Northwestern basketball. So I hope the school does something special for him uh just for his service and dedication to not only Northwestern Two Power Basketball Program, Coach Crack, uh, Coach Mike are my two current assistants, but so many other assistants over the years. So it's a group effort. I mean, there's so many people that have made this program what it is. I've been blessed to be the head coach, but there's been so many people that have poured so much time and energy to into who we are.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

Yeah, I was gonna say, other than the person who shaved your head, is there is there anybody else that you're especially grateful for, even beyond the ones that you just listed?

SPEAKER_00 9:40

Yeah, you know, I I mean honestly, I I ironically I saw Dr. Kierden was on campus yesterday with with uh Gail's wife, and I got to see them and and give them big hugs and reconnect. So uh, you know, President Kierdan uh was a great president to to to work under, to be under. He was you know source so supportive of athletics. Um and and now Dr. Hornbeek, uh President Hornbeek has been fantastic. I actually got to uh show uh him and and and his wife around campus when they were candidating, which was which was really fun, uh he and Heather uh to do that. Um so they've been great, I have a great presence to work for. And then, like I said, Dr. Hill has been an awesome athletic director to work for. Yeah, there's so many. I mean, Cory Borkhart, our commissioner, you know, who started out as a student worker when I was here and has worked his way up to being the UMAC commissioner, you know, has had a big impact in my life too. And then honestly, the most important person uh is my wife, you know, and my daughters. I mean, when I started at Northwestern, no kids, um, and now our youngest just graduated at Christmas. So we literally have raised our family here. Uh my wife still works here, she did work here for a long time and she's still adjuncts here. And it's it's not an easy thing being a basketball coach's wife, because we're gone a lot, nights and weekends, but she has been so supportive of me pursuing this passion, and and we've been able to I I couldn't do it without her, you know. And the girls were great too growing up, uh, because I was probably gone more than I should have, but um they were very supportive too. So um I'm really thankful for for my family.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

Well, it sounds like basketball is a lifestyle, so that's been a big part of uh both for your family and the the community around here to support you.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

Yeah, with that too. I agree, Monty. This uh basketball athletics is a lifestyle, and I've always said that, and that's yeah, it's not a job, it's a lifestyle, and you have to love the lifestyle, and and which I do, and I'm I'm really glad I still get to continue in it too.

SPEAKER_01 11:39

Well, you've also had the chance to speak encouragement into a lot a lot of people through your time here. So if you could share just a final word of encouragement to your current players and the men who have gone through your program, what would you share with them right now?

SPEAKER_00 11:54

Yeah, I just I mean the first thing I would just share is that I'm just so thankful for them. I mean, I I I words cannot express the gratitude I have for the players I have coached and and and got to coach this year too. These young men put so much time and energy into this, and obviously at this level, Division III, there's no athletic scholarship, so they truly are doing it for the love of the game and and to represent the Lord, to represent the university, uh, to represent their families. And uh they've been amazing. Um, you know, great players make great coaches. So there there are there are a lot of accolades, but those don't happen without great players and guys really committing themselves to something much bigger than themselves. So, man, just my heart is full of gratitude uh and love for each of those players I coached. And our current players, when I met with them, like I said, that was really hard, but I just encourage them too to say, like, hey, God's gonna lead an awesome coach here. You know, Dr. Hill, the search committee are gonna find an awesome coach, and you guys are gonna be well taken care of. Um, and I'm gonna be their biggest cheerleader, their biggest fan. And I hope the new coach come that comes in, you know, exceeds anything we've ever done. And and uh the Lord's gonna lead the right person uh to this position. So just for them too, just to trust, I guess too, especially for the current players, there's some in limbo here a little bit, but just to to trust that there is a plan here and it's gonna work out great.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

So if you're a current player or an alum listening to this that has gone through the basketball program, I hope what you just heard is as much as uh Coach Grows has already impacted your life, um, he's also thanking you for the way that you've impacted his life as we send him off as well to Colorado.

SPEAKER_04 13:47

So we've got big shoes to fill here.

SPEAKER_00 13:50

But as you size 11. Oh wow. Not not that big.

SPEAKER_04 13:55

We've got average size shoes to fill. There you go.

SPEAKER_00 13:57

Yeah. Probably a good way to put it, can't see.

SPEAKER_04 14:01

But it sounds like you're you're confident in where it's going, you're excited about where the program's going. But tell us more about that. What what gives you confidence on the program?

SPEAKER_00 14:10

Just I I I've said this, I think, in in my the last press release, not press release, but the announcement that went out. You know, I I just said and I truly mean this, Northwesterners, it's such a special place with so many special people. Um so that just gives me the confidence. And just as an alum, as a parent, now as a former employee in a few days here, just the direction the university is going, um, unwavering. I mean, I just I absolutely love uh that that's kind of our our statement, right? Um so I know the leadership, the direction of the school is in such good hands. Um I'm so confident in that. And then that you know trickles down to the athletic department and the leadership we have there. We have so many tremendous leaders within this department, you know, uh, and I don't want to, I'm gonna forget somebody if I name them all, but you know, so many coaches that have been here so long that really get this place, you know, Coach Wilmouth, Coach Dumont Sot, you know, Coach Call. I mean, there's so many, Coach Heb, uh there's just uh so many people. So I love the alignment. You know, I think any great organization has alignment, and I love the alignment the university has just in every area, you know, and that includes athletics. So that's just what gives me the confidence that, you know, uh there's a change for sure, but that the you know things are gonna keep rolling. And um it's it's not easy, it's not always smooth, you know, it requires hard work and you know, there's always bumps in the road, but just God's faithfulness to this institution since what, 1902, right? Um and over my 26 years that I've been here, and I was here as a student too. I've I've just seen it. So I just have a lot of confidence that in in his plan for Northwestern, in his plan for this basketball program. So that's what gives me confidence, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 16:01

Well, it's good. And you just mentioned Northwestern's been here since 1902. I think men's basketball just celebrated its 50th anniversary a couple of years ago. Thank you guys for helping with that. Yeah. Well, and you've been a part of it for you know over 26 years of those 50, 51, 52 years. Um right now it really also creates an opportunity for alums to engage and be a meaningful part of the program that they've gone through, right? So we're we're transitioning from one coach to another. Yep. But the program continues, the heartbeat continues, the mission continues. So, how how can alums who have played basketball in your program step up right now and help with this transition? That's an awesome question.

SPEAKER_00 16:41

They and they already have. That's the great answer. So we've had quite a few alums reach out to me, uh, quite a few alums reach out to Dr. Hill basically saying, let me know, let me know how I can help. Let me know how we can help. So we, I mean, again, we have an awesome, awesome alumni base here in men's basketball that have been so supportive of of me, of the program, and even guys that I didn't coach, even going back further. Um, it it's a really unique group. I know every sport has a good support, but men's basketball has been from prayer to financial support to engagement, has just been honestly very overwhelming. So my hope is that that will not change, nor should it change. Like I said, a great coach is gonna come in. Um I'm gonna be probably the first phone call congratulating that person and saying, How, hey, how can I help? You know, anything I can do to help. I don't want to be hanging over their shoulders because it's their team, their program, but I'm gonna be cheering loudly and supporting uh from Northern Colorado. And uh I I our alums will too. This program is a great program. It's bigger than any one person, and um I can't wait to see who the new person is and support that person. And I I I I think our alums will too. So, alums, stay engaged, stay involved, um, and support this program like you have done for so, so many years. Well, that's good.

SPEAKER_01 18:08

In a way, basketball is a perfect metaphor for that, isn't it? You can have a really strong player that makes a big influence, but it takes five for sure on the court to really get that win home. So yeah, and alums, we invite you back in. Come step in at this time.

SPEAKER_04 18:21

This has been great. As we wrap up, I'd love to hear what you're excited about for your next chapter in Colorado.

SPEAKER_00 18:26

Yeah, no, that's awesome. Um, yeah, I I the uh I mean, the sen some things have popped in my mind, the mountains. So I love I love hiking. Um, I can't wait to do that. I've skied, but I don't know if you can call skiing in Minnesota skiing in Colorado. So I'm hoping I can do some skiing in Colorado. It really the most important thing, like I said, is just is our family. I mean, we just really are kind of making a a family decision uh for my in-laws, you know, to my youngest daughter, um, you know, to obviously my oldest daughter and son-in-law to just, you know, hopefully be together out there. And uh, even when I interviewed, I was very honest, you know, in my cover letter and my Zoom interview and my on-campus interview, you know, that this is the primary reason, you know, because I love Northwestern. And uh, you know, if my daughter and son-in-law were here and our family was here, I mean, we probably would not be having this conversation. So we knew we'd get out there eventually, um, but a little sooner than we thought. Um, but I I also am very excited about the job. Um I'm excited to try this Division I world. Um it's crazy, as we all know, as we as we watch it and follow it. But I I I'm excited to be there. I'm excited um to have an impact. And uh the newness of it is is exciting too. Um and I I really do I know people might say compliance, that doesn't sound great, but I really do like that world too, and I think I have a skill set for that world. And yeah, just again, develop new relationships, right? Uh again, I'll probably go back to where I started. I I want to honor Christ out there, I want to build relationships with people, and I want to pursue excellence, you know, in in this new position and serve uh the coaches, the athletes at Northern Colorado the best I can and and make that help make that athletic department, that program, that school the best it can be.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Well, I don't think that school knows the asset that it's getting. So they're they're gonna be blessed by you there. And um rumor has it that people in Colorado they uh dip their pizza crust in honey. So you have to let us know how that goes.

SPEAKER_00 20:25

Uh my son-in-law is from Colorado, and that is completely true. Is that accurate? It's accurate, and actually they either dip it or they just have it on the table and you just squirt it on the crust as you eat it.

SPEAKER_04 20:35

It's a fascinating place. It is.

SPEAKER_01 20:37

And for for everybody listening, we have I have I can give you our assurance that Coach Groes would not have been allowed on this podcast if his allegiances changed from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Denver Nuggets or from the Minnesota Wild to the Colorado Avalanche. So um he is still Minnesota all the way through. But Coach Groes, uh, thanks for taking some time here uh to join us in the podcast. And uh, we're excited for you in this next step. And hopefully we'll get you back here on campus again sometime soon. But um, man, we blessings on this new adventure.

SPEAKER_00 21:07

I will uh definitely be back on campus, uh, Lord willing. Um hope to make it back for I don't know what my new job completely entails yet, but hope to definitely make it back for homecoming. And uh yeah, just appreciate Monty, you and Cassie, and all the work you guys do and all the uh impact you've had on my life and on this university too.

SPEAKER_02 21:27

Thank you, Tim.

SPEAKER_00 21:28

Go Eagles.

SPEAKER_02 21:29

Hold it on to your promises.

SPEAKER_03 21:33

Hold it on to your face. Thank you for listening. To hear more, subscribe and leave a rating wherever you listen. And if you know an alum, faculty member, staff, or student of Northwestern doing amazing things out in the world, let us know at alumni at unwsp.edu. The unwavering podcast, highlighting the people, the purpose, and the pulse of Northwestern.

SPEAKER_02 21:57

Your love is on wave!