EP328: Greg Kampe, I Just Want to Win

Guest: Greg Kampe, Head Coach at Oakland University

Numerous achievements and milestones mark Kampe’s coaching career. He is the current longest-tenured coach at a single school dating back to 1984 when Oakland was an NCAA D2 school. Kampe has coached five NBA players, led four teams to the Division 1 NCAA Tournament, and has a chance to win his 700th career game this coming season.

The 2023-2024 season was particularly noteworthy for Kampe and the Golden Grizzlies. Under his leadership, Oakland won the Horizon League tournament for the first time, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As a 14-seed, they achieved a remarkable upset victory over 3-seed Kentucky in the Round of 64, marking Kampe’s first win in this tournament stage.

Oakland’s only previous NCAA tourney win came in the First Four in 2005. Over the years, Kampe has led Oakland to multiple conference championships, including three Summit League tournament titles and two Horizon League regular-season titles. He is the third-longest tenured men's college basketball coach currently active, a testament to his dedication and leadership.

Kampe’s dedication to the program and his players is evident in his long-standing commitment to Oakland University. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including four Summit League Coach of the Year honors and an induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Kampe’s coaching philosophy emphasizes consistency, hard work, and the development of student-athletes both on and off the court.

Breakdown

1:00 - Achievements in Coaching Career

1:30 - Coaching Consistency and Its Impact on Success

3:30 - Game Planning and Strategy

8:30 - Coaching Decisions

11:00 - Coaching Philosophy and Offensive Strategy

17:00 - Finding Player's Strengths

20:00 - Unique Matchup Zone Defense

23:00 - Adapting Zone Defense

29:00 - Practice Plan and Emphasizing Repetition

32:00 - Offensive Strategies

39:00 - Values