Coaching promotions: Northern Michigan University basketball assistants Keil Ganz and Jordan Sweeney named associate head coaches | News, Sports, Jobs

Of course, the success of both teams last winter could also have something to do with it, after both the women’s and men’s Wildcat teams qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament.

Each of these NMU teams has promoted one of their assistant coaches to associate head coach.

Early Thursday, NMU Sports Information and Northern men’s team head coach Matt Majkrzak announced that Keil Ganz has been promoted to assistant head coach.

Later that morning, NMU SI and Wildcats women’s head coach Casey Thousand reported that Jordan Sweeney received the same promotion to assistant head coach.

Northern Michigan University men’s basketball coach Kiel Ganz (center) makes remarks in a players’ meeting while head coach Matt Majkrzak is seen, partially obscured, lower left. (Photo courtesy of NMU)

Here are details of each promotion:

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Ganz is rising among men

Ganz was named Majkrzak’s first assistant coach when he joined NMU in 2019. Ganz then left to pursue other opportunities before returning to Northern for the final season.

Last season, the Wildcats posted an impressive 22-11 record, matching the longest winning streak in program history at 13 straight. NMU won the GLIAC regular season championship, its first since 1992-93, and went on to host the GLIAC Tournament.

Although the Wildcats did not win the conference tournament, their season overall secured them a spot in the NCAA Tournament before losing to their GLIAC rival Ferris State in the opener.

“Keil was instrumental in getting the Northern Michigan basketball team back to the top of the GLIAC conference,” Majkrzak said in NMU SI’s press release announcing Kiel’s promotion, “It’s a special situation where he played a major role his freshman year and helped lay the foundation for all future success. And then we were thrilled to be able to bring him back for the (conference) championship last year.”

“This is the logical next step for him in his coaching career. He is instrumental in all facets of our program and I have no doubt that he is ready to be a successful head coach. In the meantime, we are very fortunate to have him on staff as we try to continue to win championships.”

In between his stints at NMU, he worked at Sports Info Solutions as a video scout, using analytics tools to create advanced data on young players for NBA teams.

He then went to the University of Southern Indiana as director of operations when USI moved to NCAA Division I.

Prior to 2019, Ganz spent three years as basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at St. Norbert in De Pere, Wisconsin. The Division III Green Knights finished 57-20, captured two Midwest Conference regular-season titles and produced a half-dozen All-MWC players.

Prior to that, he was head coach at Kewaunee High School in Wisconsin, where his team improved by eight wins, including a 12-game winning streak and second place in the league.

Ganz also has 10 years of experience as an AAU coach. He served as program director and coach for the AAU Wisconsin Jets from 2011-2018, leading the team to multiple titles. He also coached the Wisconsin Shooters in 2019 and the Wisconsin Playground Club in 2021.

He began his coaching career as a student assistant at Division I Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he was in charge of the matchup board during games and worked with coaches on matchups and strategies. Ganz also worked on film projects and helped with recruiting and administrative tasks.

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Sweeney rises

Sweeney has risen quickly on the NMU women’s basketball team after joining the Wildcats exactly one year ago; his original appointment was announced on July 11, 2023.

Last year, the Northern women finished third in the GLIAC regular season with a record of 13-5 and finished second in the conference tournament, qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

The Wildcats won their first national tournament game since 2019, dominating Kentucky Wesleyan 69-56 before falling to GLIAC regular season and tournament champion Grand Valley State 72-44 in the second round at the Lakers’ facility to finish 22-10.

Sweeney also helped Northern lead the league in defensive rebounds and fewest turnovers per game.

“Jordan has earned this position through his commitment and experience on the pitch,” Thousand said in a press release from NMU SI about his promotion, “He understands everything that goes into running a successful program behind the scenes. His knowledge of the game and positive energy are a great fit for our program.”

“Jordan wants our program to get better every day. That’s why Jordan is being promoted to this position.”

A native of Cedarville in the eastern Upper Peninsula, Sweeney was a member of the Trojans’ 2007 state championship team. He also played college basketball at Alpena Community College before graduating from Central Michigan University with a physical education degree in 2013.

He then became an assistant men’s coach at GLIAC member Ferris State from 2013-15, when the Bulldogs won the GLIAC tournament title and advanced to the NCAAs in 2015.

He became head coach of the Michigan-Dearborn women’s team and set a new standard for those Wolverines. UMD had its best two seasons with Sweeney as coach, including a 24-7 record in the 2018-19 season. The Wolverines earned their first NAIA national ranking during that time, climbing as high as No. 18, while Rozhane Wells became UMD’s first All-American.

Before being named head coach of the women’s team, Sweeney coached the UM-Dearborn junior team during the 2015-16 season.

Information compiled by Steve Brownlee, the Journal’s sports editor. His email address is [email protected].