Coaching Staff

Within the athletics program at Indiana Tech you will find only the best coaches with a proven record of success for themselves and their student athletes on and off the field.

Al Grushkin

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Email: ajgrushkin@indianatech.edu

Get to know Coach Grushkin

Al Grushkin, a 32-year coaching veteran, begins his first year as the head coach of Indiana Tech. Grushkin, who has 30 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, spent the previous two years as an NBA scout for Marty Blake and Associates. In addition to his head coaching stint at Incarnate Word, Grushkin has coached at Arkansas State, UT-San Antonio, Idaho State, Western Illinois, Arkansas, Tulsa and Georgia State as either an assistant or associate head coach.

Grushkin, well known for his abilities as a defensive coach, helped turn around ASU’s defense in two season with the Indians. Grushkin helped the Indians move from a 2005-06 No. 9 ranking in the Sun Belt Conference in field goal percentage defense to a No. 3 ranking. Arkansas State's opponent’s shot .420 in 2006-07, down from .450 in 2005-2006. The Indians held 14 opponents to less than 40 percent shooting and five opponents under 35 percent. Coach Grushkin then served as co-interim head coach for the remaining four games of the 2007-2008 season.

Grushkin inherited an Incarnate Word program that was making the move from NAIA to NCAA Division II status and compiled a 94-70 record during his six-year tenure with the Cardinals. His 2001 team finished 25-4, won the Heartland Conference and advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals. His 2002 squad compiled a 20-8 record and ranked as high as 20th nationally. Grushkin’s teams finished in the nation’s top 25 in scoring defense every year. During his time at Incarnate Word, Grushkin also served as the NABC Congressman for the Heartland Conference and was a member of the NCAA South Central Regional Advisory Board.

Prior to his arrival at Incarnate Word, Grushkin was an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator at UT-San Antonio from 1997-2000. During his initial year at UTSA, the Roadrunners jumped from the bottom of the Southland Conference standings to a second-place finish and the 1998 team won the Southland Conference and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He also helped make major improvements in the team’s defense as it finished in the league’s top two in every defensive category during his stay. While at UTSA, Grushkin wrote “Defense With an Attitude”, which was published by Winning Hoops Magazine in 1998.

Grushkin served as the associate head basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Idaho State University from 1992-97, helping lead the Bengals to the 1993 Big Sky title, their first in 17 years. The 1994 Idaho State team received votes in the national Top-25 polls and at one time had the nation’s 12th best record, 15th best scoring margin and seventh longest home winning streak. Five of Grushkin’s signees went on to play professionally at some level. Grushkin’s major responsibilities centered around recruiting and team defense, but he also worked with scheduling, office administration and post player development.

From 1987-92, Grushkin was a member of the Western Illinois coaching staff as an assistant and the recruiting coordinator. Grushkin’s major responsibilities included team defense, but he also wrote “Multiple Zone Offense” that was published by NABC Magazine in 1992. While Grushkin was at WIU, the Leathernecks had four signees that received all-conference recognition and had recruiting classes that were ranked as the Mid-Continent Conference’s best by Van Coleman’s Future Stars and the Chicago Windy City Review.

While an assistant coach at Arkansas from 1985-87, Grushkin was primarily responsible for scouting, academics, scheduling and conditioning, but also assisted in the Razorback's defensive game plan in victories over nationally-ranked Kansas and Ohio State. During his tenure at Tulsa (1985-87) as an assistant coach, the Golden Hurricane posted a 50-12 record and were a national top-10 team, won two Missouri Valley Conference championships and made two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Grushkin made his first collegiate stop at Georgia State, where he was an assistant coach from 1981-83. He was also the head basketball coach at Bishop Byrne High School in Georgia from 1979-81, posting a two-year mark of 40-25 while leading the school to back-to-back playoff appearances.

Grushkin earned his bachelor’s degree from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1975 and his masters degree from Georgia State in 1982.

Al and his wife, Debbie, have one daughter, Michelle, and one son, Michael.

Assistant Coaches

Luke Hemenover begins his first season as assistant men's basketball coach at Indiana Tech. Hemenover comes to Fort Wayne after spending the last two seasons as the graduate assistant at Division II St. Edward's University. While at St. Edward's, Coach Hemenover helped lead the Hilltoppers to a 30-26 overall record from 2008-2010, advancing to the Heartland Conference Tournament in both seasons. St. Edward's defeated the highest ranked team in school history in 2008, beating #5 Arkansas-Monticello 79-59 and forcing 24 turnovers in the process. As a credit to his work in player development, four St. Edward's graduates have gone on to sign contracts to play professionally.

Prior to arriving in Texas, Coach Hemenover served as an intern for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the summer of 2008. From 2006-2008, Hemenover worked as a student assistant for the University of Illinois under head coach Bruce Weber. Hemenover aided in the development of six future professionals--all of whom have signed contracts overseas. Illinois compiled a 39-31 overall record during his time, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 as well as the Big Ten Championship game in 2008 as the #10 seed.

While a student assistant in 2005-2006 at Parkland College, Hemenover helped the Cobras to a 17-12 finish and semifinal appearance in Region 24. Parkland defeated #5 ranked conference-foe Lincoln College, a win versus the school's highest ranked opponent. Starting point guard Matt Neaville would go on to sign at a four year institution and later, a professional contract in Central America.

Hemenover received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2008. He would go on to complete his master's degree from St. Edward's University in 2010.

Luke is the son of Don and Claudette Hemenover. He has three siblings in Kendra, Matthew, and Kyle.

Shaun Cabrera enters his first season as graduate assistant for the men's basketball team. Cabrera joins the Warrior coaching staff after a brilliant playing career at Indiana Tech. Coach Cabrera entered the school's record books during the 2009-2010 season, when he entered the 1,000 point scorers' club. A four year starter, Cabrera's 2007-2008 team went 21-13, advancing to the national tournament in Point Lookout, MO.

A native of Warsaw, IN, Cabrera completed his bachelor's degree in May of 2010. He is currently pursuing his master's in Business Administration.

Jason Souder joins the men's basketball staff as a first-year student assistant coach in 2010-2011. Jason was a three year letterman for the Warriors from 2007-2010. In addition to his playing, Jason has also worked as a clinician at nearby Spiece Fieldhouse since 2006. His work this year will also include acting as lead Resident Assistant for the entire campus.

A native of Leo, IN, Jason is currently majoring in Physical Education and is on track to complete his degree in December 2011.