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

Full-size photo
Office Phone: (260) 422-5561, x2323
Cell Phone: N/A
Email: ajgrushkin@indianatech.edu

Get to know Coach Grushkin

Al Grushkin, a 33-year coaching veteran, begins his second year as the head coach of Indiana Tech. Grushkin, who has 30 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, spent two years prior to coming to Tech as an NBA scout for Marty Blake and Associates. In addition to a six year (2000-2006) head coaching stint at the University of 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.

In his first year with Indiana Tech, Grushkin completed one of the top turnarounds in the country. He led the Warriors to a 22-11 overall record, 11 more wins than the previous season, and a trip to the WHAC Tournament Championship game. The Warriors had four wins over teams ranked in the NAIA Top 25, including a win over the defending NAIA National Champions, St. Francis. In 2010, Tech spent six weeks in the NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll, ranking as high as 15th.

Grushkin, well known for his abilities as a defensive coach, helped turn around Indiana Tech's defense last year. The Warriors ranked 1st in NAIA Division II in scoring defense per game (58.1), 2nd in total rebound defense (29.6), and 18th in field goal percent defense (0.408). He also turned 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, helping them win the Sun Belt during the regular season. Coach Grushkin's defense also swept the future NBA first round pick Courtney Lee-led Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. 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.

From 1987-92, Grushkin was a member of the Western Illinois coaching staff as an assistant and the recruiting coordinator. Grushkin’s major responsibility was to implement the team's defense. His article entitled "Multiple Zone Offense" would go on to be published in NABC Magazine during his last season at Western. 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 Memphis, TN 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. Michelle is a CPA in San Antonio, TX. Michael is currently a catcher on the baseball team at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN.

Assistant Coaches

Rich Kavalauskas joined the Indiana Tech men’s basketball staff in August 2011 following one season as a graduate assistant at Eastern Illinois University.

A Chicago native, Kavalauskas played for Coach Tom White at De La Salle from 2002-2006. He is a graduate of Wabash College where he played four seasons for the Little Giants, helping lead them to back-to-back NCAC tournament championship appearances in his sophomore and junior seasons.

Prior to coming to Tech, Kavalauskas served as a graduate assistant at Eastern Illinois University where he worked under Head Coach Mike Miller. Kavalauskas’ duties included assisting with daily operations and directing EIU’s individual and team camps. His basketball experience also includes working camps at the University of Illinois and serving as a team leader for the Chicago Bulls Training Academy.

“We are excited to add Rich to our staff,” said Indiana Tech Head Coach Al Grushkin. “He brings us ties to the talent laden Chicago area, as well as an Indiana collegiate playing background. In addition, he worked with a very fine Division I coach in Mike Miller. We welcome him aboard.”

Eric Anderson joined the staff at Indiana Tech in August 2011.

Prior to coming to Indiana Tech, Anderson worked for three years as the video coordinator at Eastern Illinois University under Head Coach Mike Miller. While at EIU, he was responsible for directing student managers, preparation of developmental and scouting clips, as well as coordinating a file-exchange system for scouting and editing purposes.

Anderson graduated from the University of Illinois in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. During his stint at the U of I, he served as a student assistant for the men’s basketball program, including the Fighting Illini’s historic run to the 2005 national championship game.

“Eric is a great addition to our staff,” said Indiana Tech Head Coach Al Grushkin. “He has worked in two Division I programs and brings a very good understanding of the game to our staff. We are happy to have him on board.”