Complete Release

MARSHALL, Minn. - Greg Stemen, who has served the past eight seasons as the head men's basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State University, has resigned from his position effective immediately to become a physician recruiter for Medcenter One in Bismarck, N.D.

SMSU director of athletics Chris Hmielewski announced that associate head coach Brad Bigler has been named interim head coach.

A press conference will be held today on the second floor of the SMSU Student Center beginning at 2 p.m. and is open to the public.  Stemen, Bigler and Hmielewski will all speak at the press conference. 

“There is never an ideal or good time to make a move like this,” Stemen said.  “A number of factors have played into this decision.  One of the most important factors is that the Mustang basketball program has always been about the people who comprise the program.  At no other time have I felt more comfortable and confident that this program, as a whole, is ready to take another step forward under the direction of coach Bigler, and under the leadership of seven seniors and juniors who continually demonstrate a commitment to excellence that is second to none.”

The winningest coach in school history, Stemen posted a 141-97 career record, which included six winning seasons, three 20-plus win seasons, one Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship, one NCAA region championship and an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight.  SMSU finished in the top half of the NSIC in six of his eight seasons, including a pair of second place finishes, while making two appearances in the NSIC tournament championship game.  The Mustangs also hosted an NSIC tournament quarterfinal game six times during his tenure.  Following the 2008-09 season, Stemen was named NSIC Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Central District Coach of the Year after leading SMSU to a school record 28 victories including a conference and NCAA region championship.

“This move will allow a more consistent structure in my life as a father to my daughter,” Stemen said.  “As she has turned school age, the ability and opportunity to spend quality time on weekends with her is more important to me than ever.  She may become annoyed at having her father around as she grows older, but I'm hoping to delay that part of growing up as long as possible.”

Prior to becoming the program's 10th head coach on April 10, 2001, Stemen spent two seasons as an assistant coach at SMSU under Tim Miles.  During that time from 1999-2001, Stemen helped lead the Mustangs to 46 victories including the NSIC and NCAA region championships in 2001.  He also served as the head coach of the SMSU women's golf team from 2000-04, leading the program to four straight NSIC championships, three NCAA regional appearances and twice was named NSIC Coach of the Year.

Before his arrival at SMSU, Stemen spent four seasons as men's basketball head coach at North Dakota State College of Science (1993-97) and also served as an assistant coach at NDSCS (1989-92) and Nebraska-Omaha (1992-93).

“Greg is directly responsible for building a strong foundation for our SMSU men's basketball program,” Hmielewski said.  “He has done this by recruiting student-athletes that exhibit superior character, a tireless work ethic and a strong commitment to their academic studies and being a Mustang.  Greg has always held himself and his coaching staff to those same standards. It is these characteristics along with Greg's presence as a leader that we will miss in the community, on the court and as a colleague in the athletic department. Greg will always be part of the Mustang family.”

During Stemen's tenure at Southwest Minnesota State, his teams were known for strong defense, rebounding and three-point shooting.  The Mustangs led the NSIC in scoring defense (2007, 2009), rebound margin (2007, 2009) and three-point field goal percentage (2002, 2003) during his tenure, while the 2006-07 team set a school record for fewest points allowed (61.4).

Stemen coached 16 All-NSIC honorees, two NSIC Defensive Players of the Year, two all-region players, one All-America and three Academic All-District honorees during his eight-year tenure.

“From a personal standpoint, this is extremely difficult.  I have been truly blessed to coach the Mustang basketball program for the past eight seasons.  First and foremost, I thank the numerous players who worked so hard to represent SMSU in such a classy manner by the way they competed on a daily basis and by how they conducted themselves in the classroom and in the community.  I am forever grateful to all those young men who tolerated me as their coach during their careers at Southwest.  I'd like to thank the numerous assistant coaches and graduate assistant coaches who worked so hard to recruit and develop top-quality young men.  I am truly grateful for how hard they worked to set a standard of excellence within our program and then hold themselves and our players to that standard daily.”

“Finally, I say thank you to the community of Marshall and to all of southwest Minnesota,” Stemen said.  “During my time at SMSU, the passion and pride for Mustang Athletics has grown, and words can not express to those supporters how valuable that support has been and will continue to be towards the success of Mustang Athletics.  I am leaving a supportive group of people I am blessed to call friends.  Change is never easy, but I believe The Lord provides opportunities and the proper timing for those opportunities for a reason.  I trust this opportunity will be a positive in my life and more importantly will be a positive time in the progress of Mustang basketball and Mustang athletics overall.”

Brad Bigler, 30, begins his seventh season as a member of the SMSU coaching staff in 2009-10.  He spent two seasons as a graduate assistant (2003-05) before being elevated to full-time assistant coach prior to the 2005-06 season.  Bigler, who also served as recruiting coordinator, was named associate head coach prior to the 2006-07 season.

“This is a dream come true,” Bigler said.  “I am thankful for this opportunity and for the support I have received. When something like this happens it's a humbling experience. I owe so much too so many people it's hard to express how grateful I truly am.  The city of Marshall, the surrounding area and SMSU mean so much to me. They have been a big part of my life.”

A native of Fort Madison, Iowa, Bigler spent five seasons in the Mustang men's basketball program from 1997-2002 and left as one of the winningest players in school history.  A point guard, Bigler played on the 2001 NSIC and NCAA region championship team that reached the NCAA Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif.  He ended his career playing in 118 games, which still ranks fifth in school history and currently ranks third all-time in assists with 286.  During his playing career SMSU finished with a record of 83-36.

“I am ready for this next step,” Bigler said.  “My 12 years here at SMSU have been memorable.  Even the few challenging years have been a rewarding experience.  Getting the chance to learn for Greg Stemen, Tim Miles (former SMSU head coach), Todd Koering (former SMSU assistant coach) and several others have set me up to be successful, especially my time coaching with Greg.  He placed a lot of responsibility on me early in my coaching career, and with his guidance I have grown as a coach and more importantly as a man.  I will always appreciate the opportunity he gave me to continue my coaching career here at SMSU.”

“Greg has always given Brad the opportunity to play an active role in building the Mustang men's basketball program,” Hmielewski said.  “Brad has been at the heart of SMSU men's basketball as a player, graduate assistant, assistant coach, associate head coach and now as interim head coach.  Brad's responsibilities as recruiting coordinator, camp director, strength and conditioning coach and the many duties he has performed as associate head coach have prepared him well to take over the helm of Mustang men's basketball.”
 
After his collegiate career, Bigler spent the 2002-03 season as the head girls' basketball coach at Lakeview High School in Cottonwood, Minn.  A 2003 graduate of SMSU with a bachelor's degree in health/physical education, Bigler is completing his master's degree in education leadership from SMSU. 

“Brad is a great choice for the Mustangs,” said Tim Miles, former SMSU men's basketball head coach (1997-2001) and current head coach at Colorado State University.  “He has devoted most of his adult life to SMSU.  That devotion typifies a commitment to excellence rarely seen.  He was highly successful as a player and will do the same as the Mustangs head coach.”  

Brad and his wife, Heather, live in Marshall with their one-year-old daughter Taleigha.

Stemen at Southwest Minnesota State Notes:
• Finished with career record of 141-97, including 85-51 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games.
• Led SMSU to six winning seasons in eight years ... SMSU had just 11 winning seasons in 34 prior seasons.
• 2008-09 NSIC Coach of the Year.
• 2008-09 NABC District Coach of the Year.
• Coached seven of the 15 Mustang players who scored 1,000 points in a career at SMSU.
• Led SMSU to three 20-plus win seasons.
• The 2008-09 team tied a school record with 28 victories.
• Led SMSU to No. 12 ranking in final 2008-09 regular season NABC Top 25 poll.
• SMSU was ranked in Top 25 eight different times during his tenure.
• SMSU led the NSIC in scoring defense in both 2006-07 (59.3) and 2008-09 (60.0).
• SMSU led the NSIC in rebound margin in both 2006-07 (+5.5) and 2008-09 (+7.0).
• SMSU led the NSIC in free throw shooting in both 2002-03 (.767) and 2005-06 (.751).
• The 2006-07 team set a school record for fewest points allowed (61.4).
• With a 86-43 victory over Bemidji State on Feb. 28, 2007, Stemen became the all-time victories leader for SMSU.
• Coached two first team All-NSIC players: Jacob Fahl (2002, 2003) and Ross DeMasi (2009) ... three second team All-NSIC players: LaRon Dawn (2005), Matt Fletcher (2006, 2007, 2008) and Kevin Andrews (2009) ... three third team All-NSIC players: Elijah Starzl (2005), Jeremy VanKlompenburg (2007) and Travis Krenske (2008) ... three All-NSIC honorable mention selections: Chad Koenen (2002), Adam Tesch (2002) and Elijah Starzl (2003, 2004) ... two NSIC Defensive Players of the Year: Jimmy Dekker (2002) and Ryan Krome (2009) ... two NABC all-district honorees: Jacob Fahl (2003) and Ross DeMasi (2009) ... one NABC All-America: Ross DeMasi (2009) ... two CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees: Jeremy VanKlompenburg (2007) and Kevin Andrews (2008, 2009).