Hall of Fame
Jim Gremmels, who became the first men’s basketball coach at UMM during the team's inaugural season in 1960 and
was hired as one of UMM's original 13 faculty members, joined the Cougar Hall of Fame in 2006.
“The letter I wrote to then Dean Rodney Briggs, to apply for the position, was one of the most important letters I have
ever written,” said Gremmels, in an interview with former UMM Sports Information Director Brian Curtis.
“I actually showed up a day late for the interview,” Gremmels recalled. “I got a reply from Dean Briggs to come in for
an interview. I went to his house and knocked on the door and his wife, Helen, answered. I said I am here for the
interview for the men’s basketball coaching position. Mrs. Briggs told me that was to have taken place the day before,
but Dean Briggs was over in his office. So I went across campus, met with Dean Briggs and fortunately was offered the position.”
Gremmels remained head coach for four seasons. During his first season, he coached just nine players, all freshmen, so he would have to practice with the team. UMM played just 10 games and those were against freshmen and junior college teams. He coached without benefit of an assistant coach for the first three seasons. By the third season, he was able to drop all junior college teams and play all four-year schools.
“Home court advantage was huge in the old P.E. Annex in the early 60s” Gremmels added. “With the small court it
allowed us to pack it in on defense, and the glare from the lights in certain spots seemed to bother players from other
teams and we were able to take advantage of that.”
His last game as a head coach was perhaps his most memorable game.
“We played St. Cloud State, which was coached by Red Severson," said Gremmels. They were really tough. A very
meticulous team that liked to work a shuffle type offense. They scouted us six times that year.
"We played a man-to-man defense and hung close, trailing by 12-13 points at halftime. They built on that in the second
half. After awhile, Red took out his regulars and brought in the reserves. We started to make a comeback and forced
St. Cloud State to put their starters back in to hang on for the win. Even though we lost, the team played hard and well,” Gremmels recalled.
Over the four seasons, Gremmels remembered some decent players. “I had a great many very coachable players in those first years, and everyone worked extremely hard,” he said. “Many of those players became very successful.”
His best season as a head coach was his third when the Cougars were 8-9. In his four seasons, the team was 24-39.
