Brian Gregory

{{Short description|American basketball coach (born 1966)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{About|the basketball coach|the rugby league footballer|Brian Gregory (rugby league)|the Northern Irish association footballer|Brian Gregory (footballer)}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Brian Gregory

| image = Brian Gregory.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Gregory in 2011

| position = General manager

| team = Phoenix Suns

| league = NBA

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|12|15}}

| birth_place = Mount Prospect, Illinois, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| college =

| career_position = Point guard

| cyears1 = 1990–1996

| cteam1 = Michigan State (assistant)

| cyears2 = 1996–1997

| cteam2 = Toledo (assistant)

| cyears3 = 1997–1999

| cteam3 = Northwestern (assistant)

| cyears4 = 1999–2003

| cteam4 = Michigan State (assistant)

| cyears5 = 2003–2011

| cteam5 = Dayton

| cyears6 = 2011–2016

| cteam6 = Georgia Tech

| cyears7 = 2017–2023

| cteam7 = South Florida

| highlights =

As head coach:

| awards =

}}

Brian Francis Gregory (born December 15, 1966) is an American basketball executive and former coach and player who is the general manager of the Phoenix Suns. He was vice president of player programming for the Phoenix Suns, and a former college basketball coach who was most recently the head men's basketball coach at South Florida. He was previously serving as a consultant to Tom Izzo at Michigan State after being let go as head coach with Georgia Tech. Prior to coaching at Georgia Tech, he was the head coach at Dayton and an assistant coach under Izzo at Michigan State.

Early life and education

From 1985 to 1986, Gregory attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he played on the Navy team that featured David Robinson and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament. He then went to Oakland University where he was a three-time all conference selection and in 1990 was named an Academic All-American. In 1990, Gregory graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education. He went on to earn a Master of Arts in athletic administration at Michigan State, graduating in 1992.{{cite news|url=http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/brian_gregory_749944.html|title=Brian Gregory|publisher=Georgia Tech|access-date=2016-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312113738/http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/brian_gregory_749944.html|archive-date=2016-03-12|url-status=dead}}

Coach

=Michigan State=

Gregory was an assistant at Michigan State for five years, from 1999 to 2003, under head coach Tom Izzo. During that time, the Spartans reached the Final Four three times and won the 2000 national title.{{cite news|url=http://www.nique.net/news/2011/04/01/gregory-appointed-basketball-coach/|title=Gregory appointed basketball coach|first=Nishant|last=Prasadh|work=The Technique|date=2001-04-01|access-date=2011-05-31}}

=Dayton=

On April 9, 2003, Gregory was named the head basketball coach of the Dayton Flyers.{{Cite web |date=2003-04-09 |title=Brian Gregory Named Head Coach At Dayton |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2003/4/9/brian_gregory_named_head_coach_at_dayton.aspx |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=msuspartans.com}} As Flyers head coach, he led the team to the 2004 and the 2009 NCAA tournaments as well as the 2008 National Invitation Tournament. On January 14, 2008, Gregory led the Dayton Flyers to a top-14 ranking in the AP poll.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/poll/1/year/2008/week/11|title=2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Rankings – AP Top 25 Week 11 (Jan. 14)|publisher=ESPN|access-date=2011-05-31}} This was the highest ranking for Dayton in 40 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.daytonflyers.com/mens/basketball/news/index.html?article_id=3546|title=Flyers Vault to Best Ranking in 40 Years|publisher=Dayton Flyers|date=2008-01-14|access-date=2011-05-31}}

He capped off the 2009–10 season by leading the Flyers to the 2010 NIT championship over North Carolina. Gregory had a 172–94 record with the Flyers over eight seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances.{{cite news|url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/university-of-dayton-flyers/uds-gregory-bids-farewell-in-emotional-team-meeting-1119831.html|title=UD's Gregory bids farewell in emotional team meeting|first=Doug|last=Harris|work=Dayton Daily News|date=2011-03-28|access-date=2011-05-31}}

=Georgia Tech=

On March 28, 2011, it was announced that Gregory would become the 13th head coach at Georgia Tech replacing Paul Hewitt.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/2011/03/28/gregory-takes-tech-job/?cxntfid=blogs_georgia_tech_sports|title=Radakovich: No question Gregory will succeed|first=Doug|last=Roberson|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=2011-03-28|access-date=2011-05-31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014205407/http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/2011/03/28/gregory-takes-tech-job/?cxntfid=blogs_georgia_tech_sports|archive-date=2012-10-14}}{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=6265658|title=Georgia Tech hires Brian Gregory|work=ESPN|date=2011-03-28|access-date=2011-05-31}} Gregory struggled at Georgia Tech, only finishing above .500 two times.

He failed to make a postseason appearance in his first four years at Georgia Tech. On March 16, 2015, Georgia Tech announced that Gregory would continue as head basketball coach for another year, despite the fact he never had a conference finish higher than ninth. In the 2015–16 season, Georgia Tech improved, finishing the season 21–15 and did receive a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, their first postseason trip under Gregory. The Yellow Jackets won two games before losing in the quarterfinals.

After a 5th consecutive losing record in the ACC, Georgia Tech Athletic Director Mike Bobinski announced on March 25, 2016, that Gregory would not return for the 2016–17 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15067516|last=Goodman|first=Jeff|title=Georgia Tech parts with Gregory as head coach|website=ESPN.com|date=25 March 2016|access-date=2016-03-29}} His record was 76–86 overall and 27–61 in ACC play.

=Michigan State=

Gregory served as a consultant to his old head coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State during the 2016–17 season.

=South Florida=

On March 14, 2017, Gregory was hired as head coach at South Florida to replace Orlando Antigua.{{Cite news |last=Perez |first=A.J. |date=2017-03-14 |title=South Florida hires Brian Gregory as head coach |work=USA TODAY |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/aac/2017/03/14/south-florida-hires-brian-gregory-head-coach/99167286/ |access-date=2017-03-15}}{{Cite news |last1=Goodman |first1=Jeff |last2=Borzello |first2=Jeff |name-list-style=amp |date=2017-03-14 |title=South Florida hires Gregory as head coach |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18905152 |access-date=2017-03-15}}

USF went 10–22 in Gregory's first season, which was the first time the program posted ten wins since the 2014–15 season—the first of the Antigua era. It posted a 7–11 record at the Yuengling Center (formerly the USF Sun Dome), but struggled away from home, collecting just three wins away from Tampa. The Bulls finished 3–15 in AAC play, last in the conference and was a first-round exit in the 2018 conference tournament.

Gregory welcomed nine new players to the program for the 2018–19 season. USF also was benefitted by Gardner–Webb transfer Laquincy Rideau, who came off a redshirt season in 2017–18 and Alexis Yetna's addition to the hardwood. It started the season 10–2 through non-conference play before going 8–10 in AAC play. Under Gregory's eye, Rideau earned an AAC Defensive Player of the Year honor, while Yetna was named the league's Freshman of the Year for their efforts during the regular season.

Although it was bounced in the first round of the conference tournament yet again, this time by UConn, USF received a bid to play in the College Basketball Invitational, the third tier postseason college basketball tournament.

The Bulls came back from a 25-point deficit to defeat Stony Brook in the first round before defeating Utah Valley and Loyola Marymount to reach the CBI finals.

In a three-game series against DePaul, the Bulls took two-of-three (63–61, 96–100 OT, 77–65) to win the tournament. Sophomore guard David Collins was named as the tournament's MVP. In the process, USF finished 24–14 and had the largest improvement among NCAA Division I teams.

Three Bulls—Rideau, Collins and Yetna—were named preseason all-conference selections before the 2019–20 season. Yetna, who had battled a leg injury and rehabbed over the previous summer, suffered a devastating knee injury in practice prior to the team's season opening game against Arkansas–Pine Bluff and was ruled out for the season. Former LSU transfer Mayan Kiir left the team as well, turning the Bulls into one of the largest teams in the AAC to one of the smallest teams in the conference. As a result, the Bulls struggled offensively and failed to reach 70 points in 24 in 31 of their games. However, USF was extremely strong on the defensive side of the court, ranking 20th in the NCAA in scoring defense (62.7 PPG), while holding 27 of its 31 opponents under their season scoring average at the time of play.

USF failed to put together a second straight winning season under Gregory, going 14–17 and 7–11 in AAC play. The Bulls were slated to play War on I-4 rival UCF in the first round of the conference tournament before the conference announced the cancelation of the game due to the COVID-19 pandemic, just 65 minutes before tipoff between the Bulls and Knights.{{Cite web|title=AAC Tournament canceled an hour before tip|url=https://247sports.com/college/smu/Article/AAC-tournament-cancelled-144938063/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=PonyStampede.com}}

Over the extended break caused by the coronavirus, the Bulls added length and saw the return of Yetna to the starting rotation. Former Mississippi State power forward Prince Oduro and Texas Tech center Russel Tchewa joined the squad and the Bulls brought in consensus four-star combo guard Caleb Murphy to bolster a team that just lost two seniors and one outgoing transfer. USF was picked to finish 5th in the AAC in the 2020–21 season.

Gregory won his 300th career game as a head coach on December 12, 2020, against Wofford.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Will |date=2020-12-13 |title=Brian Gregory earns 300th win |url=https://247sports.com/college/south-florida/Board/59416/Contents/Brian-Gregory-earns-300th-win-156702972/ |access-date=2020-12-17 |work=247Sports}}

It was announced, on January 4, 2022, that Gregory's contract would be extended until the 2025–26 season, as a part of 14 overall head coach extensions executed by USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly.{{Cite web|title=USF sends sweeping round of extensions to head coaches|url=https://247sports.com/college/south-florida/Article/USF-head-coach-contract-extensions-Brian-Gregory-Jose-Fernandez-Billy-Mohl-Ken-Eriksen-179836021/|access-date=2022-01-04|work=Bulls247}}

After enduring a fourth straight losing season, on March 10, 2023, Gregory was relieved of his duties as South Florida head coach.{{Cite web |title=South Florida Announces Change In Leadership Of Men's Basketball Program |url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2023/3/10/south-florida-announces-change-in-leadership-of-mens-basketball-program.aspx |access-date=2023-03-10 |work=USF Athletics}}

Front office

On June 10, 2024, Gregory was hired as the Phoenix Suns' vice president of player programming, joining former Long Island Nets general manager and Brooklyn Nets vice president of strategy Matt Tellem as the newest front office hirings.{{cite web | url=https://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-add-matt-tellem-and-brian-gregory-to-basketball-operations-staff | title=Suns Add Matt Tellem and Brian Gregory to Basketball Operations Staff | website=NBA.com}} He would join the team that's currently owned by Mat Ishbia, a player he had previously worked with while as an assistant coach for Michigan State University during their 1999–2000 NCAA championship season run. On May 1, 2025, Gregory was named the general manager of the Suns.{{cite web|title=PHOENIX SUNS ANNOUNCE BASKETBALL OPERATIONS CHANGES|url=https://www.nba.com/suns/news/phoenix-suns-announce-basketball-operations-changes|publisher=NBA.com|access-date=May 1, 2025|date=May 1, 2025}}

Head coaching record

File:Brian Gregory on sidelines 2012.jpg

{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Dayton Flyers

| conference = Atlantic 10 Conference

| startyear = 2003

| endyear = 2011

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = division

| season = 2003–04

| name = Dayton

| overall = 24–9

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = 1st (West)

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2004–05

| name = Dayton

| overall = 18–11

| conference = 10–6

| confstanding = T–2nd (West)

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2005–06

| name = Dayton

| overall = 14–17

| conference = 6–10

| confstanding = T–11th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2006–07

| name = Dayton

| overall = 19–12

| conference = 8–8

| confstanding = T–7th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2007–08

| name = Dayton

| overall = 23–11

| conference = 8–8

| confstanding = T–7th

| postseason = NIT Quarterfinal

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2008–09

| name = Dayton

| overall = 27–8

| conference = 11–5

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 32

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = postseason

| season = 2009–10

| name = Dayton

| overall = 25–12

| conference = 8–8

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason = NIT Champions

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2010–11

| name = Dayton

| overall = 22–14

| conference = 7–9

| confstanding = T–8th

| postseason = NIT First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Dayton

| overall = {{winpct|172|94|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|70|58|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

| conference = Atlantic Coast Conference

| startyear = 2011

| endyear = 2016

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2011–12

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 11–20

| conference = 4–12

| confstanding = 11th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2012–13

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 16–15

| conference = 6–12

| confstanding = 9th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2013–14

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 16–17

| conference = 6–12

| confstanding = 11th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2014–15

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 12–19

| conference = 3–15

| confstanding = 14th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2015–16

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = 21–15

| conference = 8–10

| confstanding = T–11th

| postseason = NIT Quarterfinal

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Georgia Tech

| overall = {{winpct|76|86|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|27|61|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = South Florida Bulls

| conference = American Athletic Conference

| startyear = 2017

| endyear = 2023

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2017–18

| name = South Florida

| overall = 10–22

| conference = 3–15

| confstanding = 12th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = postseason

| season = 2018–19

| name = South Florida

| overall = 24–14

| conference = 8–10

| confstanding = T–7th

| postseason = CBI Champions

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2019–20

| name = South Florida

| overall = 14–17

| conference = 7–11

| confstanding = T–7th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2020–21

| name = South Florida

| overall = 9–13

| conference = 4–10

| confstanding = T–8th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2021–22

| name = South Florida

| overall = 8–23

| conference = 3–15

| confstanding = 11th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2022–23

| name = South Florida

| overall = 14–18

| conference = 7–11

| confstanding = 8th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = South Florida

| overall = {{winpct|79|107|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|33|72|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End

| overall = {{winpct|327|287|record=y}}

}}

References

{{Reflist}}