After twenty-three years of dedication to the Ellsworth Community College Men’s Basketball program, Head Coach Troy Muilenburg has announced his retirement at the end of the 2022 season.
Not including the 2021-22 season, Muilenburg has a record of 339-334 in his time at ECC. He has won two conference championships, coached six All-Americans, and over fifty All-Region players and the countless players that have went through the program and continued their education elsewhere. “I’m incredibly grateful to Ellsworth Community College for giving me the opportunity to coach and mentor so many young men. Working with the student athletes on and off the court, encouraging them to utilize their full potential was very important to me. It has been a great ride!”
In addition to coaching at ECC, Muilenburg has been a faculty adjunct for many years and the Dale Howard Family Activity Center Wellness Coordinator.
Prior to coming to ECC, he was an Assistant Men’s Basketball coach for one year at Black Hawk College and was also an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at his alma mater University of Northern Iowa.
Muilenburg had an outstanding basketball playing career at the UNI. The Davenport, IA, native is still 14th on UNI’s all-time scoring list with 1,251 career points and is 5th in career free-throw percentage (.835). He was a 2nd team All-Conference pick in 1991 after leading the Panthers in scoring and rebounding that year. He was a starter on the UNI team that played in the 1990 NCAA Tournament, and he scored 34 points in two tourney games. That squad was subsequently inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame. Muilenburg later played for three years in Australia where he averaged over 30 points and 10 rebounds each year and was named 1st team all-conference and won a conference championship every year. In his last year in Australia, he was named National Player of the Year.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in exercise science/sport psychology from UNI.
In high school, at Davenport West, the ECC head coach was a standout athlete, being named All-Conference in basketball and football and he was also an all-state choice in both sports. As a senior he averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds.
When asked about his time at ECC Muilenburg commented, “I have enjoyed my time working with the Ellsworth family. It has been great working with so many people who truly care about our student’s success. Working with our student athletes, mentoring them on and off the court, watching them grow and succeed and continue their life journey after Ellsworth has been a very special part of my life. One I will never forget.”
Muilenburg was recognized during this final home game vs NIACC on Wednesday, Feb. 16.
ECC Athletic Director Nate Forsyth commented, “It has been a privilege to be able to coach in the same athletic department as Troy and work with him as an Athletic Director to coach. I have valued him as a veteran to our athletic department to provide leadership to our younger coaches. Troy has done an outstanding job over his twenty-three years at ECC recruiting and developing student athletes. He has provided great excitement around the men’s basketball program over his years, and I wish him the best on his retirement. I am proud to be a colleague and even more important a friend to Troy.”
https://www.eccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/20220228kq6de1
