The University of Wisconsin-Superior and Yellowjacket Athletics have announced that Greg Polkowski has been named the interim head coach of the Yellowjacket men’s basketball program. Polkowski replaces Paul Eberhardt, who resigned the position last week.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Polkowski back to UW-Superior to lead our men’s basketball program. Greg has a wealth of knowledge and coaching experiences that will help elevate our program to the next level. His passion and enthusiasm for the game and development of student-athletes is second to none,” said UW-Superior Athletics Director Nick Bursik. “He is highly respected in the basketball community and within our own Superior community. He is going to be a great fit for our program, department, and university.”
Polkowski, who was a finalist for the position when Eberhardt was hired in 2012, comes to UW-Superior after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at UW-Eau Claire under the tutelage of former Yellowjacket head coach Matt Siverling.
Before his time at UW-Eau Claire Polkowski was the head boys basketball coach and a physical education instructor at Waukesha North High School, where his win totals increased each year and culminated with the Northstars winning a region championship in 2015.
“The opportunity to come back to UW-Superior as the head men’s basketball coach is something that I truly have only dreamed about until this point,” Polkowski said. “Since completing my time as a student-athlete in 2008, I have always thought to myself that the experiences I have encountered would prepare me to be the head men’s basketball coach at UW-Superior if I was ever fortunate enough to have the opportunity. Now that it is reality it is beyond surreal, and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.
“I have a huge amount of pride in being a UW-Superior alumnus and I know that so many others feel the same way. My experience as a student-athlete at UW-Superior is invaluable; the lessons learned, and relationships created during my time here have played a huge part in who I am today and I will cherish those experiences forever. I look forward to the opportunity to play a part in giving current students the same great experience that I had during my time here.”
Polkowski was a member of the Yellowjacket men’s basketball team from 2004 until 2008, playing 58 games.
“I was able to be a part of so many positive experiences and create relationships with great people that are still some of my closest friends to this day,” Polkowski said. “We all have a great deal of pride that we were fortunate enough to represent UW-Superior men’s basketball.”
Immediately upon his graduation he joined the staff of then-head coach Dave Buchanan and began his coaching career. Polkowski spent the 2008-09 season as an assistant coach with the Yellowjackets before moving to Carroll University, where he coached under Buchanan for two seasons. There, he helped the Pioneers to a 28-20 record and an appearance in the Midwest Conference championship game.
A native of Goodman, Wisconsin, Polkowski graduated from UW-Superior with a Bachelor of Science Degree in physical education. He followed that with a Master’s Degree in Education from Carroll University in 2011. His family includes his wife Stephanie (Janigo), a 2006 UW-Superior graduate and former standout on the Yellowjacket women’s basketball team and their two sons, William (3), and Nolan (6 months).
“I am beyond excited to get back on campus and get to work with the current student-athletes on building a successful culture and foundation to what I have 100 percent confidence in can be a program that all involved can be very proud of,” Polkowski said. “My wife and I and our two sons are also extremely excited to come back to the UW-Superior community and the city of Superior where we both have so many great memories. We look forward to the next chapter of our lives there.”
