After a highly successful run as the lead assistant coach at Daemen University, Ryan Grandits has been named the next head coach of the Point Park University men’s basketball program, Vice President of Athletics Scott Swain announced on Wednesday afternoon.
“We were very impressed with Ryan on all levels from the beginning. His successful pedigree at Daemen and NCAA Division II along with his personality and recruiting success fit exactly what we are building here with Pioneer Athletics. With over 160 applicants for the position, we had many highly qualified candidates to select from. Ryan rose to the top of our candidates as our search progressed and we could not be happier with him joining our Pioneer Family!” said Scott Swain.
In eight seasons in the first chair at DU, Grandits has helped the Wildcats to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2021 Elite 8 in Evansville, Indiana.
Additionally, during his Daemen tenure, Grandits was instrumental in recruiting 31 all-conference players, six all-regional selections, and four All-Americans.
“I am excited to join the Point Park family as its next head men’s basketball coach,” said Grandits. “Under the leadership of President Chris Brussalis and VP of Athletics Scott Swain, there is an unbelievable vision for athletics in the future at Point Park and I can’t wait to be a part of building a top tier DII program. There’s a lot of work to be done, but I look forward to the challenge and I’m excited to join the family and bring more good people into the program.”
In 2024-25, Daemen went 28-1 and went 16-0 in league play, winning the East Coast Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships. The Wildcats topped the Division II Top 25 national poll during the final four regular season releases in 2024-25.
The Wildcats’ postseason run ended in the regional semifinals this past winter, falling in a close battle with St. Thomas Aquinas.
In 2023-24, Daemen went 25-9 and advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, falling to the region’s top seed, Saint Michael’s. The Wildcats went 12-4 in league play during the regular season and finished as ECC Tournament runner-up.
The prior two seasons, Daemen recorded 20-win campaigns, finished 20-8 in 2022-23 and 20-9 in 2021-22. The Wildcats advanced to the ECC Tournament Championship Game both seasons, finishing runner-up.
During the 2020-21 season playing a reduced schedule in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, Daemen went 7-4 during the regular season and advanced to the NCAA Elite 8 with wins over Bloomfield and St. Thomas Aquinas in the NCAA Tournament’s East Regional. The Wildcats eventually fell to West Texas A&M in the national quarterfinals.
In 2019-20, Daemen turned in a 24-8 campaign and earned a NCAA Tournament bid, before the East Regional was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2018-19, the Wildcats went 24-6 and finished 16-2 in conference play. Daemen earned a NCAA Tournament bid as the No. 5 seed in the East Regional.
During Grandits’ first season as lead assistant in Amherst in 2017-18, the Wildcats went 22-8, including a 15-3 mark in league play.
After joining the Daemen men’s basketball staff as a graduate assistant in 2016-17, Grandits became lead assistant coach in 2017-18 before being elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2024-25.
During his tenure, Daemen led the East Coast Conference in defense eight times, while being nationally ranked during five of those seasons.
In 2019, Grandits was honored as an Under Armour 30 under 30 recipient, which recognizes the Top 30 coaches under the age of 30 in college basketball.
Grandits earned a Master of Science in International Business degree from Daemen University in 2017. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management from Medaille University in 2015. As a standout at Medaille, he was named to the NABC Honors Court.
Originally from Buffalo, Grandits comes to Pittsburgh with his wife Robyn and one-year old son Kyler.
