Kevin Grimmer

Title:

Athletic Director

Phone:

(315) 792-7520

Email:

Kevin Grimmer served SUNY Poly in a dual role as both the Athletics Director and the head coach of the men’s basketball team prior to stepping back from coaching duties in 2014. He has served as the SUNY Poly Athletics Director for 17 years after a 15-year stint as the assistant AD, and was the basketball coach for 18 years after serving as an assistant coach for five years.

In 2012, Grimmer received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Professional Excellence for his longtime commitment to SUNY Poly as an athletics administrator and coach.

After Grimmer guided the school's move from the SUNYAC to the NEAC in 2008, SUNY Poly won the NEAC President's Cup for best overall sports program in three consecutive years. The tremendous growth and success of the program is highlighted by the $20 million expansion of the SUNY Poly sports complex, which resulted in the new Wildcat Field House, a turf field with lights, a baseball field and updated softball field.

During his long career at SUNY Poly, Grimmer also coached the women’s basketball team for six seasons, taking a program which had compiled a 39-118 record since its inception to a 78-69 record and the school’s first-ever State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship Tournament appearance. Grimmer has compiled 294 wins for Wildcat Basketball and has led both teams to postseason appearances in seven SUNYAC Tournaments and three Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship Tournaments. Grimmer had his finest season ever in 2009-10, leading the team to its second straight North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship and its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, where the team advanced to the Sweet 16. Grimmer guided the team to a program-best record of 26-5 and was rewarded with four Coach of the Year awards.

In addition to coaching both SUNY Poly basketball teams, Grimmer began the women’s volleyball program and was its coach for six years, and also held a 14-year stint as the school’s sports information director. Additionally, Grimmer is the former president of the SUNYAC and also served on its executive committee, and has served in the past as the Chair of the Board of Athletic Directors for the NEAC as well as its executive committee.

Before joining SUNY Poly, Grimmer was a standout basketball player for Hamilton College, where he graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Grimmer had an outstanding collegiate career, as he was a four-year starter and team captain for the Continentals and finished as the school’s all-time leader in block shots while being second all-time in rebounds and third all-time in scoring. Grimmer capped off his senior year by being named an NCAA Division III All-American. After graduating, Grimmer continued his basketball career with a brief stint playing professionally overseas in England. Overall, his athletic accomplishments have landed him in both the Greater Utica Area Sports Hall of Fame and the Notre Dame High School Juggler Hall of Fame. Additionally, his Hamilton College jersey was raised to the rafters of the Margaret Bundy Scott Field House in a ceremony celebrating Continental All-Americans.

Born and raised in Utica, Grimmer currently resides in New Hartford with his wife, Sheila, a French teacher and the Chair of the Foreign Language Department for the New Hartford Central School District. The couple has three children: Nick (SUNY Poly ’05), Megan (Nazareth ’08) and Alex (SUNY Poly ’12).