2007-08 Coaches

Head Coach - Mike Hultz

Mike HuItz enters his tenth season as the head coach of MSU basketball program.  During Hultz's rookie campaign, the Beavers posted their first .500 record since 1994-95 and enjoyed the school's best conference finish since 1993-94.  After a couple of rebuilding seasons Hultz has the Beavers at the top of the Dakota Athletic Conference by winning the 2005 DAC-10 regular season and tournament titles.  The 2005 team set a school record for wins (23) and made an appearance in the NAIA II National Tournament.  For his efforts Hultz was recognized as 2005 DAC-10 Coach of the Year.  The Beavers have finished no lower than third in all but one of the past past six seasons and have the best DAC record over the past four seasons compiling a conference record of 43-21.  During the 2003-04 campaign, MSU was ranked nationally in the NAIA Top 25 for the first time in the school's history.

HuItz comes to Minot after five years at Northern State University in South Dakota.  After two seasons as a graduate assistant and a volunteer assistant, he served as NSU's head assistant basketball coach and Director of Athletic Development. During his tenure at Northern, the Wolves won four conference titles and made an appearance in the 1994 NAIA II National Championship game and the NAIA National Semifinals in 1995. Northern then moved up in division as a NCAA II school, during which time the Wolves qualified for the NCAA II National Tournament in each of his three seasons. Those final three years were highlighted by winning the North Central Regional Playoffs and advancing to the NCAA II Elite Eight. Hultz, an Idaho native, graduated from Notus High School in 1988. He then attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell. There, Hultz served as a student assistant for three seasons in which the 'Yotes made appearances in the 1989 NAlA Elite Eight and the 1991 NAIA Sweet Sixteen. After his time at the C of I, Hultz moved onto the University of Utah for one season, where he again filled the role of student assistant under head coach Rick Majerus. The Utes finished third in the post-season National Invitational Tournament (NIT).

Hultz then returned to the College of Idaho and graduated in 1993 with a major in physical education and a minor in computer science. While finishing his undergraduate degree there, he served as an assistant basketball coach at Homedale High School and head baseball coach at Marsing High School. He led the Marsing Huskies to a fourth place finish in the 1993 state tournament.

Mike and his wife, Shannon, are the parents of three boys. Sam (19), Max (15) and Oscar (4).

Assistant Coach - Steve Grabowski  

Steve Grabowski enters his third year as the Beavers Head Assistant Basketball coach.  Grabowski has been an instrumental part of MSU's basketball program the past seven years.  After a four year playing career Grabowski entered the coaching profession at Minot State as a student assistant coach.  During Steve's senior season as a player, MSU complied a 19-10 record which at the time was the most wins by a Minot State team since the 1971-1972 season.  He averaged 4 points and nearly 4 assists per game.  In his junior season, Grabowski appeared in 16 contests, and shot an impressive 42% from the three-point line while earning Academic All-Conference Honors.  Coach Grabowski's court sense and basketball savvy have definitely transfered over into his coaching duties, which makes his presence on the sidelines a valuable one.  Before his time at Minot State, he attended Minot High School where he was a member of the 1999 Class A State Championship team.  Grabowski earned All-WDA honors as a senior while averaging 13 points, 3.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2 steals per game.  He also made the WDA All-Tournament team as a junior.  Coach Grabowski will be primarily in charge of recruiting efforts in addition to strength/conditioning and on-the-floor coaching.  Steve also serves as an Admissions Counselor at Minot State.  He is the son of Steve and Diane Grabowski.

Assistant Coach - Jordan Cooper

Jordan Cooper will join the coaching staff this season after a three-year playing career at Minot State.  "Coop" is most noted for hitting "The Shot" at the buzzer of regulation in the championship game of the  2005 conference tournament.  Cooper's three tied the game and lifted the Beavers to an overtime victory.  Cooper earned Second-team All-Conference honors for his efforts during his senior year.  Cooper averaged 12 points while shooting 43 percent from the three-point stripe.  Before transferring to Minot State for his sophomore season Cooper played one season at Lake Region Junior College in Devils Lake, ND where he averaged 17 points and was a All Mon-Dak selection.

Cooper hails from Westhope, ND where he gained First-team All-State honors as a senior.  Cooper averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior.  He holds the school record for hitting nine three-pointers in one game.  over his career he scored 1190 points.  Jordan led Westhope-Newberg to a fourth place finish in the 2003 North Dakota Class ‘B' State Tournament and was an unanimous selection to the All-State Tournament team.  Cooper was also tabbed as both District and Regional Senior Player of the Year and was All-District and All-Region in both basketball and football in both his junior and senior seasons.   Cooper was selected to play in the North Dakota Lions All-Star game in both sports.   A multi-sport talent cooper also qualified for the North Dakota State 'B' Golf Meet five out of six years, won three region golf titles and finished runner-up at the state meet during his senior season.

Cooper will student teach this spring  and will graduate with a degree in history education.  He is the son of Jeff and Tanya Cooper.

Assistant Coach - Tim Brandt

Tim Brandt enters his first season as a member of the Beaver's coaching staff.  Brandt is a graduate of Minot High where he averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds per game as a senior.  Brandt led his team in three-pointers made and percentage.   Brandt has been a member of the Minot State basketball program for the past four seasons.    Tim posesses a strong knowledge of the game and will be a valuable addition to the coaching staff. 

Tim will finish his degree this spring with a degree in Corporate Fitness.  He is the son of Tim and Jean Brandt and Sue Brandt.

Assistant Coach - Terry Tyson

Terry Tyson will also join the coaching staff this season.  Tyson came to Minot State last season after previously attending Dickinson State University.  Tyson underwent knee surgery last spring leaving his future playing career in question.

Tyson comes from Salt Lake City, UT where he attended high school at  Salt Lake Christian.  His senior season he averaged 7 points and 11 assists per game and was a Second-Team All-State selection as he guided the Leopards to a seventh place finish at the state tournament.   Tyson then began his collegiate career at Lassen Junior College in Susanville, CA.  During his sophomore season Lassen won the Golden Valley Conference championship.   He is the son of Michele Tyson.

Student Manager- Erik "EZ" Bertram

Erik Bertram begins his fourth season serving as the Beaver's Student Manager.  Bertram is from Williston, ND and is majoring in Criminal justice and Psychology.  Erik is the son of Joan Bertram.