Eric Gruber

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech has hired a new women’s basketball head coach after Sam Clayton announced her departure on April 7.

The Huskies will have Eric Gruber on the bench as their 10th head coach in program history, Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Suzanne Sanregret announced on Monday.

Gruber comes from NCAA Division I Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, where he was an assistant women’s coach for the last three seasons. And just before that in the 2022-23 season, he was an assistant coach at GLIAC member Wisconsin-Parkside.

“He brings several years of experience as a women’s basketball assistant coach, contributing to programs at a variety of levels while taking on a wide range of responsibilities,” Sanregret said in an MTU Sports Information news release announcing the hire. “Eric understands the legacy of our women’s basketball program, the high expectations of competing for GLIAC and national success, and what it takes to recruit and develop outstanding student-athletes.

“His strong recruiting connections in Wisconsin and across the Upper Midwest will be a tremendous asset to our program. He values the small-town feel and close-knit community that make our campus special, and we’re confident he will build on our winning tradition by attracting top talent that excels both on the court and in the classroom.”

SIUE tripled its win total over the past three seasons and had a pair of freshmen named All-Ohio Valley Conference, including the Freshman of the Year. The 2025-26 Cougars notched the most wins since the 2017-18 season and led the OVC in 3-pointers. Gruber recruited and handled youth, elite and team camps.

At Parkside, Gruber helped the Rangers to their most wins in eight years and had a pair of players named All-GLIAC.

Prior to Parkside, Gruber was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons, 2020-22, at Coe College, a Division III school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Kohawks went to the conference championship game backed by an All-American and six all-conference honorees.

In the 2019-20 season, Gruber was an assistant coach at Division III Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. The Duhawks appeared in the NCAA Sweet 16 before COVID shut down that tournament. The 2020 season was the best in school history with a 25-4 overall record and a final No. 7 ranking in the nation.

Gruber holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Central College and was a graduate assistant with NCC women’s basketball for two seasons after a four-year playing career on the golf team.

Story contents based on a Michigan Tech Sports Information press release reviewing the hire. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.