With the transfer portal, when a coaching change is made, a roster change is usually not far behind. One program that seems to avoid that chaos time and time again is the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.
Oakland opens the new season with the same leader, a man who has been with the program since the 1984-85 season. Based out of Rochester Hills, Michigan, Oakland University is one of eight research institutions in the state, and as members of the Horizon League, they boast the longest-tenured head coach in college basketball.
A Career Built on Stability
Greg Kampe started his career when Oakland competed in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as a Division II program. He spent 13 seasons before the Golden Grizzlies began their transition to NCAA Division I. Kampe even helped guide Oakland to the Division I Sweet 16 during the 1996-97 season.
Since moving up to Division I in 1999, the Golden Grizzlies have reached the NCAA Tournament four times. They went back-to-back in 2009-10 and 2010-11, posting a combined record of 51-19 across those two years.
The last time Oakland punched their ticket to March Madness was in 2023-24, finishing 24-12 overall and 15-5 in Horizon League play. That year also marked their first outright league title since 2010-11. The program tied at the top of the league in 2016-17, going 14-4 in conference play and advancing to the second round of the NIT.
While recent seasons have been a rollercoaster, with five losing campaigns in the last seven years, including a 16-18 finish a year ago, Kampe’s steady leadership has kept Oakland competitive and respected.
Taking on the Nation’s Best
The Golden Grizzlies rarely shy away from tough non-conference opponents. This year is no exception. The season opens on the road at Michigan (Nov. 3), followed by a trip to West Lafayette to face Purdue. Just a week later, Oakland heads south to battle Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars on Nov. 12.
Their first home game in Rochester Hills comes Nov. 15 against Defiance College. Other notable non-conference matchups include visits to Central Florida, Eastern Michigan, and Montana, with a game against Lamar included on that road swing.
December brings home dates with Purdue Fort Wayne and Toledo, along with road trips to Northern Iowa and Northern Kentucky. Just before Christmas, Kampe and company get the spotlight in Detroit when they face Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans at Little Caesars Arena.
Regardless of how the 2025-26 season unfolds, Oakland fans have to appreciate a coach who has stood by his players, his program, and his community. Greg Kampe is more than a basketball coach, he’s a symbol of loyalty and longevity in a sport where both are rare.