University of Chicago

Mike McGrath enters his 27th year as the Head Men's Basketball Coach and his 31st year as a part of the men's basketball program at the University of Chicago in the 2025-26 academic year.

A three-time UAA Coach of the Year, McGrath is the University of Chicago’s all-time wins leader with an overall record of 361-272, including a 204-148 mark in University Athletic Association (UAA) play. McGrath has guided UChicago to a NCAA Division III Elite Eight berth and Sweet 16 appearance, as well as four UAA titles. Over his career at UChicago, McGrath has been named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Coach of the Year five times – 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, and 2025.

The UChicago men’s basketball team finished the 2024–25 season with a 16–10 record and a 9–5 mark in the UAA, earning their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008. Thomas Kurowski was named First Team All-UAA, while Joe Berry earned Second Team honors.The Maroons also had a total of three players named to the CSC Academic All-District Team.

McGrath garnered UAA Coach of the Year accolades in 2007-08 after leading the Maroons to their second straight UAA championship and NCAA Division III tournament appearance. UChicago, which finished 18-8 overall and 11-3 in conference play, ranked 25th in the final D3hoops.com poll.

In 2000-01, McGrath guided the Maroons to their best-ever NCAA Division III finish, as UChicago advanced to the Elite Eight round of the national tournament. The Maroons finished that campaign with a record of 24-4 and ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation. McGrath enjoyed a highly-successful debut campaign in 1999-2000, as he led the Maroons to a 23-4 record, the UAA title and a NCAA Division III Sweet 16 appearance.

McGrath spent seven years as an assistant coach to Pat Cunningham from 1992-99. During that time, McGrath helped lead the Maroons to an overall record of 107-73 (.594), including an 82-23 mark (.781) from 1995-99. Under Cunningham and McGrath, UChicago garnered two UAA championships and advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 on two occasions.

During McGrath’s 29 years as head and assistant coach, UChicago teams have compiled a combined record of 427-310 (.579), won six conference championships, and made six national postseason appearances.

McGrath is very active in the coaching profession. He was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Board of Directors as a Division III representative in 2019. McGrath served four years as a member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Playing Rules Committee. He has also served as a member of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Committee and twice as a member of the Regional advisory Committee for the Midwest - the groups responsible for selecting and bracketing for the National Championship.

McGrath is a 1992 graduate of DePauw University, where he spent three years as a student assistant coach. During his tenure at DePauw, the Tigers advanced to the 1990 NCAA Division III championship game. In 2003, McGrath and the other members of that team were inducted into the DePauw Athletics Hall of Fame.

A native of Bartlett, Ill., McGrath earned a master’s degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy in 2004. He resides in Chicago with his wife, Kari.