Al grushkin Joins Murray State Racer Basketball as Defensive Analyst
Murray State University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Ryan Miller has announced the hiring of Al Grushkin as Defensive Analyst for the 2025-26 season. Grushkin brings over four decades of experience in both collegiate and professional basketball to the Racers program.
“We are excited to welcome Al Grushkin and his wife, Debbie, to the Murray State Family,” said coach Miller. “Al brings a wealth of basketball knowledge in all areas including defensive strategy and player progress.He’s had a positive impact on every team he’s been associated with in his career and he’s going to be a big part of our success as we compete for championships in the Missouri Valley Conference.”
grushkin expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, “I’m appreciative of the opportunity to join Coach Miller’s staff at Murray State, a well-known program that I have admired for a long time. I wont to do everything in my power to help the Racers win in The Valley. I am also looking forward to working with our student-athletes and help them maximize their abilities.”
Throughout his career, Grushkin has held head coaching positions at Indiana Tech (2010-2014) and Incarnate Word (2000-2006), and served in assistant roles at institutions including Georgia State, Tulsa, Arkansas, Western Illinois, Idaho State, UTSA, and Arkansas State.
He has contributed to five nationally ranked teams and worked alongside Hall of Fame Coach Nolan Richardson. More recently, Grushkin was a member of the coaching staff for Kansas State’s 2022-23 Elite Eight run and High Point’s program-first NCAA Tournament appearance in the 2024-25 season.
Notably, Grushkin has been part of 12 programs that achieved a conference championship or postseason berth within two seasons of his arrival.
Grushkin’s professional experience includes serving as head coach of the St. Louis River Sharks, a regional scout for the Indiana Pacers, and Assistant to the Head Coach for both the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and Erie Bay hawks. he also worked as a regional NBA scout with Marty Blake Associates.
Grushkin is a graduate of Oglethorpe University and holds a master’s degree from Georgia State University.
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