OU's Kampe on March Madness and Being a High School Hoops Dad

Oakland University head coach Greg Kampe and his Golden Grizzlies are eager to begin March Madness tonight after winning their second consecutive Summit League tournament to clinch a berth in the big dance.

That much is obvious.

But here's the kicker:

Another member of the Kampe family has advanced already to the final 32 teams — in Michigan high school basketball, that is.

Press Kampe is a freshman playing varsity basketball with the Adams Highlanders, a team that .

Greg Kampe attended the game Friday and spoke to Rochester Patch at halftime about balancing his work as a college coach with his role as a high school hoops dad.

"The NCAA rules are very strict, you're not allowed to coach prospects," Kampe said. "It's a bad rule. They legislate against you being a good dad, and I've always disliked that, but it is the rule.

"I really hope some day he would be able to play at Oakland (University) because I would like to coach him. I'll be at the end of my career at that time, so I wouldn't mind having a chance to coach him."

Kampe's Golden Grizzlies find out Sunday night whom they will face in Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament.

"We won't be intimidated by anybody. We've been in every building and played all the best teams in the country, so we're just nervous to get it going and excited to have a chance," Kampe said.

The Golden Grizzlies have had three consecutive 20-win seasons, back-to-back regular season titles and have set records at a university and national level for current wins during league play.

This year, the team went 22-9 with its second consecutive 17-1 league record before sweeping through the Summit League tournament to clinch Oakland's third NCAA Tournament berth (2005, 2010, 2011).

During Kampe's 27-season tenure at Oakland University, the team has changed its name from the Pioneers to the Golden Grizzlies and moved up to Division 1 basketball.

The team's success only continues.

Rochester Hills has two teams left dancing, as they say.  

March Madness, indeed.

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