CAREER PHOTO GALLERY
The fifth head coach in the history of New Haven men’s basketball, Stu Grove is the all-time wins leader for the Chargers with 253 victories during a 15-year career at the helm of the Blue and Gold. The 1986 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Coach of the Year, Grove led New Haven to three NCAA Regional appearances during his career and remains second all-time in winning percentage (58.8 percent).
Named head coach in March 1980, it didn’t take long for Grove to turn a struggling New Haven program around, leading the Chargers to a 15-11 record in his rookie campaign. He would increase that win total to 18 the following year as New Haven joined the New England Collegiate Conference. Those 18 wins in 1981-82 the most for a New Haven team in 13 seasons.
The next year as part of an 18-11 record, Grove earned his first of many coaching milestones with a 75-58 victory over American International on February 21, 1983, the 50th of his career. The 1984-85 season was another milestone for Grove as the Chargers earned their first of 11-straight appearances in the NECC Championship, advancing to the semifinals thanks to a two-point victory over Central Connecticut State for Grove’s first postseason win.
The 100th victory in Grove’s career would come during a 19-9 campaign in 1985-86, a season that included a second-straight trip to the NECC semifinals. Highlighting that season for Grove was earning the NECC Coach of the Year after leading the Chargers to a 10-2 record in conference play, tied for first place.
However, it was the next four years where Grove put the Chargers on the map, leading New Haven to three 20-plus win seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances over that stretch. It began in 1986-87 when the Chargers posted a 23-9 record, the first 20-plus win season in 18 years. That same season, Grove led the Chargers to the NECC Championship game before earning the program’s first ever bid in the NCAA Tournament.
The next year, Grove led the Chargers to a 26-5 slate, which remains the second most wins in program history, and an 11-1 mark in the NECC. Along the way, New Haven rode a 15-game win streak, part of what led to a No. 2 ranking in all of NCAA Division II and the program’s second consecutive trip to the national tournament. Also among the highlights from that season was senior Herb Watkins who earned his second consecutive All-America accolade with a spot on the First Team.
After another trip to the NECC Championship game in 1988-89, the Chargers earned their third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years when they closed out the 1989-90 season with a 21-10 record, thanks in part to Gary Battle who capped off the season earning All-America Third Team honors.
Groves 200th career victory came during the 1990-91 season in a 102-101 victory over Dowling on December 15. The next year, Grove’s squad opened the season with a 13-1 record and a No. 4 national ranking, while his final milestone of 250 victories came courtesy of a five-point victory over crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State on January 22, 1995.
During his tenure, Grove’s accomplishments didn’t go unrecognized. In addition to his 1986 NECC Coach of the Year honor, he was named the NABC New England Coach of the Year, UPI New England Coach of the Year and the New England College Coach of the Year. In addition, Watkins and Battle were both drafted by the CBA while a third player, Jason Williams, earned a free agent contract with the New Jersey Nets.
