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Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Gary Garner
Gary Garner is entering his third year as Dakota State University men's basketball head coach.
"Gary's prior experience as a Division I and II coach at highly successful collegiate programs will be invaluable as he readies to lead our team," said Wockenfuss. "He brings a tremendous amount of basketball experience and knowledge to Dakota State."
Garner collegiate experience is primarily on the Division I and II level. Prior coming to Dakota State, he has served as the assistant coach for Iowa Energy, a team with the NBA Development League, for two seasons (2007-08 and 2008-09). He served as head basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University from 1997-2006. From 1991-1997 he led the men's team at Fort Hays State University. His 1995-1996 team won the NCAA Division II Tournament, capping a perfect 34-0 season. That same year Garner was named the NCAA II Bulletin National Coach of the Year and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Garner also served stints as head coach at Drake University and Missouri Southern University. He has been an assistant at the University of Missouri and Tulsa University.
His coaching career has included multiple appearances at the NCAA Division II Tournament. His Southeast Missouri State team reached the NCAA Division I Tournament in 2000. Garner reached his 300 collegiate win in 2000 and is a few wins away for recording his 400th collegiate career win. His record of 63-2 was the best among collegiate coaches during 1995-1997.
In June 2011, Garner was inducted in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Hall of Fame for his successful coaching era at Fort Hays State University.
Garner and wife Barb currently resides in Madison.
E-mail: gary.garner@dsu.edu
Assistant Head Coach: Matthew Garner
Matthew Garner is in his third year with the Dakota State University men’s basketball coaching staff.
Matthew comes to Dakota State University with a wide background of coaching experience. He was a member of the 1995-96 undefeated Fort Hays State University NCAA Division II National Championship team that finished an overall record of 34-0. In addition to his tenure at FHSU, he was an integral part of four conference championships as a player and a volunteer student assistant coach.
After his tenure at Fort Hays State, he joined the coaching staff at NCAA Division I Southeast Missouri State University. Southeast Missouri State won a conference championship team that competed in the coveted NCAA Tournament. From there, Matthew joined the staff at University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (NCAA Division II) before being called to join the coaching staff at University of Denver (NCAA Division I). While at University of Denver, the team won a conference championship and participated in the NIT post season tournament.
After leaving Denver, Matthew joined the coaching staff at DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Mo.
Matthew became the assistant men’s basketball coach at Dakota State University in June 2009. He received his bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University. He currently resides in Madison.
E-mail: matthew.garner@dsu.edu
Assistant Coach: Mike Larsen
Mike Larsen is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Dakota State University men's basketball. His duties include film breakdown, assistant junior varsity and varsity coach and film exchange.
Larsen, a first team All-State High School basketball player that helped capture State Championship in Utah, played three years at Northwest Missouri State University. He was a member of two conference championship teams and qualified to NCAA Division II National Tournament twice. Larsen coached one year of high school basketball in Missouri and led the Northwest Nodaway Blue Jays to the conference finals.
Larsen came to Dakota State to play his final year of eligibility. He was named to Dakota Athletic Conference third team All-Conference. Larsen was an integral member of the DSU men's basketball team that recorded their first winning season in 20 years.
Larsen graduated from Northwest Missouri State with a major in Corporate Recreation and a minor in Coaching in July 2011. He married Kati on July 2, 2011. Larsen is currently working on his masters in Educational Technology at Dakota State University.
E-mail: mblarsen@pluto.dsu.edu
Phone: 801-860-0883
