MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois University officially welcomed JD Gravina as women's basketball head coach during a Monday afternoon (April 18) press conference inside Western Hall. Gravina becomes the seventh head coach in Leatherneck women's basketball history.
Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine announced the hiring last Friday, and he introduced the newest member of Leatherneck Athletics in front of a capacity crowd inside the Hall of Fame room Monday. Gravina and his wife Meredith were welcomed by members of the University and Macomb community.
A six-year head coaching veteran, Gravina joins the Leathernecks with an overall record of 113-61 (.649 winning percentage). He is coming off a successful four-year tenure at Quincy University, posting an overall record of 93-28 and program record .769 winning percentage. Three of his four teams advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
The Hawks went 26-4 last season, advancing to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament. Quincy won the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season championship and peaked at No. 11 in the national polls. QU also advanced to Nationals in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
A two-time GLVC 'Coach of the Year', Gravina was selected as the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Division II 'Coach of the Year' in 2008, 2009 and most recently in 2011. Following the 2009 season, Gravina was chosen as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Region 4 'Coach of the Year' and one of eight finalists as National 'Coach of the Year'. Quincy won two GLVC regular season titles during Gravina's tenure and he coached three First Team All-GLVC players, including the 2011 conference 'Player of the Year'.
Last season Quincy averaged 87.3 points per game, good for second in the nation. The team's offensive production has increased from a then-record 78.2 points his first season to the now record 87.3 ppg. Gravina's student-athletes have excelled in the classroom as the team recorded at least a 3.0 GPA every season. The Hawks also made national news when the program was featured in the NCAA magazine Champions for their work on the Pink Zone initiative (Breast Cancer Awareness).
He spent two years in charge of the women's basketball program at McPherson College from 2005-07. During his final year the program finished with just the third winning season over the previous 25 years.
Gravina graduated from William Jewell College with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. He competed on the basketball, tennis and track and field teams during his time as a student-athlete. He received his first master's degree from UMKC in Economics in 2002 and another in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Emporia State in 2007.
