Head Coach
Denis Schaefer
Coach data is provided for recruiting research and should be confirmed with the official athletics website before contact.
Basketball Staff Contacts
Verified 2026-08-15 from this program's own staff page. Staff change during the recruiting cycle, so confirm before sending outreach.
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Denis Schaefer | Head Coach | dschaefer@grandview.edu |
| Tyler Long | Associate Head Coach | tlong@grandview.edu |
| Michelle Prange | Athletic Success Coordinator/Compliance | mprange@grandview.edu |
| Gary Williamson | Athletic Trainer (WVB, M/W BB, T/F) | gary-williamson@grandview.edu |
About Grand View University Basketball
Grand View University offers a strategic pathway to competitive basketball within the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Head Coach Denis Schaefer has built a program that values systematic player development and intentional roster construction, the foundation of sustained success in NAIA basketball. Playing at Grand View means competing in a conference that demands consistency and adaptability. The program emphasizes defensive principles, offensive spacing, and the kind of basketball intelligence that translates beyond college. You'll develop within a system designed to maximize individual strengths while building team cohesion, assets that carry weight whether your path leads to professional opportunities or life after basketball. Des Moines provides a focused environment without the distractions of larger college towns. This allows concentrated work on skill development and academic progress. Schaefer's coaching approach privileges players who understand the game's complexities and take ownership of their development. The program attracts serious competitors who view their four years as chess moves in a larger career strategy. Grand View recruits players who are coachable, intelligent, and committed to incremental improvement. If you're thinking strategically about where to spend your college years, where coaching, conference positioning, and daily development matter, this program warrants your consideration. Coaches recruiting for programs like this one look for players who've been developed in serious environments. Florida Coastal Prep in Fort Walton Beach, FL prepares post-grad and high school athletes for exactly these conversations. Learn more at floridacoastalprep.com.
NAIA programs can offer scholarships and a high level of competition in a smaller-school environment. Learn about NAIA basketball scholarships and how this division compares to JUCO options before finalizing your recruiting list.
What Recruits Should Know About NAIA Basketball
The Heart of America Athletic Conference operates within the NAIA, where scholarship opportunities exist but recruiting timelines and standards differ from NCAA programs. NAIA coaches recruit primarily through direct outreach, exposure events, and coach-to-coach referrals. Academic requirements are governed by the NAIA Eligibility Center, a separate process from the NCAA.
Grand View University and its Heart of America Athletic Conference peers offer full and partial scholarships to players who fit their system. Smaller rosters mean more playing time for the right player, and NAIA programs regularly produce players who transfer up to D2 and D1. Getting evaluated starts with sending updated film and a clear academic transcript directly to the coaching staff.
Film Preparation: Getting Ready for Grand View University's Coaching Staff
NAIA coaches don't have time to watch unorganized raw footage. They need a film package that immediately shows what you can do in a system that mirrors college-level play. FCP's post-grad program builds your highlight film through a structured competitive schedule against opponents that NAIA coaches recognize, so your footage carries real weight when it arrives in their inbox.
We coach players on exactly how to present their film to programs like Grand View University, including timing, format, and the specific moments coaches focus on. Apply now to start building footage worth sending.
Whether you're a current high school player exploring options through our high school program or a graduate looking for a post-grad year, FCP provides the coaching, competition, and college placement support to help you reach programs like Grand View University.
The Commitment Grand View University Respects
NAIA coaches at programs like Grand View University extend offers to players who show commitment: to their development, their academics, and the process. FCP gives you the structure to demonstrate that commitment in every metric a coach evaluates.
Coaching contacts compiled by the FCP recruiting staff. Cost and graduation figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-08-13.