Grover Kirkland
2007 Greater Flint Afro-American
Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: Coaching
Wife: Earlean
Daughters: Katrina Wilson, Tanisa Kirkland
Son: Courtney
Grover Kirkland thinks of
himself as a family man and teacher. Most people know Grover as a basketball coach.
Grover has a bachelor’s degree from Russ College in Mississippi and a master’s degree
from Eastern Michigan. His coaching career started in Flint at Emerson Jr. High School.
From Emerson he became an assistant coach at Flint Northern under Bill Frieder. Grover’s
first head coaching job in Flint came when he was appointed the head coach of
the Wildcats at Flint Northwestern. It didn’t take Grover long to put Northwestern
basketball program into the spotlight.
Grover was the first coach
from Flint to win 200 games (he reached that milestone in February 1983). During that
time his team posted an amazing 60 game winning streak (a class A record that still stands).
Grover feels that his 1985
team was probably one of the best teams that has ever been in Flint. Some of those players
are teachers and coaches. Two of Grover’s players went on to play professional basketball
(Glen Rice and Trent Tucker), and one professional football player (Andre Rison).
He was the first coach to have
two student athletes named Mr. Basketball of Michigan. Glen Rice in 1985 and Kelvin Torbert
in 2001. Grover was also the first coach from Michigan to have two players compete on the
same NBA Charlotte Hornets team (Glen Rice and Jeff Grayer). Grover was the first coach
to have three basketball players competing in the NBA league, Trent Tucker, Jeff Grayer and Glen Rice.
Coach Kirkland’s teams
were rated in the top 10 three consecutive years by USA Today and in the top 20
three consecutive years by Street and Smith Publications. Kirkland was named coach
of the year and coach of coaches and was selected to coach the McDonald All American
(Detroit, MI) and the McDonald Capital Classic (Washington D.C.).
Grover, you have made Flint proud.
This is truly your night.
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