Next Mac Luncheon to feature ‘shootaround’ with Glen Grunwald
Glen Grunwald, director of McMaster's Department of Athletics & Recreation and a former NBA executive, will deliver the next talk in the popular Mac Luncheon series on Thursday, Nov. 20. Tickets are currently on sale for $25.
He’s worn a number of team colours over the years, but some might say Glen Grunwald looks best in maroon and grey.
On Nov. 20, fans and community members can hear Grunwald discuss his outstanding career in basketball, his path to McMaster and his long-term plans for engaging the greater Hamilton community during the next Mac Luncheon event.
“I was always impressed with the people I came across who were working at McMaster,” said Grunwald, who was named director of the Department of Athletics & Recreation in August, following an extensive international search.
“Hamilton has a great vibe going right now, and seems to be in a bit of a renaissance. When I meet people in the community, not only are they very nice to me but they’re also excited about the future of Hamilton. It’s great to be here at this particular time, and it’s going to be interesting to see how the University and Hamilton grow together.”
A top national prospect during his high school days in Franklin Park, Illinois, Grunwald worked his way back from a devastating knee injury to play basketball for legendary coach Bobby Knight at Indiana University.
He won a NCAA championship with the Hoosiers in 1981 (alongside future NBA great Isiah Thomas), and holds a Bachelor of Science and MBA from Indiana University. Grunwald earned a JD from the Northwestern University School of Law before embarking on a successful, decade-long career as a corporate lawyer.
After being lured back to the sport in 1990, he briefly served as vice-president of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets before joining the Toronto Raptors in 1994 to help guide the team’s expansion efforts.
He worked as the Raptors’ general manager from 1997 to 2004, and is famous for masterminding a draft-day trade in 1998 that brought perennial NBA All-Star Vince Carter to Toronto. He later held various executive positions for the New York Knicks, including general manager, and also previously served as president & CEO of the Toronto Board of Trade.
As for making the shift from working with professional athletes to students, Grunwald says he’s excited about the challenges and opportunities alike.
“A lot of the time, student-athletes have to make great sacrifices to combine their academic and athletic endeavours,” said Grunwald. “When I was in professional sports, we were focused on making our athletes as good as they can possibly be. Here, we’re trying to make the total student-athlete experience as good as possible. That’s our focus.”
Grunwald’s talk will take place Thursday, Nov. 20 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Albion Room of the Hamilton Convention Centre.
The cost to attend is $25. To reserve a table of 10, please email Jessica Lounsbury or call 905-525-9140 ext. 24882.
