May 15, 2009
STANFORD, Calif.- Mark Sembrowich has accepted the position of men's basketball head coach at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, as announced by Athletic Director Dr. Jamie Williams.
"I'm just really grateful for the opportunity," said Sembrowich. "I'm looking forward to building a new program and the many challenges that come with it. It's exciting to be at the Academy and in the city of San Francisco."
Sembrowich, 43, previously served as the Recruiting/Academic Coordinator at Stanford during the 2008-09 campaign. Sembrowich was involved with all aspects of the program, focusing primarily on recruiting efforts and monitoring the academic progress of student-athletes. In addition to coordinating the program's national recruiting effort and serving as the primary liaison to the Office of Admission, Sembrowich was also responsible for video scouting and film exchange while also serving as the program's Assistant Camp Director.
Appointed to the men's basketball staff by first-year head coach Johnny Dawkins, Sembrowich helped lead Stanford to just its second 20-win season during the last five years while also extending the program's lengthy streaks of consecutive winning seasons (16) and postseason appearances (16).
"Mark was a big part of our success this past season," Dawkins said. "He is a hard worker who is committed to excellence. His vast experience has prepared him for this opportunity. Mark has a true passion for our game."
"Mark's experience, savvy, vision and commitment to building a successful program is medicine for our young players. He expects more from himself as a leader than I do, which is a good sign," stated Dr. Williams.
Prior to Stanford, Sembrowich completed two stints as an assistant coach at the Division I level. He served two seasons (2006-08) at Yale, guiding the Bulldogs to two straight winning seasons and a second-place Ivy League finish in 2006-07.
Sembrowich began his college coaching career at West Point, serving as an assistant coach at Army for five seasons (2000-05), where he gained experience in all areas of the program.
Before joining the Army coaching staff, Sembrowich spent 12 years as an assistant coach under long-time head coach Ziggy Kauls at Mounds View High School in St. Paul, Minn. In 1998-99, he helped guide Mounds View High School to the Minnesota state 4A championship. During his tenure, nine players advanced to Division I or II programs, including Nick Horvath, who went on to play at Duke.
Sembrowich's coaching resume also includes a stop at the University of Minnesota at Morris during the 1994-95 campaign.
A member of the NABC, Sembrowich has also participated in numerous camps and coaching clinics throughout the country, including the Duke Basketball Camp, Nike All-America Camp and Rick Majerus Camp.
A 1992 graduate of the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minn.), Sembrowich was a two-time letterwinner in football, playing defensive back.