STANFORD, Calif. – Former two-time Academic All-American and All-Pac-10 shooting guard Dan Grunfeld will return to The Farm as Stanford men’s basketball’s General Manager, as announced by Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball Kyle Smith. Grunfeld will also add responsibilities as assistant coach.
“Dan is the perfect fit to replace Eric Reveno as our General Manager. We were so blessed to have the two years with Eric to get momentous energy infused into the program, and passing the baton to Dan seems like the logical transition for the next generation,” said Smith. “Dan has been successful in all his endeavors in life, and he has intense passion and love for Stanford. We are grateful that he has left the business world to help guide his beloved alma mater. He is the perfect bridge to the past that can lead us to where Stanford belongs.”
A former team captain for the Cardinal, Grunfeld was a first team All-Pac-10 honoree in 2005 after leading the program in scoring with 17.9 points per game. Grunfeld scored 979 career points for the Cardinal, playing two seasons for Mike Montgomery and two for Trent Johnson, and he is one of four student-athletes in program history to be named a CSC Academic All-American twice, coming in 2005 and 2006. Additionally, he was a three-time selection to the Pac-10 All-Academic team.
As a player, Grunfeld helped lead Stanford to three NCAA Tournaments and one NIT, the 2004 Pac-10 Championship as well as a No. 1 overall seed in the 2004 NCAA Tournament and four weeks as the AP and USA Today/ESPN top-ranked team in the nation.
“Dan was part of a special era of Stanford basketball, on a team that was the embodiment of the true Stanford student-athlete. Those teams understood how to win on the margins with intelligence, guile and toughness” continued Smith. “Dan was a big part of that culture and has maintained that aura as he has moved through adulthood, where he has been tremendously successful.”
Following a standout career at Stanford, Grunfeld spent two summer leagues with the Indiana Pacers and one NBA training camp with the New York Knicks. He spent eight professional seasons overseas, playing in Germany, Spain and Israel, winning a league championship with CB Valladolid in Spain in 2009 and playing in the Eurocup in two seasons with Hapoel Jerusalem from 2011-13.
Grunfeld earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford in 2017, and he spent four years operating at a high-growth startup in Silicon Valley, STRIVR, in enterprise sales and strategic development. In 2019, Grunfeld moved to Lightspeed Venture Partners, and he has spent the last five years as the Vice President of business development and partnerships. His role at Lightspeed was to accelerate startup growth and manage relationships with some of the most influential technology companies in the world.
“I have known Dan for more than two decades through the game of basketball. He grew up around the game, and he understands the management side of the sport like very few his age. He grew up in NBA locker rooms and understands the financial aspects of management through his own professional experiences,” finished Smith.
In addition to his successful career on the court and in the business world, Grunfeld authored the critically-acclaimed ‘By the Grace of the Game,’ a multi-generational story detailing his family history from the Holocaust to the NBA.
Grunfeld is the son of former NBA guard Ernie Grunfeld, a 1977 first round pick who spent nine seasons as a player in the NBA. Dan Grunfeld follows in the footsteps of his father, who was the general manager or president of basketball operations of the New York Knicks from 1993-99, the Milwaukee Bucks from 1999-2003, and the Washington Wizards from 2003-2019.
QUOTABLES
“What a great hire! Dan was a great member of one of the strongest basketball teams in program history, and he was an integral part of our success. He will be great for Kyle and Stanford basketball because he truly understands the game, what it takes to win and how to be a good teammate. He just loves Stanford and it’s great for him to be a part of the program again. It’s invaluable to have a former player like Dan in this role, and I’m so excited for his opportunity.” - Mike Montgomery, Hall of Fame head coach at Stanford
“Dan has always embodied the combination of curiosity, competitiveness, and genuine care for people that makes Stanford special. As teammates, I saw firsthand how he brought people together, led with humility, and kept everyone focused on something bigger than themselves. Dan has a deep appreciation for Stanford basketball’s history and standards, while bringing the fresh perspective and real-world experience of someone who has succeeded well beyond the game. Dan is a natural bridge between the program’s past, present, and future, and I’m genuinely excited to see the impact he’ll have on this next chapter of Stanford basketball!” - Josh Childress, former Stanford All-American and NBA player, CEO and Founder at the Landspire Group
"Having played on the same basketball team as Dan at Stanford and in Spain, I’ve seen how thoughtfully he evaluates players and understands what each person brings to a team. Just as importantly, he knows how to communicate his perspective and earn the trust of the people around him. Those qualities will serve him well as General Manager, and I’m excited for him and the Stanford athletic community." - Chris Hernandez, former all-conference Stanford guard
“Dan was born into big-time basketball and excelled at the game at Stanford and beyond. I’m excited to see him bring his passion for the game, global perspective, and strong basketball and business acumen to the program.” - Amy Brooks, Stanford trustee and NBA President, Global Business Development.
“Stanford has made a great decision to hire Dan Grunfeld. He is a homegrown Cardinal who has incredible basketball savvy, professional experience and high character. He will be an outstanding addition to Coach Smith’s program. He understands the magic of Stanford University.” - Fran Fraschilla, ESPN College Basketball Analyst and former NCAA Head Coach
“Dan is one of the finest human beings God has put on this earth. He represents the name on the front of his jersey whether it be Nicolas High School, Team USA competing in the 2009 Maccabi Games, winning the gold medal, or Stanford University, and of course his family name, Grunfeld. He knows how to build a championship team because he is a champion himself.” - Bruce Pearl, CBS College Basketball Analyst and former NCAA Head Coach