University of Wisconsin, Superior Men's Basketball

Greg Polkowski is in his 10th season as the head coach of the Yellowjacket men's basketball program in 2026-27. Polkowski and the Yellowjackets ended the 2024-25 season with an overall record of 12-13, featuring a 9-5 mark in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action. Superior was led by the senior quartet of Reid Johnson, J'Vaun Walker, Andrew Kunelius and Joey Barker, pacing the team in most statistical categories. Johnson and Walker would receive postseason awards from the league at the conclusion of the campaign. The 2023-24 campaign saw Polkowski lead his 'Jackets to an overall record of 18-9 while going 9-5 in UMAC play. The Yellowjackets entered the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed and advanced to the championship game for the second time in program history. Led by seniors J'Vaun Walker and Josef Fahrenholtz, the duo earned All-UMAC First Team and All-UMAC Second Team citations, respectively. Walker and Fahrenholtz spearheaded the offensive output, as both players eclipsed the 1,000-point mark mid-season. Under Polkowski, Fahrenholtz ended his career with a 93.0 free throw percentage, ranking fourth across NCAA Division III. Furthermore, UWS also led the conference in free throw percentage (77.4 percent), scoring defense (66.3 points) and turnover margin (48).  In 2022-23, Polkowski led his squad to its first-ever UMAC championship game as the No. 2 seed. UWS finished 17-10 overall, which is the second-best record in school history behind the 1978-79 team (21-7). The Yellowjackets traveled to Florida over winter break for the Basketball Destinations D3 Naples Shootout, where they would defeat No. 8 John Carroll 87-76 and Clarkson 55-46. The Florida trip sparked a seven-game winning streak as the team entered conference play, the longest winning streak with Polkowski at the helm. In the championship game, the Yellowjackets fell to Bethany Lutheran 93-75. Fahrenholtz was named to the All-UMAC First Team and J'Vaun Walker to the All-UMAC Second Team.  Polkowski's Yellowjackets finished the 2021-22 campaign with an overall record of 10-16 and 6-8 in UMAC play. UW-Superior would lose a heartbreaker in the UMAC quarterfinals to Bethany Lutheran by a score of 78-80. Xavier Patterson, Eli Vogel, and Mason Ackley would earn All-UMAC plaudits.  During the condensed 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yellowjackets finished with an overall record of 3-4. Ackley, Vogel, and Walker would earn All-UMAC honors for their efforts. Polkowski led the Yellowjackets to a 16-10 overall mark in 2019-20, going 13-3 in the UMAC. UWS earned the No. 3-seed, falling to Bethany Lutheran in the conference semifinals. Milenkovic reached 1,000 career points against Martin Luther on Feb. 15 and the 'Jackets strung together a six-game winning streak in the middle of conference play from Jan. 25 versus Crown to Feb. 15. It represented the second-longest winning streak in the Polkowski era. Vid Milenkovic earned first team honors as a senior in 2019-20 and freshman Mason Ackley was honorable mention and on the all-defensive team. The 2018-19 season saw Montroy Scott reach the 1,000-point plateau on Jan. 2 against Crown. UWS also won a season-best three consecutive games against North Central, Finlandia and Minnesota Morris from Jan. 12-19. The 'Jackets finished the season 6-19 overall and 4-12 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. Montroy Scott and Mac Reykdal were second team and honorable mention picks in the conference.  Polkowski's first season featured non-conference victories over Marian at the UW-Stout Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 18 (his first career win) and against Luther Nov. 25. Superior also swept the season series from Martin Luther and won games against Northwestern and North Central, both at home. Shaq Coleman and Vid Milenkovic were named to the All-UMAC first team and honorable mention, respectively.  Polkowski took over the program following two seasons as the assistant coach at UW-Eau Claire (2015-17), where he worked under former Yellowjacket head coach Matt Siverling. During his time at UW-Eau Claire, Polkowski helped the Blugolds become one of the top teams in the nation, earning a national top-10 ranking during 2016-17. Before his time at UW-Eau Claire, Polkowski was the head boy's basketball coach and a physical education instructor at Waukesha High School. There Polkowski increased his win totals each season and helped the Northstars win a region championship in 2015. Polkowski's coaching career began at UW-Superior when he joined the staff of Dave Buchanan in 2008-09. Following that season, Polkowski moved with Buchanan to Carroll University, where he spent two seasons and helped the Pioneers to a 28-20 record and an appearance in the Midwest Conference championship game. An alumnus of UW-Superior, Polkowski spent four seasons with the Yellowjackets as a player, appearing in 58 games from 2004-08. A native of Goodman, Wis., Polkowski graduated from UW-Superior with a Bachelor of Science Degree in physical education. He followed that with a Master’s degree in education from Carroll in 2011. His family includes his wife Stephanie (Janigo), a 2006 UW-Superior graduate and former standout on the Yellowjacket women’s basketball team, and their two sons, William and Nolan.   Polkowski at UW-Superior Year W L Pct. 2017-18 7 18 .280 2018-19 6 19 .240 2019-20 16 10 .615 2020-21 3 4 .429 2021-22 10 16 .429 2022-23 17 10 .630 2023-24 18 9 .667 2024-25 12 13 .480 2025-26 6 19 .240 Total 95 118 .446

Joe Kramer enters his fifth season as an assistant men's basketball coach under head coach Greg Polkowski in 2025-26. His primary focuses are player development, recruiting, scouting, and film. Kramer's coaching career began in the 2020-21 season and remained on the Yellowjacket staff for three seasons before accepting the Director of Scouting position at NCAA Division I South Dakota. For the Coyotes, he oversaw personnel scouting, film exchange, player development and general operations before returning to his alma mater at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. A native of Elk River, Minn., Kramer began his collegiate playing career at NAIA William Penn prior to transferring to UW-Superior. He was named team captain as a senior and ended his Yellowjacket career with 56 games played.  Along with UW-Superior and South Dakota, Kramer also coached five seasons of Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, mentoring both Minnesota Select and Starks Elite. Kramer, who resides in Superior, graduated from UW-Superior in 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in business administration.   

Jordan Schneidermann enters his eighth season as an assistant coach for the Yellowjacket men's basketball team in 2025-26. Under head coach Greg Polkowski, he is involved in all facets of the program.  In addition to his coaching duties, Schneidermann works in the Office of Admissions serving as the primary admissions counselor for all out-of-state students and greater Minnesota, a position he's held for the last five years.  A native of Brooklyn Park, Minn., Schneidermann attended Valley City State University and played two years for the Vikings before transferring to UW-Superior. A well-respected coach in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) realm, Schneidermann's resume also includes coaching for both the Minnesota Heat and Wisconsin Playmakers North programs.  Schneidermann graduated from UW-Superior with a Bachelor of Science degree in business marketing. He and his wife Mara reside in Oliver with their son Beckett and daughter Della Mae.   

Canon O'Heron is in his first season as an assistant men's basketball coach under Greg Polkowski in 2025-26. He assists the program in all of its facets. Alongside his coaching role, O'Heron also works in the Office of Admissions at UW-Superior, serving as the primary admissions counselor for the western portion of Wisconsin. O'Heron comes from his alma mater of UW-Stevens Point, working as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team from 2019-23. A four-year player for the Pointers, he appeared in 89 games and received postseason honors from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in his final two seasons, being slated to the All-WIAC First Team as a junior before garnering an honorable mention nod as a senior. As a junior, O'Heron was a key contributor to the Pointers' WIAC Tournament title and their run in the NCAA Tournament. During the second round game with Bethany Lutheran, he dropped a career-high 30 points and helped lead his squad to the Sweet Sixteen. UWSP finished 21-9 that season. O'Heron graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management. He resides in Superior.