Greg Stiemsma has been named the director of player development for the Wisconsin men's basketball staff, as announced by head coach Greg Gard.

A player at Wisconsin from 2004-08, Stiemsma went on to enjoy a professional basketball career in the NBA and internationally before transitioning to player development roles in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves and most recently the San Antonio Spurs.

"We are excited to welcome Greg Stiemsma and his family back to Wisconsin," Gard said. "Having Stiemsma in this position is another step to meet the ever-changing needs of our program and make sure that we stay at the forefront in this new age of college athletics.

"Stiemsma brings multiple years of professional experience in a variety of roles to our staff. He will be a tremendous asset to our team, having worked in-depth with some of the NBA's best players and coaches centered specifically around player development. As a former NBA player himself, he also knows firsthand what it takes as an athlete to reach the pro level and then ultimately succeed. As a player at Wisconsin, Stiemsma competed at a championship level with traits and qualities that we value in our program."

Stiemsma most recently worked with the San Antonio Spurs in player development. He started with the Spurs in 2021 as a video assistant in the film room before being promoted. Stiemsma also served on the coaching staff for the Spurs at the 2022 NBA Summer League.

From 2019-21, Stiemsma worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves in player development.

Stiemsma brings a wealth of NBA experience and knowledge to Wisconsin. Players he helped develop include Naz Reid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Doug McDermott, Georgi Dieng and Victor Wembanyama. As a player, Stiemsma learned from teammates that included Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, and more.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to Wisconsin and have an impact on this program again," Stiemsma said. "Plenty has changed since my time as a Badger, and I've gained a lot of invaluable experience and knowledge of the game over the years as both a professional player and more recently through coaching. I'm excited to get to work this season with Coach Gard, the great staff that he has assembled and this exciting team of players."

At Wisconsin from 2004-08, Stiemsma appeared in 95 games and made seven starts, winning the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles in 2008. He appeared in four-straight NCAA tournaments, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2008. Stiemsma ranks 10th in school history with 96 career blocks.

Stiemsma played four seasons in the NBA from 2011-15 with Boston, Minnesota, New Orleans and Toronto, appearing in a total of 203 games, including 42 starts. He played 19 games in the 2012 NBA Playoffs with the Celtics. Stiemsma had one of his best seasons with the Timberwolves in 2012-13, playing in 76 games (19 starts) and averaging 4.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest.

In 2011, Stiemsma earned a bronze medal with Team USA at the Pan American Games. He led the tournament in field goal percentage (.889) and finished second in blocked shots (11).

Stiemsma played professional basketball overseas in Turkey and Korea before suiting up for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D League. He was named NBA D-League Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.

A native of Randolph, Wisconsin, Stiemsma and his wife, Emily, have two daughters, Eastyn and Elize, and one son, Richie.