Varsity Staff

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Head Coach, Dan Griesbaum (1984-Present)

Coach Griesbaum enters the 2024 season only 2 wins from number 900!  He is currently Number 1 among active coaches and Number 4 overall in “Career Wins”.  He also ranks first all-time for appearances in the Division One Final Four, with 8.  In addition to his 2 D1 State Championships as a Head Coach at South (2001 and 2018), Coach Griesbaum was the Assistant Coach on Grosse Pointe North’s State Championship team in 1980.  A graduate of Central Michigan University, Coach Griesbaum was the Chippewa MVP in 1975.  In recognition of his accomplishments as both a player and coach, Griesbaum has been inducted to the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA) Hall of Fame, the National Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame, and the City of St. Clair Shores Athletic Hall of Fame.

Assistant Coach, Matt Reno (1986-1990, 2009-Present)

Coach Reno played for the Blue Devils as an “All-EML” infielder and team captain, graduating in 1979.  He went on to play his college ball at Grand Valley State University, starting for all four seasons and being named to the “All-GLIAC” team as a senior.  After his playing days, Reno assisted the Detroit Tigers organization as a batting practice pitcher and joined South’s staff in 1986.  He enjoyed the program’s first run to the Final Four in 1987, as well as 3 additional Final Four appearances, a State Runner-Up, and a State Title during his second tenure with South.  A hiatus from the high school ranks allowed Reno to coach his sons in the Grosse Pointe Park Little League, CYO and Grosse Pointe Redbirds organizations.  He returned to South in 2009 and has been on the varsity staff through the present.  Reno was named “Assistant Coach of the Year” by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association in 2021.  Coach Reno works primarily with the South infielders and the overall team defense.

Assistant Coach, John Hackett (1988-1992, 1999-Present)

Coach ”Hack” has been the South Pitching Coach for the majority of Coach Griesbaum’s tenure at GPS.  As a player, he was a member of the 1980 State Championship team at Grosse Pointe North (LHP, OF).  After his time at GPN, Hackett was named a Junior College All-American and was drafted to professional baseball, pitching with both the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations.  As a Coach, Hackett has been a part of both D1 State Championship teams at South, as well as a State Runner-Up and 6 Final Four appearances.  For his efforts, Coach Hackett has been named an “Assistant Coach of the Year” by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Assistant Coach, Dan Griesbaum Jr. (2003-Present)

Coach “Junior” has been a fixture in the South program since his days as the Bat Boy in the late 80’s.  A South gradate in 1999, Griesbaum Jr holds several South records as a player and was named to the All-State Dream team in his senior year.  Like his father, Dan Jr. was a member of the Central Michigan University baseball team.  He was named the Chippewas captain for his senior season in 2004, which culminated in a MAC Championship.  Griesbaum Jr. works primarily with the South hitters and catchers and has been named “Assistant Coach of the Year” by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association. During his tenure as an assistant coach, South has appeared in the D1 Final Four on 5 occasions, as State Runner-Up in 2014, and as State Champions in 2018.   In addition to his work as a coach, Griesbaum Jr has spent 19 years in professional baseball as an executive with both the Detroit Tigers and the USPBL.

Assistant Coach Loch (2024-present)

Coach Loch's introduction and involvement in the South baseball program started when he was a young kid attending the “Dan Griesbaum Baseball School'' camps. Coach Loch attended U of D Jesuit where he was a two year starter on the varsity. His senior year he was named team captain as well as earning “All-League '' and “All-District '' first team honors as a center fielder. After his time at U of D he went on to play four years at Albion College as a pitcher. Loch was a starting pitcher for the Britons in three of his four years there as well as being named team captain his Junior and Senior seasons. To go along with his leadership on the team Coach Loch was named to the All-MIAA academic team four years in a row. Loch was hired this past semester by GP South High School as a new history teacher in the building. This is Coach Loch’s first year on the Varsity coaching staff and will be working with the outfielders as well as assisting Coach Hackett with the pitching staff.