Independence Local Schools is appointing Matt Grendel as the new head coach of the Independence Blue Devils boys basketball team, pending Board approval at their meeting on June 5.
Grendel, an alumnus of Independence High School, returns to his alma mater after a successful coaching tenure at Riverside High School in Painesville, where he served as varsity basketball coach since 2017. He also held assistant coaching roles and coached freshman baseball during his time there.
"The Blue Devils are excited to welcome Coach Grendel back to Independence," said Brett Diehl, Athletic Director at Independence High School. "Coach Grendel had a strong playing career at Independence and has led many strong teams as a head coach. We are excited to see the next chapter in Blue Devils Basketball!"
Grendel’s coaching resume includes significant accomplishments. Under his leadership, Riverside won the Western Reserve Conference title two out of the last three years. In the 2022–2023 season, his team set a school record for wins, finishing with an impressive 21-4 record.
In addition to his coaching success, Grendel brings a strong educational background to Independence. He played four years of collegiate basketball at Lake Erie College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education. He later went on to earn a master’s degree in educational leadership from Cleveland State University. Grendel is also a licensed K–12 Intervention Specialist and has more than a decade of teaching experience, most recently at Riverside High School.
As a former Blue Devil standout, Grendel’s return is a full-circle moment for both him and the program he once helped define as a player. His deep ties to the school and community, combined with his proven success as a coach and educator, position him to lead the next exciting chapter of Independence boys basketball.