Dan Grunfeld was big part of three Stanford teams that reached the NCAA Tournament in the early 2000s, and now the former Cardinal team captain is returning to help the current group return to the Big Dance.
Grunfeld, a first team All-Pac-10 honoree in 2005, has been named Stanford’s men’s basketball’s General Manager, the school announced on Friday. Grunfeld, who also will serve as an assistant coach, succeeds Eric Reveno, who was named the Brown University head coach in July.
“Dan is the perfect fit to replace Eric Reveno as our general manager,” Cardinal head coach Kyle Smith said in a school release. “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.
“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.”
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 19: Dan Grunfeld #20 of Stanford gets out of the way from the defense of Errick Craven #22 of USC during the game at the Sports Arena, on February 19, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Grunfeld, 42, has an MBA from Stanford and has been working in the tech industry after his basketball career. He was a vice president at Lightspeed Venture Partners in the Silicon Valley.
Grunfeld played for the Cardinal 2002-2006, averaging 8.4 points and 3.0 rebounds over his four-year career. He averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists as a junior, when he was named to the All-Pac-10 team.
Stanford went 20-13 last season, including a 9-9 record and a ninth-place finish in its second season in the Atlantic Coast Conference after going 21-14 during Smith’s first season in 2024-25. Stanford has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2014.
Grunfeld played two seasons for Mike Montgomery and two for Trent Johnson. The Cardinal reached the NCAAs three straight years from 2003-05, and the NIT in 2006 when he was a senior. He was part of the 2004 Pac-10 championship team that was a No. 1 seed along with Kentucky, Duke and Saint Joseph’s for the NCAA Tournament.
“Dan was part of a special era of Stanford basketball, on a team that was the embodiment of the true Stanford student-athlete,” Smith said. “Those teams understood how to win on the margins with intelligence, guile and toughness. 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.”
Grunfeld spent two summer leagues with the Indiana Pacers and one NBA training camp with the New York Knicks after leaving Stanford. 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 is the son of former NBA guard Ernie Grunfeld, a 1977 first round pick who spent nine seasons as a player in the NBA and then 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.
“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,” Montgomery said in the release. “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.”