'This community raised me.' Groninger returning to Plainfield as Quakers' coach

Gavin Groninger is coming home.

Groninger, a state champion as a player at Plainfield in 1999 and longtime assistant for the Quakers, was approved Tuesday morning as the new boys’ basketball coach at Plainfield.

The Mooresville High School Head Coach of the Pioneers, Gavin Groninger leads his team during a game against the Indianapolis Metropolitan High School Pumas on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, in Lebanon Ind. The game was part of the Lebanon Holiday Classic Boys Basketball Tournament.

“This community raised me, and I’m ready to pour everything I’ve got into these kids, continue the success and culture that’s been built here, and take it to the next level,” Groninger said in a post announcing his hiring Tuesday. “We’ve got real work ahead, but the pieces, the talent, and the legacy are all in place.”

Groninger was an assistant for 11 seasons under Andy Weaver before moving on to coach at Mooresville the past two seasons. Groninger won a sectional title last year at Mooresville in his first season – the program’s first in 27 years. The Pioneers were 22-27 overall in his two seasons.

Groninger was a standout player on the Class 3A state championship team, earning Indiana All-Star and all-state honors in 1999. He was selected to the 2024 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary team.

After high school, Groninger played at the University of Michigan for four seasons. He joined Weaver’s staff at Plainfield in 2013. Groninger and wife Megan and parents of four children: Charlee (16), Henry (13), Indee (8) and Millee (4).

Groninger also thanked Mooresville for the opportunity to become a head coach.

“The program is in a strong spot moving forward – solid foundation, good young talent coming up, and standards that don’t disappear just because seniors graduate,” he said. “I’m proud of what we accomplished together.”

Weaver stepped down last month after 14 seasons at Plainfield after leading the Quakers to 10 consecutive winning seasons. Plainfield was 22-3 this season.