As a young man I had a successful playing career at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, having served as point guard and team captain, followed by a free agency contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the road to success was not easy. Coming out of Fond du Lac high school, being a 5 10” point guard, in a game without a 3 point shot, didn’t exactly put me high on the recruiting list. As a result, I was dramatically undervalued, and under recruited. To my credit, I persevered by going to a small college where I was the starting point guard for two years, after which I transferred to UW-Green Bay and progressed from a lowly walk-on, to a scholarship athlete, to team captain, to the Hall of Fame. Consequently, as much as anybody, I understand the pain of being undervalued, and under recruited as a high school basketball player. I still vividly remember sitting at the kitchen table crying because I was so under recruited. To a large extent that is why I’ve spent my life coaching high school basketball and helping kids achieve their dreams.
I have been a head high school basketball coach for 33 years. My first job was at Green Bay West high school where we went 0-20.
From there I went on to become one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Wisconsin state history.
During that time I have won 5 large school state championships, the most in Wisconsin state history, taken three different teams to state, been named Associated Press Coach of the Year an unprecedented three times, and have coached numerous college basketball players. Five have gone on to play in the NBA, the most recent being Golden States Kevon Looney. Many of my teams have been ranked in the top 20 in the final national rankings.
Recently (May 2018) I stepped down from coaching high school basketball. Certainly, my years with Nike, USA Basketball, as well as coaching the Shanghai Ducks professional team, have provided tremendous growth as a coach and talent evaluator. I have decided to partner with Matt Ivers, a person with tremendous integrity, knowledge, and passion. Unlike most scouting and promotional services, we are not motivated by money, but by professional integrity. More than anything else we want to provide accurate evaluations to coaches, and help high school players find the right college.
Head Coach Tom Diener – April 9, 2005 | USA Junior National 106 | World Select 98
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 2018
“Eighteen standout players coached by departing Cedarburg boys basketball coach Tom Diener”
Sports Illustrated 2005
“MEET THE DIENERS OF FOND DU LAC, THE FIRST FAMILY OF HEARTLAND HOOPS–THREE GENERATIONS THAT HAVE SHOT AND SMILED THROUGH STARDOM AND SORROW”
https://www.si.com/vault/2005/02/14/8251881/wisconsin-pride
- Fond du lac High School Hall of Fame
- UW-Green Bay Hall of Fame
- Milwaukee Vincent Hall of Fame
- Milwaukee Hamilton Hall of Fame
- Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame