Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Stetson on December 2, 2025 , Win , 67, to, 45
M Basketball
vs Stetson
W 67-45
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Bryce Wheeler
Midtgaard returns as GA on coaching staff
1/10/2024 4:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Former star center led GCU to its 1st NCAA D-I tournament berth in 2021
To return to the NCAA tournament, Grand Canyon is turning to the center of its first Division I tournament team for help in guiding these Lopes there.
Asbjørn Midtgaard, the national field goal percentage leader on GCU's 2020-21 WAC Tournament champions, is joining the coaching staff of the 14-1 Lopes as a graduate assistant on Jan. 18 after a knee injury halted his European professional playing career.
"We're really excited to have Asbjørn back in the GCU program," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He was a tremendous player here and helped lead us to our first NCAA tournament. And now we'll be able to use his knowledge to help our younger players develop and grow. I know our fans also will be excited to have him back on the GCU campus."
Midtgaard, a 7-footer from Denmark, was an integral addition to Drew's first Lopes team when he transferred to GCU in 2020.
After averaging 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds over three years at Wichita State, Midtgaard developed under Drew into an All-WAC first-team selection who averaged 14.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game while shooting a nation-leading 70.7% from the field.
"It's a way different role, a behind-the-scenes role, but my excitement is top-notch," Midtgaard said. "It's back home, my second home. Just having the opportunity is the best part. It's out of the ordinary to get a GA spot in January, so a huge shoutout to the coaches, especially (assistant) coach (Casey) Shaw who I communicated a lot with ever since I started this process.
"I'm super-excited to help out wherever I can. I'm getting thrown into the middle of a good season, so I don't want to mess anything up."
Midtgaard was invited to play on the Orlando Magic's NBA Summer League team in 2021 before he signed with ZZ Leiden in the Netherlands. There, he starred with 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game to finish third in BNXT League Most Valuable Player voting as a rookie.
Last season, Midtgaard played for Crailsheim in the esteemed German League, averaging 8.7 points and 4.2 rebounds. His return to professional play this fall was derailed by a knee injury for which he is considering options with a GCU staff that he trusts implicitly.
"I felt like becoming a coach would be the natural next step after a playing career," Midtgaard said. "It's always piqued my interest. I know it's much different, but I always enjoyed working with the kids in the summer camps to help kids improve their games and teach them how to have fun with basketball."
Midtgaard's role figures to be involved with his area of greatest expertise – big man play. GCU is starting a sophomore center, Duke Brennan, and is developing freshman center Noah Amenhauser and redshirt freshman power forward Derrick Michael Xzavierro.
The 26-year-old also will work with Lopes Chief of Staff Peyton Prudhomme on team video projects and serve alongside fellow graduate assistant Trey Miles. The coaching staff from his days as a GCU player remains intact (Drew, Shaw and assistant coaches Jamall Walker and Ed Schilling), but he also is familiar with the additions of assistant coaches Jake Lindsey and Marc Rodgers after spending offseason time at GCU.
"It's a blessing to come in with a staff that hasn't changed since I played here," said Midtgaard, who also played with current Lopes players Gabe McGlothan and Jovan Blacksher Jr.. "I'm extremely lucky to get this opportunity. Film and everything that comes with coaching is new to me, but I'm excited to learn. I'll work for it and figure it out as best as I can."
Midtgaard and his wife, Madison, moved to Phoenix and will be able to attend Thursday's and Saturday's home games before starting on Jan. 18. It will be Midtgaard's first chance to experience the Havocs and Global Credit Union environment at full capacity.
He played during the season that had COVID-19 restrictions on attendance and the schedule. GCU went 17-7, won the WAC Tournament and lost to Iowa at the NCAA tournament that was staged completely in Indiana.
"Being able to see GCU full-throttle for the first time is going to be exciting for me," Midtgaard said. "Now I get to come home and hop on the bandwagon and say I'm part of it."
Asbjørn Midtgaard, the national field goal percentage leader on GCU's 2020-21 WAC Tournament champions, is joining the coaching staff of the 14-1 Lopes as a graduate assistant on Jan. 18 after a knee injury halted his European professional playing career."We're really excited to have Asbjørn back in the GCU program," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He was a tremendous player here and helped lead us to our first NCAA tournament. And now we'll be able to use his knowledge to help our younger players develop and grow. I know our fans also will be excited to have him back on the GCU campus."
Midtgaard, a 7-footer from Denmark, was an integral addition to Drew's first Lopes team when he transferred to GCU in 2020.
After averaging 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds over three years at Wichita State, Midtgaard developed under Drew into an All-WAC first-team selection who averaged 14.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game while shooting a nation-leading 70.7% from the field.
"It's a way different role, a behind-the-scenes role, but my excitement is top-notch," Midtgaard said. "It's back home, my second home. Just having the opportunity is the best part. It's out of the ordinary to get a GA spot in January, so a huge shoutout to the coaches, especially (assistant) coach (Casey) Shaw who I communicated a lot with ever since I started this process."I'm super-excited to help out wherever I can. I'm getting thrown into the middle of a good season, so I don't want to mess anything up."
Midtgaard was invited to play on the Orlando Magic's NBA Summer League team in 2021 before he signed with ZZ Leiden in the Netherlands. There, he starred with 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game to finish third in BNXT League Most Valuable Player voting as a rookie.
Last season, Midtgaard played for Crailsheim in the esteemed German League, averaging 8.7 points and 4.2 rebounds. His return to professional play this fall was derailed by a knee injury for which he is considering options with a GCU staff that he trusts implicitly."I felt like becoming a coach would be the natural next step after a playing career," Midtgaard said. "It's always piqued my interest. I know it's much different, but I always enjoyed working with the kids in the summer camps to help kids improve their games and teach them how to have fun with basketball."
Midtgaard's role figures to be involved with his area of greatest expertise – big man play. GCU is starting a sophomore center, Duke Brennan, and is developing freshman center Noah Amenhauser and redshirt freshman power forward Derrick Michael Xzavierro.
The 26-year-old also will work with Lopes Chief of Staff Peyton Prudhomme on team video projects and serve alongside fellow graduate assistant Trey Miles. The coaching staff from his days as a GCU player remains intact (Drew, Shaw and assistant coaches Jamall Walker and Ed Schilling), but he also is familiar with the additions of assistant coaches Jake Lindsey and Marc Rodgers after spending offseason time at GCU.
"It's a blessing to come in with a staff that hasn't changed since I played here," said Midtgaard, who also played with current Lopes players Gabe McGlothan and Jovan Blacksher Jr.. "I'm extremely lucky to get this opportunity. Film and everything that comes with coaching is new to me, but I'm excited to learn. I'll work for it and figure it out as best as I can."Midtgaard and his wife, Madison, moved to Phoenix and will be able to attend Thursday's and Saturday's home games before starting on Jan. 18. It will be Midtgaard's first chance to experience the Havocs and Global Credit Union environment at full capacity.
He played during the season that had COVID-19 restrictions on attendance and the schedule. GCU went 17-7, won the WAC Tournament and lost to Iowa at the NCAA tournament that was staged completely in Indiana.
"Being able to see GCU full-throttle for the first time is going to be exciting for me," Midtgaard said. "Now I get to come home and hop on the bandwagon and say I'm part of it."
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