After over a decade of NAIA coaching, Madonna Head Coach Greg Haeger continues to define Crusader Baseball. His brilliant mind for the game and focus on the development of student-athletes continues to establish Madonna University as one of the most elite collegiate baseball programs in the country and one that consistently vies for conference and national titles each year.

Haeger, 41, enters his 15th year as Crusader head coach amidst a string of accomplishments that have undoubtedly been a direct reflection of his coaching style. The Livonia native earned his 400th career victory in 2010, defeating Evangel 6-2 on March 9. The 2010 Crusaders won the program's fifth Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference championship in the last six seasons and the program's ninth overall. Last season MU set the program record for wins with 48 against just 11 losses before advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the second straight season and ending the year ranked at No. 10 in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.

The 2010 squad bettered the efforts of the 2009 edition of the Crusaders that made program history, becoming the first ever Madonna University baseball team to advance to the NAIA National Tournament. The '09 squad also earned the program its highest ever national ranking, peaking at No. 8 in the coaches' poll on April 7.

Haeger has now coached three conference Players of the Year in Kevin Zerbo (2008), Ben Ramsey (2006) and Joe Greene (2005);  along with a trio of Conference Pitchers of the Year in Jeff Sonnenberg (2009), Will Kennedy (2008) and Derek Dufrane (2005); and has had three players in the last six years (Ramsey in 2006 and Dufrane in 2005 and John McCracken in 2008) earn NAIA All-America honors with first, second and honorable mention team selections, respectively.

Personally Haeger has been honored as the WHAC Coach of the Year five times (2005, '06, '08, '09, 10), NAIA Region Coach of the Year three times (2005, '06, 08) and NAIA Great Lakes Section Coach of the Year once (1998).

Haeger is the architect behind one of the nation's top pitching staffs as the Crusader arms carried the team to its seventh straight 30-win season in 2010 , its second 40-win season in the last three years and their seventh straight post season appearance. Crusader hurlers posted a WHAC leading 3.60 team earned run average - almost a full run and a half lower than their nearest competition - while ranking fifth in the nation for ERA. MU led the loop in complete games with 21 while holding opponents to a .266 batting average, also a league low.

The longest tenured coach in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference enters the 2011 season ready for the challenges that await his ball club. No longer do the Crusaders have the luxury of sneaking up on opponents as they have in recent years. After a 2005 season that saw the team start the year with a pair of wins at No. 7 ranked Spalding University and go undefeated (11-0) on the spring trip to Florida, coupled with 2006's near berth in the World Series and last season's record breaking year, the word is now out that Madonna is a force to be reckoned with nationally.

On the field, Haeger places a strong emphasis on teaching the game of baseball. Whether working as a team or through individual instruction, he has constantly worked to improve fundamentals. In addition, he preaches an aggressive style of play, as the Crusaders' stolen base numbers demonstrate. His work with the Madonna pitching staff is undeniably a major reason for the team's success since he came on board. Since taking over for Mike George on June 24, 1996, after a pair of seasons as George's pitching coach, Haeger has led the Crusaders to a 435-305-5 overall record.

After an outstanding high school career at Detroit Catholic Central, Haeger was named Michigan Amateur player of the year, and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers following his senior season. Haeger put his professional dreams on hold to accept a baseball scholarship and pursue his education at the University of Michigan. Haeger enjoyed a tremendous career at Michigan, earning All- Big Ten Conference honors in both 1998 and 1989. He led the Wolverines with eight game winning RBIs as a sophomore when he batted .292 with five home runs. He tied for third on the team with 38 RBIs as a sophomore. A career .290 hitter, Haeger spent the majority of his time as a first baseman for the Maize and Blue.

In 1990, Haeger was again drafted by the Tigers and opted to turn pro following his junior season. While with the Tigers, Haeger moved up through the farm system, earning All-Star honors in 1991 and playing on the Florida State League Champion Lakeland Tigers in 1992. Unfortunately, a knee injury ended his professional career. Following the injury, Haeger returned to Michigan to continue his education in 1994.

He later joined the Madonna staff as an assistant. His impact on the pitching staff was immediately noticeable as the team's ERA finished in the top 15 of the NAIA in two of his three seasons as pitching coach. In addition, he was part of Madonna's first sectional championship team in 1995.

In addition to his duties in the dugout, Haeger is responsible for maintenance and upkeep of Ilitch Ballpark as well as University Field and assists the Athletic Department with game management duties at MU sporting events.

Off the field, Haeger and his wife Jean reside in New Hudson with their sons Gregory III [Trey] and Evan.