Blue Star Productions

Chris Menning

Chris Mennig accepted the position of National Evaluator & Event Coordinator for Blue Star Basketball / USJN in 2005; the Nike sponsored organization that ranks and evaluates the girls basketball world after 11 years as a women's college basketball assistant coach & recruiter. In just a short period of time Mennig has already been named to the McDonald's All-American Committee, as well as having been quoted in such publications as USA Today about the recruiting scene in women's basketball. Mennig is also the girls basketball coach at The High School of St. Thomas More as of June 2005, where he has already lead them to three conference titles, a state ranking as high as #5 for class 2A & two state Regional Championships. www.stmsabers.com

Here are some of the highlights of his college career:

Mennig stepped down from his position at the University of Illinois, under former Olympic head coach, and Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz after two seasons in June of 2005. In his first season with the Orange and Blue, he helped bring in a Top-25 recruiting class of according to Blue Star Basketball. During his second season as co-recruiting coordinator the Illini signed a six member class that ranked as the #19 class in the country for 2005 according to Blue Star Basketball. Before his departure Mennig finished 2nd for the head coaching position at St. Louis University. During his stretch at Illinois he had the opportunity to work with six different players that went on to play professional basketball either here in the WNBA or overseas.

Prior to his time with Illinois, Mennig had carried a proven track record in recruiting at various levels of women's basketball. In two years as an assistant at Illinois State University, Mennig helped spearhead the recruiting efforts as well as serve as an assistant coach. He played a major role in landing 2002 Missouri Valley All-Conference and All-Rookie Team selection Katie Donovan from Canada as well as help sign two of the nation's Top-20 junior college position players and a Top-50 high school shooting guard. The well-rounded classes also included the two tallest players in ISU history - Zora Skrabalova and Katie Ward. Those players went on to help the Redbirds have the 11th ranked turnaround in the nation and more than double their win total.

A graduate of Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I., Mennig started coaching even before he graduated from college, serving as a three-sport head coach at Lincoln Junior/Senior High as a 19-year old. Mennig joined the NCAA Division II Bryant College staff in 1994, serving as an assistant coach. The Bulldogs won the ECAC, reached the Top 25 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in those years. During his final year at Bryant, Mennig helped recruit the 1998 ECAC Division II Freshman of the Year.

Mennig had two more stops prior to arriving in the Midwest, serving as assistant coach at both Brown University (1997-98) and St. Bonaventure University (1998-2001). While at St. Bonaventure, Mennig helped sign some impressive classes, which included the top junior college scorer in the country (Eva Kadlavova) and the 2002 Atlantic Ten Rookie of the Year (Stefanie Collins). With those recruits, the Bonnies nearly doubled their win total and had one of the Top 30 turnarounds nationally.

The native of Munnsville, N.Y., Mennig is one of the more respected camp directors across the country. In 2003 Mennig was one of only five assistant coaches in the country to present on the topic of recruiting at WBCA Convention. Then in the spring of 2004 he presented on the topic of Rebounding System at the WBCA Convention. Besides numerous camps & clinics he has also lectured at The Recruiters Institute seminars as well. In 2003 Mennig also started his own side business/hobby for colleges to organize their recruiting - www.easyeverydayrecruiting.com