Sean Severson enters his 22nd season at Grove City College. He is in his sixth year as associate head men's basketball coach after spending 16 seasons as assistant men's basketball coach.
In 2024-25, Severson helped Grove City advance to the semifinals of the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. Senior guard Chase Yarberough concluded his career with 1,215 points, the No. 8 figure in program history. Classmate Jonah Bock set a program record by making 230 career three-point goals while junior Mike Christenson set another program mark by hitting 92.2 percent of his free throws, the No. 2 mark in the country.
Severson helped Grove City capture the 2020 Presidents' Athletic Conference title as the Wolverines went 21-9 overall. The 21 wins tied the single-season program record. Grove City advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament and toppled homestanding Wooster in the first round.
The 2019-20 Wolverines won the PAC's regular season title with a 13-3 league record. Grove City set a program record with 13 conference wins in one season. Grove City led the circuit in scoring margin, field goal percentage, field goal percentage defense and scoring defense. The Wolverines also went 6-2 on the road in conference play.
Severson also helped Grove City to conference titles in 2007 and 2010. In 2018-19, the Wolverines went 18-12 overall and finished as conference runner-up during the regular season. Grove City then advanced to the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Championship Tournament.
Severson also spent 15 seasons as head coach of Grove City's highly-successful men's and women's cross country teams. He directed the women's team to 12 conference titles and the men's program to seven league crowns. The conference honored him as its Coach of the Year on 13 occasions.
In 2010, the Grove City women's team made its first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division III Championships, placing 29th nationally. Additionally, men's standout Garrett Cichowitz advanced to the NCAA meet for the third consecutive season on an individual basis.
In 2011, the Wolverine women captured fifth place overall at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships while in 2009, Severson guided Grove City's teams to top 10 finishes at the Mideast Championships. That year, the women placed fourth and the men earned 10th place at the regional meet as Sara Fisher, Emily Pierce and Ella Smith all earned All-Mideast honors.
The women's program has recorded top 10 finishes at the Mideast Championships in 10 seasons under Severson's direction
Three runners have achieved NCAA Division III All-America status during Severson's tenure at Grove City. In 2004, Elisa Pedersen became Grove City's first women's cross country runner to become an All-American. She again accomplished that feat as a senior in 2005.
In 2007, Kristen Carter became Grove City's second women's cross country All-American. In 2014, Emily Rabenold captured Division III All-America honors, becoming the program's third All-American.Â
A native of Menomonee Falls, Wis., Severson earned a bachelor of arts degree in athletic training from the University of Minnesota-Morris in May 2002. At Minnesota-Morris, Severson captained the basketball team and earned Academic All-Conference recognition from the Northern Sun Conference three times. He also earned Dean's List honors.
Severson earned his master's degree in health and physical education in 2004 from Adams State. He is a Certified Athletic Trainer and also owns Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist distinction from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
He lives in Pine Township with his wife, Tara, and their six children.
