Following Mike Tomlin’s shocking unveiling of his Minecraft world, which he’s carefully created over the last 12 years, we wanted to know who fans thought is the most likely mid-major college basketball coach to pull a similar stunt.
In our weekly Mid-Major Reacts poll, the presumed most likely suspects, Grant Leonard and Matt Majkrzak, finished second and third, respectively, but it was Oakland’s Greg Kampe who claimed the top spot. The sport’s longest-tenured head coach grabbed 41% of the votes,
to Leonard’s 30% and Majkrzak’s 29%.
Entering his 43rd season as the ringer of the Golden Grizzlies, Kampe hasn’t gone through numerous moves as many in his profession have, so he’s had adequate time to develop some unique hobbies. Could Minecraft be one of them? Our fans seem to think so.
With the season fast approaching, Kampe has less time to create his hypothetical Minecraft world, but it got me thinking, what would we see if the legendary head coach pulled a Tomlin and revealed a world he’s spent years building?
Here are a few things I think would certainly be included, or need to be added for the upcoming season.
Airport
If Kampe had a world without an airport, something would feel wrong. His squad kicks off the 2026-27 campaign visiting the reigning national champion Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, kicking off a non-conference schedule which features just one home game and eight against high-major opponents.
Kampe had some fun belittling himself at Horizon League media days for putting together such a gauntlet, but he later described that it will net his program seven figures, helping him assemble rosters built to compete for Horizon League titles.
While he has never been a stranger to tough scheduling out of the gates, he took it to another level this season, and with just one home game, it’d only be fitting that he puts an aircraft in his world.
Golf Course
Noting his love for “competition against yourself,” it’s well documented that Kampe likes to hit the links. When doing so for competitive and tournament play, he superstitiously puts a smiley and a frowny face on either side of his ball, helping him stay emotionally grounded.
If he’s committed enough to his swing to have golf superstitions, there’s no way he’d create a Minecraft world without at least nine holes.
Listen to the “Anything But Mid” College Basketball Podcast on Apple
Listen to the “Anything But Mid” College Basketball Podcast on Spotify
Bowling Alley and Cigar Bar
After returning home from the NCAA Tournament in 2024, Kampe celebrated the Golden Grizzlies’ historic upset of Kentucky by going bowling and visiting a cigar bar back in Michigan. That feels totally on brand for Kampe, and it’s 100% something that would be a part of his Minecraft world if he’s created one in hiding.
Rightfully so, Kampe was swarmed by attention after his squad advanced in March Madness back in 2024, and unsurprisingly, he wasn’t enamored by that attention reaching his favorite local hangouts. Recreating them in a Minecraft world ensures his ability to visit, without the risk of people finding him.
The O’rena
You don’t stay at a school for 43 years if you don’t love it, so no Kampe Minecraft world would be complete without the OU Credit Union O’rena.
If anyone ever gets access to Kampe’s world if it exists, I promise if you walk inside the virtual O’rena, you’ll find his avatar teaching the zone defense to villagers.
For all your college sports betting needs, visit FanDuel.
