Updated 7:29 p.m. April 8, 2025
In breaking news this afternoon Minnesota high school girl’s basketball coaching legend Brian Cosgriff told Sports Headliners he is leaving the profession.
Cosgriff plans to meet with his Minnetonka team tomorrow morning to inform them of his decision to retire. He coached the Skippers to the State Class 4A championship last season and Minnetonka is expected to have a standout team in 2025-2026.
Cosgriff leaves coaching having won over 600 games (631-93 record) and eight girls state titles. The first seven came at Hopkins. He won the league title 19 of 20 seasons at Hopkins.
Last season Cosgriff’s energy was challenged by an 80-plus hours work week split between coaching the Skippers and his physical education assignment at DeLaSalle High School. Looking ahead, Cosgriff knew he faced a difficult situation with his energy and passion to coach.
“There were times this year I was just really tired. It just kind of hit me this year.”
Cosgriff, a beloved coach by so many players and others, turned 64 last month. He said his health is fine, but he wants to be proactive and protective of it.
“The key to this life is you gotta be healthy and happy.”
Cosgriff has been thinking about his decision to step away from the stress of coaching for a while. “I am at peace with it. I really am.”
The input of coaching friends helped with his decision. They told him, “You just know when it’s time to get out.”
“I am very sad about it from the standpoint of I won’t be working with my brother (Barry), who I have had hand-in-hand with me for 24 years,” Cosgriff said. “He’s the best in the business. I am hoping whoever gets the new job wants to keep him on because he’s very much a part of the Minnetonka community. …”
Cosgriff will continue at DeLaSalle but has no plans to coach anywhere else in the future, happy to leave the demands of the profession behind. He plans to work on the football chain crews at DeLaSalle and the University of Minnesota and has other part-time ideas in mind to remain involved with sports and the community.
“I don’t ever envision coaching again,” he said.
A Golden Valley native, Cosgriff lives two blocks from the house he grew up in. “I went away to college (Macalester), though. I went to St. Paul,” he teased.
Great coach and a great guy.
A true legend.