Hello my name is Gary Greeno.
I’m a speaker, a coach, an educator, a father and a husband.
I’ve always known that I wanted to do something to make a difference. I’ve had many mentors in my life that have made a profound impact on me and have helped me become the person I am today. As I look back on my life I understand that a person’s impact on someone else can be life changing, and as a coach and educator for 28 years, I’ve done my best to make a positive change in the lives of others.
My experiences as an athletic coach have taught me some great lessons in leadership, teamwork, goal-setting, and peak performance.
Over the last 10 years years I have expanded my influence by becoming a speaker and personal coach teaching the many lessons I’ve learned to organizations and individuals wanting to achieve more. I love to encourage and inspire others to be the absolute best they can possibly be!
Speaking, coaching, and teaching keep me busy, but I always make time for my #1 team, my family! I’m married to my best friend Dena and have 5 amazing, beautiful kids!
My Story
I grew up playing sports, and quickly fell in love with basketball as my main sport. I was told by my 8th grade coach I wouldn’t make the high school team, and sure enough I was cut my freshman year.
I didn’t give up though and came back to make the team my sophomore year. (Later my coach told me I was the last kid to make the team and that he only kept me because I was a good kid and worked hard.) I kept working, grew a little, made the team the next year and eventually ended up getting a scholarship to play college basketball.
I knew I wanted to continue being around the game, so I became a coach and math teacher. Ironically, I was never very good at math and struggled through high school and college. Looking back I understand the only way I was able to make it was through hard work, perseverance and getting up each time I fell.
I’ll never forget the day my professor passed back my first math test in college calculus. It was a 33%! I said to myself, “How am I ever going to become a math teacher?” I realized I had to work about 10 times harder than everyone else. If the average student took an hour to study, I would need to study about 10 hours! It was tough, but through a lot of blood, sweat and tears I did it. I got my credential to teach math. Working so hard for something made the reward that much sweeter!
Another day I will never forget is my freshman year of college when I had to give a presentation in front of my class. They say that people fear public speaking more than they fear death….well, that was me!
I stood in front of my class (a small class of only about 20 students) and with my knees shaking, and my voice quaking, I could hardly get out the words to my speech. I was so nervous and afraid that my 5 minute talk turned into about 60 seconds of stuttering and stammering, and I finally just sat down in complete embarrassment.
I said to myself, “How am I ever going to become a teacher and talk in front of a class?” I was devastated and had zero confidence. But somehow I was able to get over my fear, I kept working to improve and not only become a teacher of 25 years, but also a public speaker, giving keynote motivational talks and workshops.
I have always been an optimist, believing that things will always work out. My parents raised me to believe that if something good is going to happen in my life, I have to go out there and make it happen.
Through getting cut from the team, nearly failing out of college math, being a complete flop as a speaker, a failed first marriage, and many other adverse circumstances, I have continued to persevere, never giving up and believing that the best days are ahead!
Today, I continue to teach and coach as well as make an impact speaking.
Want to get in touch?
I’d love to connect with you! You can contact me vial email at gary@garygreeno.com , facebook, instagram, twitter, and now I’m on snapchat. My username for all my social media is coachgreeno.