Greg Lonning was head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse from 1992-98, compiling a dual record of 77-19. He led the Eagles to their first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title in school history in 1993 while also capturing the crown in 1998. UWL finished second four times (1994-97) at the conference championships under Lonning. He led the Eagles to top-12 finishes in all six of his seasons as head coach, including a third-place finish 1998 and fourth-place showing in 1996. UWL finished sixth in 1993 and 1994; eighth in 1997 and 12th in 1996. 

Named the 1993-94 WIAC Coach of the Year, Lonning coached 19 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III All-Americas at UWL, including three national champions. He coached 19 conference champions. Lonning was an assistant coach for three years at UWL before being named head coach. Prior to coming to UWL, Lonning coached at Central College (Iowa) for five years, serving as an assistant coach for two years before becoming head coach in 1986-87. He led Central (Iowa) to 23-10 dual record and coached 10 All-Americas including the school's first national champion. Lonning was selected the 1988-89 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Coach of the Year.

Lonning was a three-year letter winner at Luther College (Iowa) from 1980-83, earning two NCAA III All-America honors at 118-pounds. He captured the national title in 1983. Lonning won two IIAC titles and was named the Most Valuable Wrestler at the 1982 All-Lutheran Tournament. Inducted into the Luther (Iowa) Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994, Lonning earned his bachelor's degree in 1984. He earned his master's degree from UWL in 1991.

He was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Hall of Fame in 2017.