Prior to his time at UW-Superior, Kaminsky spent seven seasons as the Head Coach of Mid State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids. While there, he guided the Cougars to a 153 70 record, and three consecutive Wisconsin Junior College State Championships. From the 1990 91 season to the 1993 94 season, MSTC had a record of 109-31 and three WTCC Conference Championships. Kaminsky's emphasis on defense and team play established Mid State as a contender on the state and national levels of junior college basketball.

Before taking over the MSTC program, Kaminsky was a graduate assistant at Division I Kent State University. At Kent, Kaminsky earned a master's degree in Sports Psychology and helped the Golden Flashes to a 19-10 record and a second place finish in the Mid American Conference during the 1986 87 season.

As a player, Kaminsky was named to the Junior College All-American Honorable Mention Team in 1982-83, when he led the College of DuPage (IL) to a 28-4 record. After graduating from DuPage, Kaminsky went on to play at Grand Valley State University (MI). In his senior year, he was voted scholar athlete of the year and best defensive player, leading his team to a 21-7 record and a 'Sweet Sixteen' appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament.

Kaminsky graduated with a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Grand Valley State and was named the GLIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. As a graduate assistant at Division I Kent State, he received his master's degree in Sport Psychology.