The Green Bay Phoenix sent the basketball world into shock when they announced Doug Gottlieb as their new men’s basketball coach Tuesday.
It’s not that Gottlieb is a bad guy. It’s not that he can’t lead the squad. The problem fans seem to have is that he has, as the New York Post reports, “zero coaching experience at the collegiate level.”
But Green Bay’s new coach knows his sports, for sure.
Gottlieb is a well-known sports broadcaster, having served in roles as a studio and in-game commentator for college basketball with ESPN, CBS Sports, and Fox Sports.
He also hosts his own radio show, The Doug Gottlieb Show, on Fox Sports Radio.
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Doug Gottlieb Named Green Bay Men’s Basketball Coach
Gottlieb takes over a team that finished with an overall record of 18-14. Their 13-7 conference record was good enough for third place in the Horizon Conference.
He’s been given a solid base by former coach Sundance Wicks, who just earned himself a five-year deal to coach Wyoming.
Gottlieb celebrated his move to the Green Bay sideline in a press release.
“Every kid has a dream growing up, some want to be firefighter, others want to be president, I have always wanted to be a head basketball coach at the Division I level,” he said.
It truly does feel like a dream. A broadcaster named as head coach with zero experience is a rare and unexpected move.
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Other Coaches Who Had No Experience
Believe it or not, Doug Gottlieb isn’t the first coach to be hired with no prior experience. Many of the others, however, like Patrick Ewing at Georgetown in 2017 and Juwan Howard at Michigan in 2019, had extensive careers as NBA assistants.
Green Bay’s new hire does have some limited coaching experience outside the college ranks.
He coached Team USA in basketball at the 2017 Maccabiah Games, and was no slouch. The team won a gold medal with a defeat of France in the final.
Gottlieb played college basketball at Notre Dame and Oklahoma State. He was a standout point guard who led the NCAA in assists in his final two seasons with the Cowboys.
UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander explains why they went in this direction.
“Coach Gottlieb’s energy and passion for the game, desire to mentor our student-athletes, and belief in the people of this region make him a great fit to continue to carry our momentum forward,” he said.
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