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Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff Writer
Green Bay has hired sports journalist Doug Gottlieb as its next men’s basketball coach, it was announced Tuesday.
Gottlieb was one of the finalists for the Green Bay open seat last spring, but the job ultimately went to Sundance Wicks. After guiding Phoenix to an 18-14 campaign, Wicks left the program to become head coach at Wyoming.
Athletic director Josh Moon quickly named Gottlieb as Wicks’ replacement. An introductory press conference is scheduled for Wednesday.
“It is an indescribable honor to be named the 10th men’s basketball coach in UWGB history,” Gottlieb said in a statement. “Every kid has dreams growing up. Some want to be a firefighter, some want to be president. I’ve always wanted to be a head basketball coach at the Division I level.”
Gottlieb has no college coaching experience, but served on the staff of Team USA at the 2009 and 2017 Maccabiah Games. He was an assistant under Bruce Pearl in 2009 and head coach in 2017. Gottlieb also interviewed for Oklahoma State when the school hired Mike Boynton and was a consultant to the Cowboys’ program last season.
“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 an excellent fit to continue our momentum,” UWGB President Mike Alexander said in a statement. “I make it,” he said.
Gottlieb, who has worked as a journalist for ESPN, CBS and Fox Sports since 2002, was a standout point guard at Oklahoma State during his playing days. He still ranks in the top 15 of all-time career assist leaders.
His college career began at Notre Dame, but he left after an incident in which he stole credit cards from three classmates.
Gottlieb is a Milwaukee native whose late father, Bob, was the city’s head coach from 1975 to 1980.
“As a child born at Columbia Hospital and a father who was a head coach in the UW system, it is even more amazing to have the opportunity to come back to Wisconsin and make my dream come true,” Gottlieb said.
He reportedly plans to continue hosting his Fox Sports radio show while coaching Green Bay.
