Editors Note: This article has been updated as UWGB has officially named Gottlieb head coach.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is hiring Doug Gottlieb as the next head men’s basketball coach for the Phoenix.
Just days after former head coach Sundance Wicks left the university to join Wyoming, Green Bay is making a splash hire, bringing in one of the biggest sports talk radio hosts/analysts to lead the Phoenix.
It may come as a surprise to Phoenix fans, considering Gottlieb’s coaching resume, but he was one of the finalists during last year’s men’s basketball coaching search before Green Bay decided to hire Wicks.
“It is an honor beyond measure to be named the 10th Men’s Basketball coach in UWGB history. I would like to thank Chancellor Mike Alexander and Josh Moon for this incredible opportunity,” said Gottlieb. “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.”
Gottlieb continued, “as a kid who was born at Columbia Hospital and a dad who was, at that time a head coach in the UW system, it is even more amazing to get this opportunity to come back to Wisconsin and live out my dreams. Green Bay Basketball will be a family, and you are all welcome to join the family. Together, we are going to play great basketball, bring positive attention to the Fox Valley and UWGB community, and have a heck of a lot of fun doing it. I can’t wait to meet you all and welcome you to the new Phoenix Family. If you need me, I’ll be in the gym. Let’s be great.”
Gottlieb’s recent coaching experiences include leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 2017 Maccabiah Games, where he coached his team to defeat France in the final. Gottlieb followed the gold medal finish with another in 2022, where he led Team USA once again to an undefeated eight-win tournament. His other coaching experiences include AAU basketball and a consultant role at his alma mater, Oklahoma State.
At 48 years old, this will be Gottlieb’s first head coaching experience at the collegiate level. He comes to Green Bay with a lengthy broadcasting resume, having stops at FOX Sports, Pac-12 Network, CBS Sports, and ESPN.
Before his broadcasting career took off, Gottlieb spent his final three seasons (1997-2000) of collegiate eligibility at Oklahoma State, where he started 84 of the 97 he appeared in as a player, averaging 5.2 points per game. Gottlieb still remains the all-time assists leader for the Cowboys with 793.
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“We are thrilled to welcome Doug Gottlieb to be the next Head Coach of our Men’s basketball program,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “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.”
