UW-Green Bay hires longtime commentator Doug Gottlieb as men's basketball coach

GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) — UW-Green Bay is expected to hire longtime college basketball commentator and radio personality Doug Gottlieb as its next men's basketball coach, the school announced Wednesday.

Gottlieb replaces Sundance Wicks, who left UW-Green Bay after one season to take the head coaching position at the University of Wyoming.

Gottlieb has spent the last two decades as an analyst after a playing career at Notre Dame and Oklahoma State. He was among the finalists for the Phoenix job last season before UWGB ultimately hired Wicks.

"It is an honor beyond measure to be named the 10th Men's Basketball coach in UWGB history," Gottlieb said in a media release. "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."

The 48-year-old has little coaching experience. He was a part of the staff that coached the United States team at the Maccabiah Games, an international Jewish and Israeli multi-sport event, in 2009 and 2017.

Interestingly, Gottlieb was born in Milwaukee. His father, Bob, was the head coach at UW-Milwaukee in the late 1970s.

"As a kid who was born at Columbia Hospital and a dad who was, at that 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," Gottlieb said. "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," he added. "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 will reportedly continue to host his daily national FOX Sports Radio program while coaching UW-Green Bay.

An official announcement from the university is expected this afternoon.