Bob Bender
Bob Bender (born April 28, 1957)
Teams coached: Illinois State Redbirds, Washington Huskies
Illinois State record: 60-57 (.513)
Washington record: 116-142 (.450)
Overall record: 176-199 (.469)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 3 (1990, 1998, 1999)
- NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen: 1 (1998)
- NCAA Tournament Final Four: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 2 (1996, 1997)
- Missouri Valley Regular Season Champion: 2 (1992, 1993)
- Missouri Valley Tournament Champion: 1 (1990)
Awards:
- Pac-10 Coach of the Year: 1 (1996)
- Missouri Valley Coach of the Year: 1 (1992)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 2016-2018 | Memphis Grizzlies (asst) |
| 2013-2014 | Milwaukee Bucks (asst) |
| 2004-2013 | Atlanta Hawks (asst) |
| 2002-2004 | Philadelphia 76ers (asst) |
| 1993-2002 | Washington |
| 1989-1993 | Illinois State |
| 1983-1989 | Duke (asst) |
Bob Bender Facts
- Robert Michael Bender
- Born April 28, 1957
- Hometown: Bloomington, Illinois
- Alma Mater: Duke University (BA, 1980)
- Born in VA, Bender attended Bloomington HS (IL) and started his collegiate career at Indiana University
- Was a freshman on Bob Knight‘s 1975-76 team that went 32-0 and won the NCAA National Championship
- Transferred to Duke, where he played three seasons for the Blue Devils under head coach Bill E. Foster
- Played in the 1978 NCAA title game, a Duke loss to Kentucky, and two additional NCAA Tournaments
- Started his coaching career at his alma mater, spending six seasons on the Duke staff under head coach Mike Krzyzewski
- The Blue Devils went to the NCAA Tournament in each of those six seasons, including three Final Fours
- Returned to his hometown in 1989 to become the head coach at Illinois State
- Led the Redbirds for four seasons, going 60-57, winning two MVC titles and the 1990 MVC Tournament
- Hired in 1993 to be the head coach at Washington, a position he held for nine seasons
- Was 116-142 during his tenure at UW, reaching two NCAA Tournaments (including a trip to the 1998 Sweet 16)
- Let go in March 2002 following three straight sub-.500 seasons
- Has coached in the NBA since 2002, mostly as an assistant coach but also a scout
- Was with the Philadelphia 76ers for two seasons (under Larry Brown and Randy Ayers), Atlanta Hawks for nine (under Mike Woodson and Larry Drew), Milwaukee Bucks for one (under Drew), Brooklyn Nets for one (as a scout, for Lionel Hollins) and Memphis Grizzlies for two (under David Fizdale and J. B. Bickerstaff)
- Along with his wife, Alice, has one daughter and one son
Bob Bender Coaching Tree
- Ray Giacoletti (Drake, Utah, Eastern Washington, North Dakota State)
- Ritchie McKay (Liberty, New Mexico, Oregon State, Colorado State, Portland State)
