Bob Wenzel

Bob Wenzel (born October 4, 1949)

Teams coached: Jacksonville Dolphins, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Jacksonville record: 88-86 (.506)
Rutgers record: 128-135 (.487)
Overall record: 216-221 (.494)

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1988-1997 Rutgers
1987-1988 New Jersey Nets (asst)
1981-1987 Jacksonville
1980-1981 South Carolina (asst)
1975-1980 Duke (asst)
1973-1974 Yale (asst)
1971-1973 Utah (grad. asst)

Bob Wenzel Facts

  • Bob Wenzel
  • Born October 4, 1949
  • Hometown: Bronx, New York
  • Alma Mater: Rutgers University (BA, 1971) / University of Utah (M.Ed, 1973)
  • The Bronx-native played basketball under head coach Bill E. Foster at Rutgers
  • After graduating in 1971, he followed Foster to Utah where he spent two years as a graduate assistant
  • Left Utah in 1973 to be an assistant coach at Yale, working for one season under Joe Vancisin
  • Rejoined Foster in 1975, this time spending five seasons as his assistant at Duke
  • Followed Foster one more time, serving as an assistant at South Carolina for one year
  • Became a head coach in 1981, going 88-86 in six seasons at Jacksonville
    • Took a program that won just 7 games in his second season to the NCAA Tournament in 1986
    • During a game in 1985, suffered a near-fatal aneurysm; fully recovered and returned to coaching
      • Wenzel was honored with the USBWA Most Courageous Award in 1986
  • Left JU to be an assistant under Bob MacKinnon with the NBA’s New Jersey Nets
  • Hired in 1988 to be the head coach at nearby Rutgers, leading the Scarlet Knights for nine seasons
    • Was 128-135 overall, going to two NCAA Tournaments and two NITs through his first four years
    • Finished below .500 in each of his last five seasons and was let go in 1997
  • Started his broadcasting career that same year, working as a college basketball analyst
    • He has worked for ESPN, CBS and the Big Ten Network during his broadcast career
  • Along with his wife, Neva, has three children

Bob Wenzel Coaching Tree

  • Dee Brown (Springfield Armor)
  • Rick Duckett (Grambling State, Winston-Salem State, Fayetteville State)
  • Rich Haddad (Jacksonville)
  • Otis Smith (Grand Rapids Drive)