Bob Donewald
Encyclopedia
Bob Donewald, Sr. is a retired American
college basketball
coach
. He was the first coach to lead Illinois State University
to the NCAA post-season national tournament, and he did so for three consecutive seasons.
Donewald was an assistant coach under longtime Indiana University
coach Bobby Knight
, and was a member of the Hoosiers
staff in 1976 when Indiana went undefeated and won the national title
. In 1978, Donewald was hired as the new head coach of the Illinois State Redbirds
, replacing Gene Smithson. In Donewald's second season, the Redbirds qualified for the NIT
's post-season tournament, and then, in the 1982–83 season, the Redbirds entered March Madness
for the first time in their history.
Donewald's Redbirds also qualified for the NCAA tournament the next two seasons. Donewald parlayed this success into a student referendum on building a new arena to replace the aging facility that the Redbirds had been playing in for decades. Redbird Arena
was approved, and was built entirely from student fees collected over the next twenty years. Donewald began to acquire a national reputation, and in 1986 turned down an opportunity to coach the Wisconsin Badgers
.
However, Donewald's ISU teams relied upon a slow moving game, similar to a four corners offense
. With the introduction of the shot clock
in the mid-1980s, Donewald's strategies and his teams began to suffer. In 1989, after failing to replicate his earlier successes, Donewald was fired by ISU. He was immediately hired as coach of the Western Michigan University
Broncos, where he coached until 2000. In the 1997–98 season
—his third season as head coach at WMU—the Broncos qualified for the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the second round before being eliminated. In 1992, Donewald was named Coach of the Year for the Mid-American Conference
. But Donewald was unable to get the Broncos back to the NCAA again, and was fired in 2000.
Donewald today lives with his wife of over 40 years in their Kalamazoo home, where he does consulting
work for several college and pro teams. He also works occasionally as a color analyst. His son, Bob Donewald, Jr.
, is currently the head coach of the Chinese men's national basketball team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach
Coach (basketball)
Basketball coaching is the act of directing and strategizing the behaviour of a basketball team or individual basketball player. Basketball coaching typically encompasses the improvement of individual and team offensive and defensive skills, as well as overall physical conditioning.Coaching is...
. He was the first coach to lead Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
to the NCAA post-season national tournament, and he did so for three consecutive seasons.
Donewald was an assistant coach under longtime Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
coach Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight
-Indiana:When Indiana University was seeking a new coach in 1971, they turned to Knight. Knight was given the nickname "The General" by former University of Detroit and Detroit Pistons coach-turned-broadcaster Dick Vitale....
, and was a member of the Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
staff in 1976 when Indiana went undefeated and won the national title
1976 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1976 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1976, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. In 1978, Donewald was hired as the new head coach of the Illinois State Redbirds
Illinois State Redbirds
The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level . The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, replacing Gene Smithson. In Donewald's second season, the Redbirds qualified for the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
's post-season tournament, and then, in the 1982–83 season, the Redbirds entered March Madness
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
for the first time in their history.
Donewald's Redbirds also qualified for the NCAA tournament the next two seasons. Donewald parlayed this success into a student referendum on building a new arena to replace the aging facility that the Redbirds had been playing in for decades. Redbird Arena
Redbird Arena
Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena is a 10,200 seat multi-purpose arena in Normal, Illinois. Built in 1989, the building is notable for its use of a Teflon-coated roof that gives off a "glow" during night events...
was approved, and was built entirely from student fees collected over the next twenty years. Donewald began to acquire a national reputation, and in 1986 turned down an opportunity to coach the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
.
However, Donewald's ISU teams relied upon a slow moving game, similar to a four corners offense
Four corners offense
The four corners offense is an offensive strategy for stalling in basketball. Four of the players stand in the corners of the offensive half-court and the fifth dribbles the ball in the middle...
. With the introduction of the shot clock
Shot clock
A shot clock is used in some sports to quicken the pace of the game. It is normally associated with basketball, but has also found use in sports such as snooker, professional lacrosse, water polo, and korfball....
in the mid-1980s, Donewald's strategies and his teams began to suffer. In 1989, after failing to replicate his earlier successes, Donewald was fired by ISU. He was immediately hired as coach of the Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
Broncos, where he coached until 2000. In the 1997–98 season
1997–98 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team
The 1997–98 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team was a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college basketball team that played in the Mid-American Conference...
—his third season as head coach at WMU—the Broncos qualified for the NCAA tournament, where they advanced to the second round before being eliminated. In 1992, Donewald was named Coach of the Year for the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
. But Donewald was unable to get the Broncos back to the NCAA again, and was fired in 2000.
Donewald today lives with his wife of over 40 years in their Kalamazoo home, where he does consulting
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
work for several college and pro teams. He also works occasionally as a color analyst. His son, Bob Donewald, Jr.
Bob Donewald, Jr.
Bob Donewald Jr. is an American basketball coach and current head coach of the China men's national basketball team, Shanghai Sharks. He was an NBA assistant with the New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers from 2001 to 2004, and an ABA head coach from 2004-2005...
, is currently the head coach of the Chinese men's national basketball team.