Bob Wenzel
Encyclopedia
Bob Wenzel is a former American college basketball
coach and a current broadcaster for ESPN
, the Big East Network, and CBS Sports
.
in 1971 with a degree in history, and headed to the University of Utah
for his graduate work. In 1973, he earned his master's degree
in education from Utah.
While at Utah, Wenzel began his coaching career as a graduate assistant. Upon graduation he moved back east and became an assistant coach at Yale
, staying there for one season. He moved on to Duke
in 1975, staying with the team through 1980 and playing an important role in the team's run to the 1978 Final Four.
After one season as an assistant at South Carolina
, Wenzel was hired by Jacksonville University
as its head coach. In five years at Jacksonville (1982-1987), Wenzel led his team to an 88-86 overall record, including an NCAA tournament appearance in 1986 and an NIT appearance in his final year.
Wenzel resigned to be an assistant with the New Jersey Nets
for the 1987-88 NBA season, but returned to college the following year to be the head coach of his alma mater. Under Wenzel, Rutgers reached the NCAA Tournament
twice. The first of those appearances came in 1989, when the #13 seeded Scarlet Knights fell to Iowa in the first round. In 1991, Rutgers returned to the Big Dance as a #9 seed, but fared no better as they were defeated by Arizona State in the first round.
Wenzel also led Rutgers to two NIT appearances. The first of those (1990) saw the Scarlet Knights advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament, falling to eventual third-place finisher Penn State. Rutgers returned to the tournament two years later, but lost a close second round game to Manhattan
.
The 1991-92 season marked the last time Rutgers would finish with a winning record under Wenzel. The team struggled for the next four seasons- with a move from the Atlantic 10 to the Big East
in 1995 not making things any easier- and after an 11-16 finish to the 1996-97 campaign, Wenzel was fired and replaced by Kevin Bannon. He has not coached since.
He added commitments for CBS in 2001, and works for them during the NCAA Championship, previously alongside Craig Bolerjack
and currently with Spero Dedes
.
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 and a current broadcaster for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, the Big East Network, and CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
.
College playing/Coaching career
Wenzel, a guard (and two year team captain), graduated from Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in 1971 with a degree in history, and headed to the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
for his graduate work. In 1973, he earned his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in education from Utah.
While at Utah, Wenzel began his coaching career as a graduate assistant. Upon graduation he moved back east and became an assistant coach at Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, staying there for one season. He moved on to Duke
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1975, staying with the team through 1980 and playing an important role in the team's run to the 1978 Final Four.
After one season as an assistant at South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, Wenzel was hired by Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
as its head coach. In five years at Jacksonville (1982-1987), Wenzel led his team to an 88-86 overall record, including an NCAA tournament appearance in 1986 and an NIT appearance in his final year.
Wenzel resigned to be an assistant with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for the 1987-88 NBA season, but returned to college the following year to be the head coach of his alma mater. Under Wenzel, Rutgers reached the NCAA Tournament
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...
twice. The first of those appearances came in 1989, when the #13 seeded Scarlet Knights fell to Iowa in the first round. In 1991, Rutgers returned to the Big Dance as a #9 seed, but fared no better as they were defeated by Arizona State in the first round.
Wenzel also led Rutgers to two NIT appearances. The first of those (1990) saw the Scarlet Knights advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament, falling to eventual third-place finisher Penn State. Rutgers returned to the tournament two years later, but lost a close second round game to Manhattan
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
.
The 1991-92 season marked the last time Rutgers would finish with a winning record under Wenzel. The team struggled for the next four seasons- with a move from the Atlantic 10 to the Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
in 1995 not making things any easier- and after an 11-16 finish to the 1996-97 campaign, Wenzel was fired and replaced by Kevin Bannon. He has not coached since.
Broadcasting
Shortly after his firing by Rutgers, Wenzel jumped into broadcasting and was hired by ESPN as a color commentator for its college basketball coverage.He added commitments for CBS in 2001, and works for them during the NCAA Championship, previously alongside Craig Bolerjack
Craig Bolerjack
Craig Bolerjack is an American sportscaster. He is currently an announcer for FOX Sports, working mostly college football and college basketball games.-Biography:...
and currently with Spero Dedes
Spero Dedes
Spero Dedes is a Greek-American sportscaster born in Paramus, New Jersey. He is a graduate of Paramus High School and a 2001 graduate of Fordham University in New York....
.