Herb Sendek
Encyclopedia
Herbert J. Sendek is an American
college basketball
coach and the current men's basketball
coach
at Arizona State University
.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University
, he served as an assistant coach at Providence College
and the University of Kentucky
under Rick Pitino
. He was then the head coach at Miami University
and at North Carolina State University
. He was the head coach at N.C. State for 10 years. He is the grandson of a coal miner. Herb Sr., his father, is a teacher and basketball coach at both the high school and junior college levels. During his youth, Sendek was influenced by several coaches who had a great impact on him, including legendary junior college coach Bill Shay. Sendek became a standout guard as a senior at Penn Hills High School, earning All-East Suburban notice as the team captain. He was also a leader in the classroom, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. He was recently named to the Penn Hills Hall of Fame and to the East Boros Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. From there, Sendek opted to attend Carnegie Mellon University, earning a Carnegie Merit Scholarship and the opportunity to play for coach Dave Maloney.
in 1996 after three years at Miami (Ohio)
, his first head coaching experience. He immediately improved upon the Les Robinson
era, winning 17 games for the program's first winning record in six years. In his first year at NC State, the Wolfpack also finished the year winning eight of eleven games, advanced to the finals of the ACC
Tournament
, and earned a trip to the postseason in the NIT
.
Sendek coached NC State to the NCAA tournament
five consecutive years from 2002 until 2006 (tying the school record). He won his 100th game at NC State in 2002. In 2004, Sendek won ACC Coach of the Year and Julius Hodge
, one of Sendek's most prized recruits during his NC State tenure, won the ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
. In 2005, NC State upset defending champion Connecticut
in the second round of the NCAA tournament to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, NC State's deepest run into the tournament during Sendek's years. Due to an 8-38 record against Duke and North Carolina and failing to win an ACC championship, support for Sendek began to decline leading to an unpleasant atmosphere. Feeling unappreciated, Herb Sendek trekked to the Southwest where he could begin rebuilding the Arizona State University Sundevils Men's program.
. While his first year record in the Pac-10 was a paltry 2-16, recruiting went well: ASU signed Jerren Shipp, a highly regarded high school guard, point guard Derek Glasser from the LA Area, and Eric Boateng, a McDonald's All-American who transferred from Duke
. His second recruiting class included highly touted McDonald's All-American James Harden and point guard Jamelle McMillan (a four star recruit and the son of former NC State Basketball star Nate McMillan
).
The 2007-2008 season was a great improvement over the previous season. Sendek and freshman guard James Harden led the Sun Devils to fifth place in the Pac-10 Conference, including a sweep of rival Arizona. Arizona State was rewarded with a number 1 seed in the 2008 NIT. The 2008-2009 team led by Pac-10 Player of the year James Harden improved to a 25-10 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Since the departure of James Harden for the NBA, the Sundevils program finished 2nd in the Pac-10 during the 2009-2010 season in what was a weak Pac-10 Conference. That year, the conference RPI was so weak, it was the first time the 2nd place Pac-10 team didn't get an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament. The Sundevils instead were given a #1 Seed in the NIT and hosted Jacksoville Dolphins in Tempe. The Sundevils, inexplicably lost to the lowly Dolphins in front of an anemic home crowd of approximately 2300 fans. With three returning Seniors there were high expectations 2010-2011 season was expected to make a run at the Pac-10 Title again. However, the Sundevils finished in last place with a record of 12-19(4-14). The team's problems could be accounted for the fact that the following players signed by the Sundevils since Herb Sendek arrived have since transferred from Arizona State: Demetrius Walker, Victor Rudd, Corey Hawkins, Kraidon Woods, Brandon Thompson, Taylor Rhode, Brandon Dunson, George Odufuwa, Christian Polk. The team was clearly out manned in most games and was without the talent and depth it needed to consistently compete.
The upcoming season welcomes Arizona High School Player of the Year(2010-2011) Jahii Carson to the team. Carson is one of the best Point Guard recruits in the nation.
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 and the current men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
.
Background
Sendek was formally introduced as the ASU head coach on April 3, 2006.A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, he served as an assistant coach at Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
and the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
under Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino is an American basketball coach. Since 2001, he has been the head coach at the University of Louisville. He has also served as head coach at Boston University, Providence College and the University of Kentucky, leading that program to the NCAA championship in 1996...
. He was then the head coach at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
and at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. He was the head coach at N.C. State for 10 years. He is the grandson of a coal miner. Herb Sr., his father, is a teacher and basketball coach at both the high school and junior college levels. During his youth, Sendek was influenced by several coaches who had a great impact on him, including legendary junior college coach Bill Shay. Sendek became a standout guard as a senior at Penn Hills High School, earning All-East Suburban notice as the team captain. He was also a leader in the classroom, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. He was recently named to the Penn Hills Hall of Fame and to the East Boros Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame. From there, Sendek opted to attend Carnegie Mellon University, earning a Carnegie Merit Scholarship and the opportunity to play for coach Dave Maloney.
Timeline
- Born on February 22, 1963 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Went to high school at Penn Hills High School, Pittsburgh, ValedictorianValedictorianValedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of Class of 1981, 4.0 Grade Point Average - Played basketball at Penn Hills High School, Two-year letter winner and team captain.
- Went to college for a B.S. in industrial management from Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
, in 1985; 3.95 grade point average, graduated summa cum laude and earned the Carnegie Merit Scholarship. - Played basketball at Carnegie Mellon, Three-year letterman, 1981-84.
- 1984-85 - Assistant Coach, Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- 1985-86 - Graduate Asst. Coach, Providence CollegeProvidence CollegeProvidence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
- 1987-89 - Assistant Coach, Providence CollegeProvidence CollegeProvidence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
- 1989-93 - Assistant Coach, University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
- 1993-96 - Head Coach, Miami University (Ohio)Miami UniversityMiami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
- 1995 - Won MAC and Ohio Coach of the Year, also won Mid-American Conference Championship.
- 1996-2006 - Head Coach, North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
- 2004 - Won ACC Coach of the Year.
- 2006–Present - Head Coach, Arizona State UniversityArizona State UniversityArizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
- 2010 - Won Pac-10 Coach of the Year
NC State
Sendek was hired at NC StateNorth Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
in 1996 after three years at Miami (Ohio)
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, his first head coaching experience. He immediately improved upon the Les Robinson
Les Robinson
-External links:*...
era, winning 17 games for the program's first winning record in six years. In his first year at NC State, the Wolfpack also finished the year winning eight of eleven games, advanced to the finals of the ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
Tournament
ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
The ACC Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in basketball for the Atlantic Coast Conference . The tournament has been held every year since 1954, one year after the conference's creation. It is a single-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season...
, and earned a trip to the postseason in 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...
.
Sendek coached NC State to 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...
five consecutive years from 2002 until 2006 (tying the school record). He won his 100th game at NC State in 2002. In 2004, Sendek won ACC Coach of the Year and Julius Hodge
Julius Hodge
Julius Melvin Hodge is an American professional basketball player.Hodge was selected 20th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. He played four years at North Carolina State University...
, one of Sendek's most prized recruits during his NC State tenure, won the ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the men's basketball player in the Atlantic Coast Conference voted by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association as the most outstanding player...
. In 2005, NC State upset defending champion Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
in the second round of the NCAA tournament to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, NC State's deepest run into the tournament during Sendek's years. Due to an 8-38 record against Duke and North Carolina and failing to win an ACC championship, support for Sendek began to decline leading to an unpleasant atmosphere. Feeling unappreciated, Herb Sendek trekked to the Southwest where he could begin rebuilding the Arizona State University Sundevils Men's program.
Arizona State
On April 3, 2006, Sendek accepted the head coaching job at Arizona StateArizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
. While his first year record in the Pac-10 was a paltry 2-16, recruiting went well: ASU signed Jerren Shipp, a highly regarded high school guard, point guard Derek Glasser from the LA Area, and Eric Boateng, a McDonald's All-American who transferred from 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...
. His second recruiting class included highly touted McDonald's All-American James Harden and point guard Jamelle McMillan (a four star recruit and the son of former NC State Basketball star Nate McMillan
Nate McMillan
Nathaniel "Nate" McMillan is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers...
).
The 2007-2008 season was a great improvement over the previous season. Sendek and freshman guard James Harden led the Sun Devils to fifth place in the Pac-10 Conference, including a sweep of rival Arizona. Arizona State was rewarded with a number 1 seed in the 2008 NIT. The 2008-2009 team led by Pac-10 Player of the year James Harden improved to a 25-10 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Since the departure of James Harden for the NBA, the Sundevils program finished 2nd in the Pac-10 during the 2009-2010 season in what was a weak Pac-10 Conference. That year, the conference RPI was so weak, it was the first time the 2nd place Pac-10 team didn't get an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament. The Sundevils instead were given a #1 Seed in the NIT and hosted Jacksoville Dolphins in Tempe. The Sundevils, inexplicably lost to the lowly Dolphins in front of an anemic home crowd of approximately 2300 fans. With three returning Seniors there were high expectations 2010-2011 season was expected to make a run at the Pac-10 Title again. However, the Sundevils finished in last place with a record of 12-19(4-14). The team's problems could be accounted for the fact that the following players signed by the Sundevils since Herb Sendek arrived have since transferred from Arizona State: Demetrius Walker, Victor Rudd, Corey Hawkins, Kraidon Woods, Brandon Thompson, Taylor Rhode, Brandon Dunson, George Odufuwa, Christian Polk. The team was clearly out manned in most games and was without the talent and depth it needed to consistently compete.
The upcoming season welcomes Arizona High School Player of the Year(2010-2011) Jahii Carson to the team. Carson is one of the best Point Guard recruits in the nation.
Style of Play
Sendek has one of the most methodical coaching styles in the nation. Tough defense and deliberate offenses comprise the reputation of his teams. For instance, at NC State his teams were known for playing tenacious man defense and running a quick motion offense for numerous years. While at Arizona State, due to an initial lack of talent, his early teams played a matchup zone defense and ran a methodical offense that incorporated Princeton principles. As the talent level has increased at Arizona State, Sendek has evolved the offense to feature more sets to accommodate star players like James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph, and at the beginning of last season implemented a free flowing motion offense that allowed players more independence in making decisions, However, as the season unfolded, the team was forced to revert to the more deliberate offense and finished a disappointing 12-19(4-12). Sendek has stated that he'd like to look for more opportunities to push the ball and get easy buckets in transition in the coming season.Coaching Tree
Herb Sendek already has one of the largest coaching trees in all of college basketball. Below is a list of former Sendek assistants :- Charlie Coles (Miami University (Ohio))
- Jim ChristianJim ChristianJim Christian is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Texas Christian University. He took over the position vacated by Neil Dougherty in March 2008...
(TCU) - John Groce (Ohio)
- Larry Hunter (Western Carolina)
- Mark Phelps (Drake)
- Ron HunterRon HunterRon Hunter is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach of the Georgia State Panthers.-Coaching career:...
(IUPUI) - Sean MillerSean MillerSean Miller is an American college basketball coach, and currently the head men's basketball coach at the University of Arizona.-Early years:...
(Arizona) - Thad MattaThad MattaThad Matta is an American college basketball coach. He is the current head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team. He was hired as the 13th head coach in Ohio State history on July 7, 2004 after the school had fired previous coach Jim O'Brien...
(Ohio State) - Archie Miller (Dayton)