Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb is poised to transition from the airwaves to the sidelines as the newly appointed head coach for the Green Bay men’s basketball team. This significant development has been widely reported by various sources, marking a pivotal shift in Gottlieb’s professional trajectory, as he concurrently retains his role as host of the daily Fox radio show from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
At 48 years of age, Gottlieb has openly expressed his longstanding aspiration to coach at the collegiate level and has previously been associated with coaching positions, notably at his alma mater, Oklahoma State, in 2017. Accumulating a 20-year career in the media, with notable tenures at ESPN and CBS, Gottlieb has now secured his inaugural college coaching position, having previously helmed the United States team at the Maccabiah Games in Israel.
The distinct and unprecedented nature of this transition lies in Gottlieb’s simultaneous engagements as a coach and host of a national radio show. This atypical undertaking is uncharted within the college basketball realm, presenting a novel and noteworthy development. While former Vermont coach Tom Brennan concurrently hosted a morning show in Vermont, Gottlieb is now facing the challenge of balancing coaching duties and hosting a national radio show during peak work hours.
The recruitment of Gottlieb poses a distinctive challenge for Green Bay, particularly in light of the timing surrounding the coaching change. Former head coach, Sundance Wicks, departed the program after a single year to assume a new role at Wyoming. Despite the complexities of the situation, Wicks notably spearheaded a remarkable transformation for Green Bay, propelling the team from a mere three wins to an impressive 18-14 record in a single season.
As Green Bay grapples with the departure of its sole double-digit scorer, Noah Reynolds, who transferred to TCU, and endeavors to integrate four new players into the roster, Gottlieb’s immediate priority is to nurture cohesion among the current players and retain the newly acquired recruits amidst the coaching transition.
Significantly, Gottlieb ascended to acclaim during his tenure as the point guard at Oklahoma State in the late 1990s, leading the NCAA in assists in his final two seasons with the Cowboys. However, his initial stint at Notre Dame was overshadowed by a regrettable incident involving the unauthorized use of a teammate’s credit card, which ultimately led to his departure after one season.
In addition to his radio show, Gottlieb hosts a podcast titled “All Ball,” where he conducts interviews with basketball coaches, underscoring his ardor and expertise in the sport.
As Gottlieb undertakes his forthcoming role with the Green Bay men’s basketball team, it will be intriguing to observe how he navigates the delicate dynamics of balancing coaching responsibilities with his illustrious career in sports media. His extensive background in both basketball and media undoubtedly positions him favorably for this seminal juncture in his professional journey.