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Bender got his first taste of NBA coaching during the Sixers Rookie and Free-Agent Camps.
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The Philadelphia 76ers have named Bob Bender an assistant coach, Sixers General Manager Billy King announced on Thursday, July 11.
Bender, 45, joins the 76ers staff after 13 seasons as a college head coach, the last nine at the University of Washington. The 1996 Pac-10 Coach of the Year directed the Huskies to a 116-142 record in his tenure, including four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament from 1996 to 1999, a feat no other Washington head coach previously accomplished, and two NIT appearances. His 116 coaching victories ranks fourth all-time among Washington coaches.
His 1998 Husky squad, which featured former Sixer Todd MacCulloch, posted a 20-10 (.667) record that marked the school’s finest winning percentage since 1985. Among the 1998 Husky highlights were their first 20-win season since 1987, their first NCAA berth since 1986 and their first Sweet 16 appearance, falling in the finals seconds to UConn, since 1984.
Bender began his head coaching career with a four-year tenure at Illinois State (1990-93) where he was 60-57, earning two Missouri Valley Conference championships, one conference tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth in 1990.
Prior to his inaugural head coaching assignment at Illinois State, Bender was an assistant under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke from 1983-1989. The Blue Devils qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of Bender’s six seasons on the staff, including four trips to the Final Four. While at Duke, Bender tutored King and later worked with him at Illinois State.
A graduate of Duke in 1980, Bender has the distinction of being the only individual to play on two different teams in the NCAA Championship game. He was a freshman on Bobby Knight’s undefeated 1976 Indiana team and played point guard at Duke from 1977-80, including an appearance in the 1978 title game against Kentucky. Bender was drafted by the San Diego Clippers in the sixth round before his senior year, but did not play.
Bender and his wife, Alice have a 6-year-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth, and a 4-year-old son, Robert Michael III.
Bender, 45, joins the 76ers staff after 13 seasons as a college head coach, the last nine at the University of Washington. The 1996 Pac-10 Coach of the Year directed the Huskies to a 116-142 record in his tenure, including four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament from 1996 to 1999, a feat no other Washington head coach previously accomplished, and two NIT appearances. His 116 coaching victories ranks fourth all-time among Washington coaches.
His 1998 Husky squad, which featured former Sixer Todd MacCulloch, posted a 20-10 (.667) record that marked the school’s finest winning percentage since 1985. Among the 1998 Husky highlights were their first 20-win season since 1987, their first NCAA berth since 1986 and their first Sweet 16 appearance, falling in the finals seconds to UConn, since 1984.
Bender began his head coaching career with a four-year tenure at Illinois State (1990-93) where he was 60-57, earning two Missouri Valley Conference championships, one conference tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth in 1990.
Prior to his inaugural head coaching assignment at Illinois State, Bender was an assistant under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke from 1983-1989. The Blue Devils qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of Bender’s six seasons on the staff, including four trips to the Final Four. While at Duke, Bender tutored King and later worked with him at Illinois State.
A graduate of Duke in 1980, Bender has the distinction of being the only individual to play on two different teams in the NCAA Championship game. He was a freshman on Bobby Knight’s undefeated 1976 Indiana team and played point guard at Duke from 1977-80, including an appearance in the 1978 title game against Kentucky. Bender was drafted by the San Diego Clippers in the sixth round before his senior year, but did not play.
Bender and his wife, Alice have a 6-year-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth, and a 4-year-old son, Robert Michael III.
