Men’s Basketball Hires Herb Sendek

Former Arizona State head coach replaces KeatingNick RedfieldTHE SANTA CLARAMarch 31, 2016

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]anta Clara announced Herb Sendek as the men’s basketball head coach in a press conference last Wednesday, March 30, filling the vacancy after former head coach Kerry Keating was fired earlier this month.

It’s been over twenty years since the Broncos made the NCAA tournament, a streak that Athletic Director Renee Baumgartner burdened ever since she was hired last year. The announcement on Wednesday, however, marks Baumgartner’s first change within the program, one that she hopes will revamp the stagnant team.

“We’re not starting from scratch, a lot of hard work from former players and former coaches have gone into this endeavor and we’re just gonna come and add to that in whatever way possible,” Sendek said.

A graduate of Carnegie-Mellon, Sendek began his coaching career serving as an assistant to coaching legend Rick Pitino at Providence and Kentucky.

In 1993, Sendek took over as the head coach of Miami (Ohio), where current Arizona and Ohio State head coaches Sean Miller and Thad Matta were assistants. After going 63-26 in three years, Sendek then spent 10 years as the head coach at North Carolina State. There he made five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and won ACC Coach of the Year in 2004.

Sendek then spent nine years as head coach of Arizona State, where he coached Houston Rockets’ guard James Harden, before being fired in 2015.

Sendek will take over a young roster that returns all five starters, including First Team All-WCC Guard Jared Brownridge. With only one graduating senior this year, however, Sendek will have little room to change up the roster he will be inheriting.

The new head coach also announced on Wednesday that former NC State player Julius Hodge, and Barrett Perry will be a part of his coaching staff.

“I’m fortified by the staff that we have, they give me confidence to do this job,” Sendek said.”

While Sendek’s eight March Madness appearances give the basketball program plenty of experience, only time will tell whether his experience will end Santa Clara’s tournament drought.

Contact Nick Redfield at nredfield@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.