Doc Sadler spent the past six seasons as the head coach of Nebraska, succeeding in getting the Cornhuskers out of the bottom of the Big 12 only when the school joined the Big Ten.
After getting canned from the Big Ten’s newest member earlier this spring, Sadler will make a triumphant return to the Big 12 as the Director of Basketball Operations at Kansas.
“I am excited to announce that Doc Sadler has accepted the position of director of basketball operations in our program,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “I’ve known Doc for 25 years and have certainly followed his career. Watching his career at UTEP and seeing and competing against him when he was at Nebraska sold me on his ability for him to come in here and make us better.”
“This is an unbelievable opportunity to have a chance to get back into college basketball,” Sadler said. “When making decisions, I really thought I would sit out this year but when this came along I don’t think anyone would ever pass it up. I am thankful to Coach Self in giving me this opportunity. To be part of a program such as Kansas is unbelievable.”
Sadler replaces Barry Hinson, who spent four years on the Kansas staff before taking over the Southern Illinois program.
Obviously, Self has just as tough of a time recruiting staff members as he does McDonald’s all-americans. With Hinson and Danny Manning (who took over at Tulsa) leaving this spring, the Jayhawk head man was able to replace them with Sadler and Norm Roberts, who was the head coach at St. John’s for six years.
Could be worse …
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.
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- ku62 - Jun 13, 2012 at 9:53 PM
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Aside from recruiting problems at a program with absolutely no hint of basketball tradition, Sadler did a fine job getting team play from mediocre players and being competitive against much more talented teams. Director of Operations wears nearly as many hats as a head coach and Doc will fill that bill very well. ‘All the little things’ which Barry Hinson handled superbly are again in good hands. Welcome aboard, Doc.
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- husker82 - Jun 14, 2012 at 3:25 PM
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Happy to see Doc land on his feet. He’s a good man and here’s one Husker fan that wishes him well.
