Bender replaces Nance as UW men’s basketball coach

by Columns Staff | June 1, 1993

Athletics Director Barbara Hedges hired Illinois State Head Coach Bob Bender April 9 to replace Lynn Nance as the chief of the UW men’s basketball program.

Bender, 36, has a four-year coaching record of 60-57 at Illinois State, which is in Normal, Ill. During his tenure, his team won three Missouri Valley Conference titles, including two regular-season championships and one postseason tournament crown.

Bender’s own college basketball career is unique, since he is the only player ever to appear in two NCAA title games on two different teams. Bender was a guard at Indiana during the 1975-76 season when the Hoosiers defeated Michigan for the NCAA championship. He then transferred to Duke, where he played for three seasons and appeared in the 1978 NCAA title game.

“Bob Bender is an impressive young coach who will bring enthusiasm and energy to the Husky men’s basketball program,” Hedges says.

Bender was an assistant coach at Duke for six years under the legendary Mike Krzyzewski. “The potential is there to have an outstanding basketball program. Bob will do a great job. He’s established himself as a coach and this is a great opportunity for him and the people at Washington,” he says.

Former Coach Nance resigned March 19 after the UW refused to extend his contract, which was set to expire in 1994. Nance had campaigned to extend his contract beyond 1994 as a vote of confidence in his coaching and a boost to his recruiting efforts.

While Athletics Director Hedges told the press she was prepared for Nance to be the UW basketball coach next year, she was “not prepared” to extend his contract. In a statement to the press, Nance thanked his athletes for their loyalty, UW fans for their support and Hedges for the “highly professional manner in which she handled a most difficult situation regarding my resignation.” Nance’s record over four seasons at the UW was 50-62.