If you read my columns regularly, you know I’m not a big fan of Doug Gottlieb’s pursuit of the Oklahoma State coaching job over the years. So, when I heard he was taking the Green Bay job earlier this year I was heartened. Perhaps he had finally seen that he needed to PROVE he could coach before he could coach at his alma mater.
Those hopes were quickly dashed when I learned he would continue to host his daily radio show. I’ve covered sports for 30 years and I can count the number of successful high school, college and pro coaches that had two full-time jobs on one hand. Of course, the problem is that hand happens to be a fist.
Green Bay is 2-12. The Phoenix have an incredible player in Anthony Roy (25.7 ppg), but not much else. Gottlieb made the rounds this week with his “Nobody U” comment. Miss it?
Let’s clarify something. Gottlieb was NOT necessarily referring to Michigan Tech when he made the comment. He was talking about his schedule overall and what his team gets out of playing teams fans haven’t heard of.
But he scheduled Michigan Tech, a Division II school located in Houghton, Mich., in the upper peninsula of Michigan (it’s that big part of land above Lake Superior that is connected to Wisconsin and probably should belong to Wisconsin but it’s actually part of Michigan. And now we’re done with the book learning).
Related: Markquis Nowell Responds to Wichita State Basketball’s Trolling
And his Phoenix lost to Michigan Tech, 72-70. So, what did he do? He went on his radio show and talked about the fallout from the comment because, of course you gotta get that sweet social media engagement, right?
By the way, he checked out of his radio show the day after the Michigan Tech loss.
I wrote above that you are what your record says you are. Well, Green Bay and Gottlieb are 2-12. And, when you’re 2-12, you shouldn’t be opening your mouth about “Nobody U” or anything else.
And you sure as heck shouldn’t be going after ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter.
It’s really hard to take Gottlieb seriously at this point. Being a non-traditional hire is one thing. He pointed out that Steve Kerr and Fred Hoiberg went that route. Neither was hosting a radio show at the same time.
Gottlieb hosts a national radio show every day and that takes up time — and that’s not including the prep involved. This isn’t sustainable. Either Gottlieb has to choose — or Green Bay has to choose for him.
When you’re time is divided it doesn’t matter if you’re playing nobodies or somebodies. Everyone involved loses.
