Nationality American Name Bob Bender | Spouse Alice Bender Coaching career 1983–present Role Basketball Coach | |
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Children Mary Elizabeth Bender, Robert Michael III Similar People Lorenzo Romar, Gary Goldman, Don Bluth, Joss Whedon, Bob Tzudiker |
Hawks vs Jazz: January 11 @ 7:30 P.M.
Robert Michael "Bob" Bender (born April 28, 1957) is an American professional basketball coach, currently an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. Born in Quantico, Virginia, He attended Bloomington High School in Bloomington, IL, where he was an All-American in basketball. Bender has the distinction of being the only individual to play on two different teams in two different NCAA Championship games. He was a freshman on Bob Knight's undefeated 1976 Indiana team and played point guard at Duke from 1977–80, including an appearance in the title game against Kentucky. Bender was drafted by the San Diego Clippers in the sixth round before his senior year, but did not play.
He began his coaching career as an assistant at Duke under Mike Krzyzewski. He later served as head coach at Illinois State University and the University of Washington, and was an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bender is married to his wife, Alice, with whom he has two children: Mary Elizabeth and Robert Michael Bender III.
On June 17, 2013, Bender was hired as an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, under Larry Drew, of whom he was an assistant to at the Atlanta Hawks.