Doc Sadler
{{Short description|American basketball coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Doc Sadler
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_title = Special advisor
| current_team = Kansas
| current_conference = Big 12
| current_record =
| contract =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|6|12}}
| birth_place = Greenwood, Arkansas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Arkansas
| coach_years1 = 1982–1985
| coach_team1 = Arkansas (assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1985–1986
| coach_team2 = Lamar (assistant)
| coach_years3 = 1986
| coach_team3 = Houston (assistant)
| coach_years4 = 1986–1987
| coach_team4 = County Line HS (AR)
| coach_years5 = 1987–1988
| coach_team5 = Chicago State (assistant)
| coach_years6 = 1988–1991
| coach_team6 = Arkansas–Fort Smith (assistant)
| coach_years7 = 1991–1994
| coach_team7 = Texas Tech (assistant)
| coach_years8 = 1994–1997
| coach_team8 = Arizona State (assistant)
| coach_years9 = 1997–1998
| coach_team9 = Arkansas–Fort Smith (assistant)
| coach_years10 = 1998–2003
| coach_team10 = Arkansas–Fort Smith
| coach_years11 = 2003–2004
| coach_team11 = UTEP (assistant)
| coach_years12 = 2004–2006
| coach_team12 = UTEP
| coach_years13 = 2006–2012
| coach_team13 = Nebraska
| coach_years14 = 2013–2014
| coach_team14 = Iowa State (assistant)
| coach_years15 = 2014–2019
| coach_team15 = Southern Miss
| coach_years16 = 2019–2022
| coach_team16 = Nebraska (assistant)
| coach_team17 = Oklahoma (special advisor)
| coach_years17 = 2022–2023
| coach_team18 = Kansas (special advisor)
| coach_years18 = 2023–present
| admin_years1 = 1998–2003
| admin_team1 = Arkansas–Fort Smith
| overall_record = 205–201 (college)
38–7 (high school)
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships = WAC tournament (2005)
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
Kenneth Lee "Doc" Sadler (born June 12, 1960) is an American college basketball coach. He was the head men's basketball coach at the University of Southern Mississippi (Southern Miss), a position he held from 2014 through the 2018-19 season. Sadler served as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) from 2004 to 2006 and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 2006 to 2012.
Biography
=Early life=
Sadler is a native of Greenwood, Arkansas.{{cite web|url=http://www.southernmiss.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/doc_sadler_898356.html|title=Doc Sadler|publisher=Southern Miss|access-date=February 2, 2017|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725050031/http://www.southernmiss.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/doc_sadler_898356.html|url-status=dead}}
=Playing career=
Sadler received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas, where he was a student manager under legendary coach Eddie Sutton.
=Coaching career=
Sadler's coaching career started as an assistant with a string of schools before landing a head coaching job at Arkansas–Fort Smith (then known as Westark Community College) and then at University of Texas at El Paso, where he took over for former Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Billy Gillispie[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2543273 Sadler's departure has UTEP seeking new coach - Men's College Basketball - ESPN] after previously serving as his assistant coach.[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=1770506 Sadler replaces Gillispie as Miners coach - Men's College Basketball - ESPN] At UTEP, Sadler led his team to a 48–18 record[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9251370/tj-otzelberger-leaving-iowa-state-cyclones-washington-huskies - ESPN] and two postseason appearances in his 2 seasons at the helm.[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2543537 Sadler signs six-year contract with Cornhuskers - Men's College Basketball - ESPN][https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2548672 Sources: UTEP to hire Memphis assistant Barbee - Men's College Basketball - ESPN][https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2548557 Nebraska's Sadler to hire new crew of assistants - Men's College Basketball - ESPN] He departed UTEP for the head coaching job at the University of Nebraska on August 8, 2006 to take over for former coach Barry Collier, who left to become the athletic director at Butler University.
At Nebraska, Sadler inherited a team that had been relegated to the back of the pack in the Big 12 Conference for several seasons, after former coach Danny Nee led the team to five NCAA tournament appearances, an NIT title and a Big Eight tournament title in the 1990s. Sadler failed to find much success in Lincoln, and aside from a victory over then-11th-ranked Indiana, the team again often fell to the bottom of the standings following Nebraska's move to the Big Ten Conference in 2011. He was fired on March 9, 2012[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7666673 Nebraska Cornhuskers fire Doc Sadler as coach - ESPN] after six seasons without ever making an NCAA tournament appearance.[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7729430 Nebraska Cornhuskers hire Tim Miles from Colorado State Rams as coach - ESPN] While under Sadler at Nebraska, over 80 percent of seniors who finished their eligibility earned their degrees.
On June 13, 2012, Kansas basketball coach, Bill Self announced the hiring of Sadler to replace Barry Hinson as Director of Basketball Operations. Sadler left Kansas for Iowa State on May 31, 2013 when Sadler was hired to serve as an assistant under Fred Hoiberg. During the 2013-14 season in Ames, Sadler was part of a staff that won 28 games and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. On May 1, 2014, Sadler was named head coach at Southern Miss. In his five years at the helm, Southern Miss overcame NCAA sanctions related to the previous staff to lead his team to 20 wins and a postseason appearance in 2018-19.
On April 11, 2019, Sadler resigned his position as head coach at Southern Miss and returned to Nebraska as an assistant coach, once again under Hoiberg.[https://www.sunherald.com/sports/college/conference-usa/university-of-southern-mississippi/article229120474.html Southern Miss faces a quick turnaround to make a hire as Doc Sadler steps down][http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=211799499 Hoiberg Announces Husker Basketball Coaching Staff] On March 18, 2022, Hoiberg announced that Sadler was no longer with the Nebraska program as he had restructured his staff.{{cite web|title=Doc Sadler no longer a part of Husker basketball after Fred Hoiberg restructures staff|date=March 18, 2022|website=KLKN|url=https://www.klkntv.com/doc-sadler-no-longer-apart-of-husker-basketball-after-fred-hoiberg-restructures-staff/}}
On November 17, 2022, it was announced that Sadler had joined the Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball program as a special advisor to head coach Porter Moser.{{cite web|title=Former Husker coach Doc Sadler joins Oklahoma basketball as special adviser [sic]|date=November 17, 2022|website=KLKN|url=https://www.klkntv.com/former-husker-coach-doc-sadler-joins-oklahoma-basketball-as-special-adviser/}}
Head coaching record
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=UTEP Miners
|conference=Western Athletic Conference
|startyear=2004
|endyear=2005
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2004–05
| name = UTEP
| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=UTEP Miners
|conference=Conference USA
|startyear=2005
|endyear=2006
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2005–06
| name = UTEP
| postseason = NIT First Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = UTEP
| overall = 48–18 ({{Winning percentage|48|18}})
| confrecord = 25–7 ({{Winning percentage|25|7}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=Nebraska Cornhuskers
|conference=Big 12 Conference
|startyear=2006
|endyear=2010
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2006–07
| name = Nebraska
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2007–08
| name = Nebraska
| postseason = NIT Second Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2008–09
| name = Nebraska
| postseason = NIT First Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2009–10
| name = Nebraska
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2010–11
| name = Nebraska
| postseason = NIT First Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=Nebraska Cornhuskers
|conference=Big Ten Conference
|startyear=2011
|endyear=2012
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2011–12
| name = Nebraska
| confstanding = T–11th[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/standings/_/group/7 Big Ten Conference Standings (2011-12) - College Basketball - ESPN]
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Nebraska
| overall = 101–89 ({{Winning percentage|101|89}})
| confrecord = 34–64 ({{Winning percentage|34|64}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
|name=Southern Miss Golden Eagles
|conference=Conference USA
|startyear=2014
|endyear=2019
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2014–15
| name = Southern Miss
| overall = 3–20{{efn|name=fn1}}
| conference = 3–14{{efn|name=fn1}}
| confstanding = 13th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2015–16
| name = Southern Miss
| overall = 8–21
| conference = 5–13
| confstanding = T–12th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2016–17
| name = Southern Miss
| overall = 9–22
| conference = 6–12
| confstanding = T–11th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2017–18
| name = Southern Miss
| overall = 16–18
| conference = 7–11
| confstanding = T–9th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2018–19
| name = Southern Miss
| overall = 20–13
| conference = 11–7
| confstanding = T–2nd
| postseason = CBI First Round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Southern Miss
| overall = 56–94 ({{Winning percentage|56|94}})
| confrecord = 32–57 ({{Winning percentage|32|57}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = 205–201 ({{Winning percentage|205|201}})
}}
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=fn1|In 2016, the NCAA vacated six wins from the 2014–15 season due to participation of academically ineligible players.{{cite web|author=Munz, Jason|url=http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/sports/college/southern-miss/basketball/2016/04/08/ncaa-rule-usm-basketball-matter-today/82789998/|title=USM gets 3 years' probation, no more postseason bans|work=Hattiesburg American|date=April 8, 2016|access-date=February 2, 2017}}}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=21&SPID=24&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=535152&Q_SEASON=2007 Nebraska profile]
{{navboxes|list=
{{UTEP Miners basketball coach navbox}}
{{Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Southern Miss Golden Eagles basketball coach navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sadler, Doc}}
Category:American men's basketball coaches
Category:Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball coaches
Category:Arkansas–Fort Smith Lions basketball coaches
Category:Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball coaches
Category:Basketball coaches from Arkansas
Category:Chicago State Cougars men's basketball coaches
Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States
Category:High school basketball coaches in Arkansas
Category:Houston Cougars men's basketball coaches
Category:Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball coaches
Category:Junior college men's basketball coaches in the United States
Category:Lamar Cardinals basketball coaches
Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball coaches
Category:People from Greenwood, Arkansas
Category:Southern Miss Golden Eagles basketball coaches
Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball coaches