Legendary UWGB coach Dick Bennett attends Phoenix win

The 82-year-old Bennett, who led the Phoenix to three NCAA Tournament appearances, surprised current head coach Doug Gottlieb with a visit.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Legendary University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball coach Dick Bennett, now 82 years old, attended the Phoenix's 76-63 win over Detroit Mercy on Saturday. Bennett, who led UWGB to three NCAA Tournament appearances during his 10 seasons as head coach, surprised current head coach Doug Gottlieb with the visit. Gottlieb said Bennett has been "amazing" to him personally and to the program, and shared three key pieces of advice with Gottlieb during the game.

Why it matters

Dick Bennett is considered the "Green Bay basketball Jesus" for the success he brought to the program during his tenure in the 1980s and 1990s. His surprise visit and advice to the current coach highlights the enduring legacy and influence he has on UWGB basketball, even decades after his retirement.

The details

Bennett led the Phoenix to unprecedented success during his 10 seasons at Green Bay, including three NCAA Tournament appearances and a second-round run in 1994 after an upset of California, before moving on to coach at Wisconsin. Current head coach Doug Gottlieb said Bennett left him with three key pieces of advice: "The better the kid, the more they'll improve. Find glue players. And you have to know who you can lose with first before you know who you can win with." Gottlieb's current rebuild at UWGB mirrors Bennett's early days, as Bennett's first Phoenix team went 5-23 in 1985-86, while Gottlieb's squad finished 4-28 last season.

  • On Saturday afternoon, Dick Bennett attended the Phoenix's 76-63 win over Detroit Mercy.
  • Bennett led the Phoenix to three NCAA Tournament appearances during his 10 seasons as head coach from 1985 to 1995.

The players

Dick Bennett

The legendary former head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball team, who led the Phoenix to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a second-round run in 1994.

Doug Gottlieb

The current head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball team, who is in the midst of rebuilding the program.

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What they’re saying

“He's been amazing to me personally and to our program. Our former athletic director emailed me that coach was coming. His wife, Anne, has been battling some health issues, so just to have him in the building meant everything. You're talking about Green Bay basketball Jesus sitting there.”

— Doug Gottlieb, Head Coach, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (wearegreenbay.com)

“The better the kid, the more they'll improve. Find glue players. And you have to know who you can lose with first before you know who you can win with.”

— Dick Bennett (wearegreenbay.com)

What’s next

The Phoenix have now won two straight games and sit at 14-12 (9-6) with five regular-season games remaining. It will be interesting to see if Dick Bennett's advice and presence continues to positively impact the team's performance as they push towards the postseason.

The takeaway

Dick Bennett's surprise visit and the lasting impact of his coaching legacy at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay underscores the importance of mentorship and the enduring influence of legendary figures in college sports. Even decades after his retirement, Bennett's wisdom and guidance continue to shape the program he helped build into a mid-major powerhouse.