Green Bay Coach Doug Gottlieb Suspended 1 Game for Criticizing Officiating

Gottlieb slammed the table and used an expletive in his postgame comments after a loss to Milwaukee.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 5:31pm

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Green Bay men's basketball coach Doug Gottlieb was suspended one game by the Horizon League for comments he made criticizing the officiating after his team's 75-72 loss to Milwaukee last Sunday. Gottlieb slammed the table and used an expletive in his postgame news conference while complaining about what he perceived as inconsistency in the officiating.

Why it matters

Coaches criticizing officials is not uncommon in college basketball, but the Horizon League determined Gottlieb's comments did not reflect the league's values and sportsmanship expectations, leading to the one-game suspension.

The details

In the closing seconds of the game, Milwaukee's Stevie Elam stole the ball from Green Bay's Preston Ruedinger, who was driving to the basket. Elam then made two free throws with 1 second left to seal the win for Milwaukee. Green Bay believed a foul should have been called on Ruedinger's drive, similar to a previous possession where Milwaukee's Amar Augillard drove to the basket and was awarded two free throws. Overall, Milwaukee went 30-of-37 from the free-throw line, while Green Bay was 14-of-18.

  • On Sunday, February 16, 2026, Green Bay lost 75-72 to Milwaukee.
  • On Wednesday, February 19, 2026, the Horizon League announced Gottlieb's one-game suspension.

The players

Doug Gottlieb

The head coach of the Green Bay men's basketball team who was suspended one game by the Horizon League for his critical comments about the officiating.

Stevie Elam

The Milwaukee player who stole the ball from Green Bay's Preston Ruedinger in the closing seconds and made two free throws to seal the win for Milwaukee.

Preston Ruedinger

The Green Bay player who was driving to the basket when Stevie Elam stole the ball from him in the closing seconds of the game.

Amar Augillard

The Milwaukee player who drove to the basket, got a foul call, and made two free throws to put Milwaukee ahead late in the game.

Kerry Rupp

The Green Bay assistant coach who will serve as the acting head coach for the team's next game while Gottlieb is suspended.

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What’s next

The suspension will take effect for Friday when Green Bay (15-13, 10-7) visits Oakland (14-13, 10-6).

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges coaches face in balancing their passion for the game with maintaining composure and respecting officials, even when they disagree with calls. The Horizon League's decision to suspend Gottlieb sends a clear message about the importance of sportsmanship and professionalism in college basketball.