Ex-Nebraska coach Doc Sadler expected to join Self’s KU staff
Former University of Nebraska basketball coach Doc Sadler is expected to soon be named director of basketball operations at Kansas University.
Sources told the Journal-World on Tuesday that Sadler, who has been on campus this week to interview with KU coach Bill Self, has been offered the job. It’s believed he has accepted or will accept and replace Barry Hinson as KU’s director of basketball operations.
Hinson in March was named head coach at Southern Illinois University.
Sadler, 52, is a long-time friend of KU coach Self.
He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas, where he was a student manager under coach Eddie Sutton, who is one of Self’s mentors. Sadler was an assistant at Arkansas (1982-85), Lamar (1985-86), Houston (1986), Chicago State (1987-88), Texas Tech (1991-94) and Arizona State (1994-97).
He compiled a 101-89 record at Nebraska the past six years, including a 34-63 conference mark. Prior to that, he was head coach at UTEP, where he went 47-16 in his two seasons. At UTEP he took over for Texas Tech coach Billy Gillispie after working on Gillipie’s UTEP staff. Gillispie is another close friend of KU’s Self. He also was a head coach at Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Sadler on Tuesday morning told the Omaha World-Herald he indeed was in Lawrence and there could be discussion with Self about a job. Sadler told the paper it was unlikely anything in the way of any new job would happen before July. He said he has other situations to explore, including TV and the NBA.