When Doug Gottlieb was appointed head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix while maintaining his weekday three-hour radio show, many questioned how this dual role would work out. So far, it has been a disaster. More than halfway through the season, the Phoenix are 2-17, with an 0-8 record in Horizon League play. Their average margin of defeat in conference games is around 17 points, and Gottlieb’s team lost to a Division II school that he referred to as “Nobody U.” Additionally, he engaged in a strange Twitter feud with Adam Schefter. The team went winless during a holiday stretch when the coach had previously boasted about avoiding work. To top it off, Green Bay ranks last in Division I for offensive rebounding.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the show? Friday exemplified Gottlieb’s struggle to balance his provocative radio job with coaching responsibilities. Before the game against Robert Morris, he posted a since-deleted video mocking a player for scoring an own basket during the Fairfield-Niagara women’s basketball game.
Can you spot what Niagara WBB did wrong? (The announcers were out to lunch) pic.twitter.com/n6b5e35C10
— The Sickos CBB Committee (@SickosCBB) January 16, 2025
After mocking his peers, his team blew a five-point halftime lead and ultimately lost by 22 points. In fact, Green Bay failed to score in the first ten minutes of the second half while the Colonials went on a 26-0 run.
Final. pic.twitter.com/imHp4bLv9M
— Green Bay Men’s Basketball (@gbphoenixmbb) January 18, 2025
It remains unclear whether Gottlieb deleted his post due to a barrage of negative feedback or if he simply recognized the adverse optics. Either way, this incident adds to the growing list of embarrassments from an increasingly disastrous season.