A significant concern regarding Doug Gottlieb’s dual role as a Fox Sports Radio host and head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix men’s basketball team is whether his demanding 15-hour on-air schedule leaves him enough time for coaching responsibilities. On Saturday, ahead of the Phoenix’s road game against the Cleveland State Vikings, Gottlieb demonstrated a particular focus on one detail: measuring the rim’s height with a ladder and a tape measure.
Apparently @GottliebShow doesn’t like the height of the rims here in Cleveland pic.twitter.com/dLfw7xyXHo
— Jon (@pronkville08) January 25, 2025
Rim-measuring is often referenced in sports, especially in relation to Norman Dale’s (Gene Hackman) speech in Hoosiers, highlighting that the rims and other dimensions in Indianapolis’ Butler Fieldhouse are identical to those in his high school gym:
However, it is quite rare to see the head coach measuring rims, which led to significant criticism given the team’s current struggles. The Phoenix have lost 16 games in a row, raising eyebrows about Gottlieb’s focus:
Green Bay men’s basketball has lost 16 games in a row and head coach Doug Gottlieb is worried about the rims 😭
— GoldBoys.com (@GoldBoysSupport) January 25, 2025
Doug Gottlieb becomes even more of a clown with each passing day. https://t.co/dIGp8jMhsw
— The Silent Assassin (@SilentAssassinM) January 25, 2025
Doug Gottlieb is the gift that keeps on giving. From losing 18 in a row, to calling opponents Nobody U and then losing to said opponent and now measuring rims. Doug, thank you for the entertainment!
— . (@kingofswae) January 25, 2025
To his credit, Gottlieb’s rim-measuring did lead to an official adjustment of one basket’s height:
Just a heads up the @gbphoenixmbb game will start at 2:09. Slight delay as they had to adjust one of the baskets in Cleveland. I’ll have the call in the Mixlr app.
— Brian Kuklinski (@brian_kuklinski) January 25, 2025
Nonetheless, this change did not result in a victory for the Phoenix, who lost the game 81-66, marking their 17th consecutive defeat. Questions remain about Gottlieb juggling both roles, especially following a thorough critique by Rodger Sherman, who noted the limited head coaching opportunities at the DI level. With UW-Green Bay’s record falling to 2-20 this season—down from 18-14 last year—Gottlieb’s sideline decisions have sparked further scrutiny. From benching the nation’s leading scorer to engaging in social media disputes and making controversial statements, his focus has been challenged throughout the season. While he might have had justification for addressing the rim’s height, his actions have only intensified the focus on his coaching abilities.
