The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
Second Season at Texas
Pronunciation: DON-eh-walled
An experienced coach at the professional, international and collegiate levels, Bob Donewald Jr. enters his first season as Assistant Coach at The University of Texas and his second year on the Texas staff. Donewald, who has 23 years of coaching experience, served in the role of Special Assistant to the Head Coach last season.
In his first year in Austin, Donewald helped the Longhorns to a 22-12 overall record (10-8 Big 12 Conference, fourth). Texas earned an 81-73 win over Virginia Tech in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64, marking the school’s first NCAA tourney win since 2014, before falling to No. 10/9 (No. 3 seed) Purdue in a hard-fought battle in the Round of 32.
The 22 total wins by the Longhorns were the most since Texas had 24 victories in 2013-14. UT, which appeared in every Associated Press Top 25 poll except one during the season, placed No. 25 in the final AP poll. This marked just the second time Texas had been in the final AP poll since the 2010-11 season (UT was No. 9 in the final poll in 2021). The Longhorns reached the 20-win mark in the month of February for the first time since 2013-14 and reached the 20-win mark in the regular season for the first time since 2015-16.
Playing in the toughest league in the country, the Big 12 featured a pair of No. 1 seeds in Kansas and Baylor, the eventual national champion (Kansas), two additional Sweet 16 teams and six total NCAA tourney squads (all six won their respective NCAA Round of 64 games). Texas played AP-ranked opponents in eight of its last 11 games and faced 10 NCAA Tournament opponents in a total of 16 games. In their two matchups against the national champion Jayhawks, the Longhorns earned an impressive 79-76 home win over No. 8/8 Kansas (Feb. 7) and took the No. 6/7 Jayhawks to overtime on Senior Day in Allen Fieldhouse before falling 70-63 (March 5).
All five Texas starters (Timmy Allen, second team; Marcus Carr, third team; Christian Bishop, honorable mention; Andrew Jones, honorable mention; Courtney Ramey, honorable mention) earned spots on the Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Award teams, selected by the league’s head coaches. The Longhorns led the Big 12 and finished No. 10 in scoring defense (60.6 ppg), ranked second in the league and No. 22 nationally in turnover margin (+3.4) and second in the league in turnovers per game (11.5), showcasing a culture of defense and ball security.
Texas was No. 15 in the final KenPom analytics rankings. UT finished No. 14 in the nation in defensive efficiency (91.6) and No. 26 nationally in offensive efficiency (112.5). The Longhorns were one of 10 teams to rank in the Top 30 in both offensive and defensive efficiency in 2021-22, joining Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Baylor, Arizona, Villanova, UCLA, Auburn and Illinois.
On the recruiting trail, all the Texas staff did in their first full cycle in 2022 was ink a four-man freshman group that was ranked as the No. 5 recruiting class in the country by Rivals and 247 Sports. The class featured a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans in Dillon Mitchell and Arterio Morris, marking the first time since 2016 and just the fifth time in program history that the Longhorns have had two signees named to the prestigious roster in the same year (2004, 2006, 2010, 2016 and 2022). Texas also added a pair of transfers through the portal in Tyrese Hunter (Iowa State), the 2022 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, and Sir’Jabari Rice (New Mexico State), who both led their former teams to wins in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
During the 2020-21 season, Donewald was an assistant coach who helped the Red Raiders post an 18-11 mark (9-8 Big 12) and advance to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Texas Tech earned a 65-53 win over Utah State in the NCAA First Round before falling to Arkansas, 68-66. The Red Raiders were ranked in The AP Top 25 throughout the entire season for the first time in program history, reaching as high as No. 7 in February and sitting at No. 21 in the final poll.
Texas Tech led the Big 12 in scoring defense (63.2 ppg) and held 13 of its 29 opponents below 60 points. The quartet of Mac McClung (second team), Terrence Shannon Jr. (third team), Kyler Edwards (honorable mention) and Kevin McCullar (honorable mention) earned All-Big 12 honors, while McClung claimed spots on the NABC and USWBA all-district teams. In addition, a school-record six players garnered Academic All-Big 12 team recognition.
In his first year in Lubbock (2019-20), Donewald served as the Director of Player Development. Texas Tech posted an 18-13 record and tied for third in the Big 12 with a 9-9 league mark. The Red Raiders defeated No. 1 Louisville 70-57 at the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden and registered an 88-42 home win against TCU, marking the largest margin of victory (46 points) in Big 12 play in program history. Jahmi’us Ramsey (second team) and Davide Moretti (honorable mention) earned All-Big 12 honors, while Ramsey and Shannon claimed spots on the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Following the season, Ramsey was selected No. 43 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings.
Prior to his time in Lubbock, Donewald spent the 2018-19 season as the head coach of the PBC Lokomotiv Kuban in the VTB United League in Russia. He was the head coach for the Jilin Northeast Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2016-17 season.
Donewald served as the head coach of the Iowa Energy as part of the Memphis Grizzlies organization in the NBA D League for two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16). The Energy (now known as the Iowa Wolves) registered a 52-48 mark in his two years, and Donewald’s emphasis on player development led to call-ups to the NBA for Hassan Whiteside, Willie Reed, Kalin Lucas, Patrick Christopher, Tyrus Thomas, James Ennis III and Alex Stephenson.
Donewald was the head coach of Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk for one season (2008-09), when he coached Patrick Beverley and led the team to the Ukranian UBL Cup semifinals. He then took over the head coaching position with the Shanghai Sharks in China for two years (2009-11) under the ownership of Yao Ming. Donewald guided the Sharks to the Chinese Basketball Association’s Final Four of the 2010 playoffs after inheriting a team that finished in last place the year prior to his hiring. He then served as head coach for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the CBA during the 2011 season.
During his time in China, Donewald also worked as the head coach of the Chinese National Team from 2010-12, leading the team at the 2010 World Championships, the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 London Olympics. Under his guidance, the Chinese National Team captured the gold medal at the 2010 and 2011 Asian Games and he was named the Asian Games’ Best Coach in 2010 and the 2011 Asian Championships’ Best Coach. The squad posted a 36-0 record in Asia during his time as head coach.
Donewald spent one year as an assistant coach at UAB (2007-08), helping the Blazers post a 23-11 mark and advance to the NIT Second Round. While in Birmingham, Donewald developed a pair of players who went on to be selected in the NBA Draft in Walter Sharpe (No. 32 overall by Seattle in 2008) and Robert Vaden (No. 54 overall by Charlotte in 2009). He also was the head coach for Objetivo Sao Carlos in Brazil from 2005-07.
Donewald spent three years (2001-04) as an assistant coach in the NBA in Charlotte (2001-02), New Orleans (2002-03) and Cleveland (2003-04). During his time in the NBA, he worked with LeBron James, Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams, Jamal Mashburn, Baron Davis, Carlos Boozer and Hassan Whiteside.
Prior to his time in the NBA, Donewald spent five years as a head coach and general manager in the British Basketball League (BBL), leading his teams to the finals of the championship series three times. He served as head coach and general manager of the Leicester Riders for two seasons (1996-97 and 1997-98), guiding the Riders to the finals of the National Cup in his second year. Donewald was the head coach of the Derby Storm for one season (1998-99), leading the team to the finals of the uni-ball Trophy. He then served as head coach of the Greater London Leopards for two years (1999-2000 and 2000-01), helping the Leopards to a 24-10 mark and the finals of the National Cup in 2000-01.
Donewald began his coaching career as a student assistant for four years (1989-93) under his father, Bob Donewald Sr., at Western Michigan University. He served an internship with the New Jersey Nets and was an assistant to the general manager, Willis Reed. Donewald spent two years (1994-96) as an assistant coach at Morehead State University (Morehead, Ky.).
Born in South Bend, Ind., Donewald graduated from Western Michigan University in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in English. He and his wife, Marta, have two sons, Jake and Luke.
The Bob Donewald Jr. File
|
Hometown |
Middleville, Mich. |
|
Education |
Western Michigan University, bachelor’s degree, English, 1993 |
|
Wife |
Marta |
|
Children |
Jake and Luke |
Donewald’s Coaching Experience
|
Years |
School |
Position/Title |
|
2022-present |
Texas |
Assistant Coach |
|
2021-22 |
Texas |
Special Assistant to the Head Coach |
|
2020-21 |
Texas Tech |
Assistant Coach |
|
2019-20 |
Texas Tech |
Director of Player Development |
|
2018-19 |
Lokomotiv Kuban |
Head Coach |
|
2016-17 |
Jilin Northeast Tigers |
Head Coach |
|
2014-16 |
Iowa Energy |
Head Coach |
|
2011 |
Xinjiang Flying Tigers |
Head Coach |
|
2010-12 |
Chinese National Team |
Head Coach |
|
2009-11 |
Shanghai Sharks |
Head Coach |
|
2008-09 |
Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk |
Head Coach |
|
2007-08 |
UAB |
Assistant Coach |
|
2005-07 |
Objetivo Sao Carlos |
Head Coach |
|
2003-04 |
Cleveland Cavaliers |
Assistant Coach |
|
2002-03 |
New Orleans Hornets |
Assistant Coach |
|
2001-02 |
Charlotte Hornets |
Assistant Coach |
|
1999-2001 |
Greater London Leopards |
Head Coach |
|
1998-99 |
Derby Storm |
Head Coach |
|
1996-98 |
Leicester Riders |
Head Coach |
|
1994-96 |
Morehead State |
Assistant Coach |
