Bob Hoffman Hired as Men's Basketball Assistant Coach

NORMAN, Okla. University of Oklahoma men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson announced today the hiring of Oklahoma City native and former Texas-Pan American head coach Bob Hoffman as assistant coach. Hoffman replaces five-year OU assistant Jim Shaw who accepted a position as assistant coach at Washington.

One of the state's most successful head coaches in the late 1980s at Southern Nazarene (women) and '90s at Oklahoma Baptist, Hoffman returns to Oklahoma after coaching UTPA to a 69-76 record the last five years (the program was 34-104 in the five seasons prior to his arrival). Included was a 21-9 mark in 2001-02 (the program's most wins since 1989-90) and a 14-14 record this past season both of which landed him Independent Coach of the Year honors. Prior to his stint at UTPA, Hoffman coached NAIA member Oklahoma Baptist to a 243-78 (.757) record over nine years. He began his college coaching career in 1987-88 at Southern Nazarene and directed the women's program to an 88-16 (.846) mark over three seasons.

“Jim Shaw did a fantastic job here and we thank him for his five years of service,” said Sampson. “He will be missed and we certainly wish him and his family the best as they head back to his home state of Washington. In Bob Hoffman, we've hired a first-rate coach who will help our program immediately.

“I've always admired Bob and the job he did at OBU. Having coached against him last year when Texas-Pan American played here, I saw first-hand that he's a tremendous coach. But the thing that impresses me the most is his character and integrity and the type of man he is.”

Sampson added, “I came up through the NAIA ranks and I found out that if you can coach and recruit on that level you can do it on any level. Bob Hoffman is going to be a tremendous asset to our program on the bench, in recruiting and in all areas. I think we've hit a home run.”

At Oklahoma Baptist, Hoffman, 46, led his teams to four 30-win campaigns and to the NAIA national tournament each of his final seven years there. The Bison played in the national championship game in both 1993 and 1997, and made the Final Four in 1994 and the Elite Eight in 1999. The 1996 and 1997 Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year was named 1993 national coach of the year by Basketball Times.

Hoffman inherited a Southern Nazarene women's program that had never posted a winning season and claimed the 1989 NAIA national title in just his second season there. He was named NAIA national coach of the year that same season. His teams began a 120-game home court winning streak for SNU, the longest in women's college basketball history.

“I'm looking forward to the opportunity of serving alongside one of the best coaches in America who has done amazing things with the OU basketball program,” said Hoffman. “I hope to help continue the great success that has already been put into motion in Norman. Coach Sampson is one of the most highly regarded coaches in the game and it's an honor to be chosen as the newest member of the OU staff.”

A standout guard/forward at OBU (he graduated in 1979) who scored more than 1,000 career points, Hoffman spent two years as an assistant coach for Piedmont's boys team before taking over as head coach. He directed Piedmont to a 79-30 (.725) record and its first three appearances in the state tournament. Hoffman then returned to OBU to serve two seasons as an assistant coach before accepting the women's job at SNU.

Hoffman and his wife, the former Kelli Lumry, have a seven-year-old son named Grant.

Shaw helped the Sooners to a 131-37 (.780) record, three Big 12 Tournament titles and appearances in the NCAA Final Four and Elite Eight. Born in Seattle, Shaw considers Port Townsend, Wash., his hometown.

“The past five years have been incredible and afforded me the opportunity to learn and grow as a coach,” said Shaw. “Coach Sampson is the most competitive and driven person I have ever met and will, without question, keep Oklahoma at or near the top of the college basketball world. This was a very difficult decision, but the chance to return home and be closer to my family and closest friends was an opportunity I felt too special to pass up.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Bob Hoffman Hired as Men's Basketball Assistant Coach

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors