Russ Pennell

Last updated

Russ Pennell
Current position
TitleAssistant coach
Team Rice
Conference American
Biographical details
Born (1960-11-28) November 28, 1960 (age 63)
Pittsburg, Kansas, U.S.
Playing career
1979–1980 Arkansas
1981–1984 Central Arkansas
1984–1988Spirit Express
Position(s) Point guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1989–1990 Pittsburg State (volunteer asst.)
1990–1992 Oklahoma State (assistant)
1992–1998 Ole Miss (assistant)
1998–2004 Arizona State (assistant)
2008–2009 Arizona (interim HC)
2009–2013 Grand Canyon
2013 Phoenix Mercury (interim HC)
2014–2020 Central Arkansas
2022–present Rice (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall143–174 (college)
9–4 (WNBA)

Russell Edwin Pennell (born November 28, 1960) is an American basketball coach, who was last the head coach for the University of Central Arkansas.

Contents

Pennell was born in Pittsburg, Kansas and graduated from Pittsburg High School. He played college basketball at the University of Arkansas and at the University of Central Arkansas, where he was two-year starter at point guard. Pennell later received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Pittsburg State University. [1]

Biography

Assistant coach

He has been an assistant coach at Pittsburg State, Oklahoma State, University of Mississippi, and Arizona State. Pennell coached at Arizona State from 1998 to 2004. [2] He then ran the Arizona Premier AAU summer league program for two seasons. During the 2007–08 season, he was a color analyst for men's basketball on the Arizona State radio network.

Head coach

On May 5, 2008, Arizona head coach Lute Olson announced the hiring of Pennell as an assistant coach. Pennell became the interim head coach on October 24, when Olson announced his surprise retirement for medical reasons. As interim coach, Pennell has coached the Wildcats to a 19–13 record in the regular season (9–9 conference). Because of Arizona's mid-season success, Pennell had been rumored as a contender for the Pac-10's Coach of the Year. [3] Ultimately, Pennell did not win the award as Arizona slumped at the end of the regular season, but his work as Arizona's coach was enough to get Arizona into the NCAA tournament for the 25th consecutive year. Arizona advanced past the first round, where, as a 12th seed, they upset 5th seed Utah (Arizona's first first round win since 2006) and defeated 13th seed Cleveland State to move on to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. However, Arizona suffered a crushing defeat against overall #1 seed Louisville, losing 103–64. On April 7, Arizona signed Xavier men's basketball coach Sean Miller to a 5-year, $11-million contract, ending Pennell's tenure with the Wildcats. [4]

On April 9, 2009, Pennell was hired as head coach of the men's basketball team at Division II Grand Canyon University, a member of the Pacific West Conference. [5] On March 15, 2013, he resigned, replaced by Dan Majerle. [6]

On August 8, 2013, the Phoenix Mercury announced the hiring of Pennell as interim head coach following the firing of Corey Gaines. [7] Pennell guided the team to the Western Conference finals. He announced after the season that he would not return as coach in 2014, and that he hoped to return to coaching in the college ranks. [8]

On March 5, 2014, news broke that Pennell was expected to be named the next head coach of men's basketball at Central Arkansas. On January 7, 2020 it was announced that Pennell would step down from his position. This move followed a leave of absence for personal reasons he took in December 2019. [9]

Personal life

Pennell is married and has two children.

Head coaching record

College

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Arizona Wildcats (Pac-10 Conference)(2008–2009)
2008–09 Arizona 21–149–9T–5th NCAA Division I Sweet 16
Arizona:21–14 (.600)9–9 (.500)
Grand Canyon Antelopes (Pacific West Conference)(2009–2013)
2009–10Grand Canyon 16–1610–64th
2010–11Grand Canyon 14–129–74th
2011–12Grand Canyon 19–813–53rd NCAA Division II first round
2012–13Grand Canyon 23–814–4T–2nd NCAA Division II first round
Grand Canyon:72–44 (.621)46–22 (.676)
Central Arkansas Bears (Southland Conference)(2014–2019)
2014–15 Central Arkansas 2–272–1613th
2015–16 Central Arkansas 7–216–12T–9th
2016–17 Central Arkansas 8–247–11T–8th
2017–18 Central Arkansas 18–1710–87th CBI quarterfinal
2018–19 Central Arkansas 14–198–10T–7th
2019–20 Central Arkansas 1–80–0
Central Arkansas:50–116 (.301)32–57 (.360)
Total:143–174 (.451)

WNBA

Legend
Regular seasonGGames coachedWGames wonLGames lostW–L %Win–loss %
PlayoffsPGPlayoff gamesPWPlayoff winsPLPlayoff lossesPW–L %Playoff win–loss %
TeamYearGWLW–L%FinishPGPWPLPW–L%Result
Phoenix 2013 1394.6923rd in Western523.400Lost Conference semifinals
Career1394.692523.400

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin O'Neill (basketball)</span> American basketball coach (born 1957)

Kevin James O'Neill is an American basketball coach with experience as the head coach of various college and National Basketball Association (NBA) teams. Most recently he was the coach of the USC Trojans basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lute Olson</span> American basketball player and coach (1934–2020)

Robert Luther "Lute" Olson was an American basketball coach, who was inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the head coach of the Arizona Wildcats men's team for 25 years. He was also head coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes for nine years and Long Beach State 49ers for one season. Known for player development and great recruiting, many of his former players have gone on to have impressive careers in the NBA. On October 23, 2008, Olson announced his retirement from coaching. Olson died on August 27, 2020, in Tucson, Arizona. He was 85 years old.

Miles Julian Simon is an American basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the NBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandy Brondello</span> Australian basketball player and coach

Sandra Anne Brondello is an Australian women's basketball coach, and the current head coach of the New York Liberty of the WNBA. Brondello played in Australia, Germany and the WNBA before retiring to become a coach. The 5 ft 7 in Brondello is one of Australia's all-time best shooting guards. She played on Australia's "Opals" national team at four Summer Olympics, and won three medals. She attended the Australian Institute of Sport in 1986–1987, and was inducted to the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reggie Geary</span>

Reggie Elliot Geary is a retired American professional basketball guard for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers (1996–97) and San Antonio Spurs (1997–98). Since 2011 he has coached several teams in Japan's professional basketball leagues.

Corey Yasuto Gaines is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He played five seasons in the NBA, and was a four-time Israeli Premier League Assists Leader, in 1999 and in 2001 to 2003. He was also a former head coach of the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Wildcats men's basketball</span> University of Arizona Pac-12 team

The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. They compete in the Pac-12 Conference of NCAA Division I and is currently coached by Tommy Lloyd. On August 4, 2023, Arizona announced it would join the Big 12 Conference beginning in the 2024–25 academic year, after spending 45 years in the Pac-10/12 conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Miller</span> American basketball coach

Sean Edward Miller is an American college basketball coach who currently serves as head coach of the Xavier Musketeers. He previously held that position from 2004 to 2009, after which he took the head coach position at the Arizona Wildcats, which he held until being fired in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weber State Wildcats</span>

The Weber State Wildcats are the varsity athletic teams representing Weber State University in Ogden, Utah in intercollegiate athletics, sponsoring 16 teams. The Wildcats compete in NCAA Division I FCS and are charter members (1963) of the Big Sky Conference. The mascot is Waldo the Wildcat and team colors are purple and white, with black as an accessory color.

The 2008–09 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball season ended with six teams participating in the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and two teams playing in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993–94 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1993–94 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Arizona. The team's head coach was Lute Olson. The team played its home games in McKale Center as members of the Pacific-10 Conference.

Jack Murphy is an American college basketball coach currently the associate head coach for the Arizona Wildcats of the Pac-12 Conference. Previously, he had been an assistant at University of Memphis.

The 2013 WNBA season is the 17th season for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Central Arkansas Bears basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2013–14 Central Arkansas Bears basketball team represented the University of Central Arkansas during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bears are led by interim head coach Clarence Finley and played their home games at the Farris Center. They were members of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 8–21, 5–13 in Southland play to finish in 11th place. They failed to qualify for the Southland Conference tournament.

Matt Brase is an American professional basketball coach who is an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the head coach of Haiti men's national basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Rosborough</span> American basketball coach

James M. Rosborough is an American basketball coach. Rosborough began his career coaching basketball in 1970 in Chicago at Corkery Junior High, before being hired as an assistant coach in 1974 by Lute Olson at Iowa. Rosborough and Olson coached together for nine seasons at Iowa, reaching five consecutive NCAA tournament berths and reaching the 1980 NCAA Final Four. Rosborough coached briefly at Tulsa (1985-1986) and as head coach at NIU (1986-1989) before rejoining Olson in 1989 as an assistant, and eventual associate head coach, at Arizona through 18 seasons. The team was a prominent collegiate basketball program in the United States throughout the 90's and 00's, reaching 18 consecutive NCAA tournament berths, eight Pac-10 championships, three NCAA Final Fours, and winning the 1997 NCAA Championship. Rosborough coached over 50 All-American, all-conference and future NBA players during his time at Arizona. Rosborough was inducted to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001.

Anthony Boone is an American college basketball coach and former player. He is the head coach of the Central Arkansas Bears men's basketball team.

Bret Brielmaier is an American professional basketball coach who currently is an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The 2007–08 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball season ended with six teams participating in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, two teams playing in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and one team playing in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).

References

  1. ↑ "Russ Pennell". Arizona State Sun Devils. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Arizona State University - Men's Basketball - Official Athletic Site". thesundevils.ocsn.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2004. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Forde Minutes: Stretch-run story lines, monopolies and underachievers". ESPN. 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  4. ↑ https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iT_aM3Z77RWxo6IttI_6yHdZFNGQD97DT8S80 [ dead link ]
  5. ↑ "Pennell's new gig in Phoenix a 'great fit'". Arizona Daily Star. 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "PHOENIX, March 15, 2013: GCU Men's Basketball Coach Russ Pennell Resigns | PRNewswire | Rock Hill Herald Online". Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  7. ↑ Negley, Cassandra (August 8, 2013). "Phoenix Mercury fire Corey Gaines, hire Russ Pennell as interim coach". Arizona Republic.
  8. ↑ [Russ Pennell will not return as Phoenix Mercury head coach http://www.swishappeal.com/2013/10/19/4854444/wnba-phoenix-mercury-head-coach-change-russ-pennell]
  9. ↑ Doeschner, Trenton (January 7, 2020). "Pennell out as UCA men's basketball coach". arkansasonline.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.