What Others Are Saying About Doc Sadler

Steve Pederson
Nebraska Athletic Director
"This is a great day for everyone who loves Nebraska basketball. In Coach Sadler, we have a man who will bring character, determination, toughness and a winning attitude to the Husker basketball program. Not only is he an excellent coach and recruiter, but he is the kind of family man that you want leading your program. I can’t wait for Nebraska fans to get to know Coach Sadler."

Marc Boehm
Nebraska Executive Associate Athletic Director
"One of the things that we have talked about is recruiting and how important it is here. We have found a man who obviously is one of the best recruiters in the country, as he has coached 19 future NBA players. He has a tremendous track record, but his greatest quality may be his ability to build relationships with players, parents, coaches and fans. The people of Lincoln and Nebraska will love him."

"Doc was on our original list, and we fell in love with him. We chatted for about 2 ? hours with him, and we wanted to chat more and it got into the wee hours of the night. We knew he was something special. He’s a special guy and people here are going to love him."

Don Haskins
Former UTEP Head Coach
"I think Doc is one of the top coaches in the country. I could not believe how good he was when I went and watched drills. He’s got a hand on the game, and I thought he did a wonderful job.

"I have been around a few years and haven’t seen anyone better. This guy should have been a head coach 10 to 12 years ago. Nebraska is getting an excellent coach, and he will get the best out of his players. He is a first-class guy and he makes it easy to say these things.

"The most amazing thing is his uncanny ability to get his players to practice hard and work. His are some of the hardest workouts I have ever seen on a basketball court. He always gets the best out of his players. I’ve also never seen a guy work so hard at recruiting. He has unbelievable energy and is a hard worker. He’s easy to talk to and believe in. And he’s won everywhere he’s been before."

Jay Bilas
College Basketball Analyst
"Doc Sadler is a terrific coach, and I think that he is an inspired choice for Nebraska. He is a technically sound coach, and he understands how to teach the game. But better yet, he is a passionate basketball man who will bring excitement, discipline and winning ways to Nebraska basketball. I think Doc Sadler is a great choice and one of the up-and-coming young coaches nation-wide."

Andy Katz
ESPN.com Senior Writer
"From the moment I heard that Doc Sadler was a candidate for the Nebraska job, I thought he was the perfect choice for the job. Nebraska needs a coach that has a recruiting niche like in the state of Texas and in the junior colleges. Doc fits that to a T. I expect that Nebraska will be one of the teams fighting for postseason berths over the next couple seasons."Billy Gillispie, Head Coach, Texas A&M

“Doc is the best person I have ever had the joy in meeting and getting to know. He is one of the few people who puts everyone at ease without even trying. What you see is what you get. He makes everyone feel confident because his disposition is so sunny.

“He isn’t just successful; he has been ultra-successful at every single level. There is no question he will be a great coach at Nebraska. He was one of the top at UTEP in winning percentage and that’s a school with a great history and a national championship.

“Doc has a great ability to push his players to the limit and then some. He is tough but he has an amazing ability to build relationships with players and they are willing to play hard for Doc. He can be tough sometimes but he does it in a way where they will still like him. He’s also a great X’s and O’s guy and is one of the best recruiters out there.

“He can get a player from anywhere. He will be in the top two or three (possible schools) for recruits even when he isn’t supposed to be. First impressions are the most important thing and he makes as good a first impression as anyone around. It’s normally pretty hard to follow a first impression but it seems like he just gets better every time you come in contact with him. Nebraska is getting the total package.”

Charles Richardson
Nebraska Senior Guard
On noticing a difference in style of play with Coach Sadler
"I feel a sense of urgency in the players. They are ready to get this thing started right now. All the guys are jumping up for joy in the locker room. That’s not saying that we’re glad that Coach Collier is gone. He is a good guy, and we love him a lot, but it’s time to move on. I think that everybody has fallen into his philosophy his first day here. I think everybody has done a good job of carrying him into our arms and being open to him."

On Coach Sadler’s comments of possibly making the NCAA Tournament
"In the locker room that’s all he kept saying. This is my senior year. The team is on my back right now. I’m ready to stand up for that. He told the players right now that this is for Charles and Marcus Perry, the last two seniors here. So we’re going to try to make the best out of it. Hopefully the best out of it means we make it to the NCAA Tournament."

On if Coach Sadler’s style of offense makes him happy
"Oh, definitely. I come from a program in high school where all we did was run. Every team I’ve been on all my life we’ve done nothing but run up and down the court. The team’s he’s had in the past and that he’s coached they’ve done nothing but run up and down the court, so when I heard that a light went on in my head. And the first thing I thought about was that I have to get in shape to get prepared to play 40 minutes and run up and down 94 feet."

On if Coach Sadler’s style of play will be a change from last year
"I don’t think it will be a change of play at all because the guys here want that to happen. If we want it to happen, it’s going to happen. If we want it to happen and he lets us do what we want to do on the court then it’s going to fun. I think everybody’s going to enjoy it."

On how he looks at Coach Sadler after he met him
"Today when he actually walked into the locker room I was like, ?Hey, I guess this is a done deal.’ Yesterday was my first time ever hearing his name mentioned as far as being a candidate for the coaching job. I went straight to the computer lab and did some research. But when he walked into the office today I was like ?It’s a done deal,’ and I was really excited."

On if Coach Sadler’s previous defensive-minded teams was a disappointment
"Oh no. Because he said that he’s going to allow us to do what we want on one end, but he’s going to work the hell out of us on the other (defensive end). Like he said in the interview, I am going to push these guys on one end of the court, but we’re going to let them have fun on the other end. So when he expressed that to us, we were excited. If we work our butts off on the defensive end, I’m sure we’re going to have fun on the offensive end."

On Coach Sadler’s personality
"He’s a fun guy. When he talked to us he was joking. He’s serious at times, but he lets you know that he’s got a sense of humor. I think a lot of guys appreciate a guy like that because he’s going to come in and build a good relationship with the players right off the bat."

On if he’s tried to contact Aleks Maric
"Oh yeah. I tried to call him, texted him and e-mailed him. Hopefully in the next couple hours or days he contacts me back. But right now, I’m the only player on the team trying to contact him because he’s over in Australia. We’re putting the forth the effort to try and contact him and try to get him to change his mind."

On how optimistic he is that they can get Maric to come back
"I think if he gets the word from the players and understands how bad we need him and how much we love having him here then I think he’ll take into consideration our feelings. Right now he hasn’t talked to any of the players. The only people he has talked to is the assistant coaches and probably Marc Boehm and (Steve) Pederson. So it would be helpful if he got to speak with one of the players."

Jay-R Strowbridge
Nebraska Freshman Guard
On his impressions of Coach Sadler
"He’s a down-to-earth guy. He’s simple, that’s the main thing. He seems like somebody you could look up to."