Roese Joins Sadler?s Staff as Assistant Coach

Lincoln --- Walter Roese, a veteran coach with tremendous international ties and an impressive coaching background, has been hired as an assistant coach with the Nebraska men’s basketball team, Husker Coach Doc Sadler announced Thursday. Roese will begin his duties in Lincoln immediately, filling a position vacated by Tony Benford, who joined the staff at Marquette in early May.

 

The addition of Roese (pronounced Ro-eez) is a key component for the Husker staff as Sadler continues to build a foundation for Nebraska within the international basketball community. During Sadler’s two seasons at Nebraska, he has signed two players from foreign countries (China and Germany) and coached Australian center Aleks Maric to one of the best careers in NU history.

 

“I think it goes without saying that Walter’s experience recruiting internationally will make him a great addition for our program,” Sadler said. “I think people understand that our goal is to get to the level to compete for a Big 12 championship, and to do that, we will start recruiting at home but we can’t be afraid to go somewhere else and get players who can help us.

 

“I don’t want people to assume that he only recruits internationally because he’s equally as good recruiting in the United States. When I looked at it, what set him apart from other applicants was his international contacts. In addition to recruiting, Walter will also be great at working with players to make them better and helping me in games.”

 

The first Brazilian to earn a full-time assistant position at the Division I level, Roese has built an impressive collegiate resume in a short time. Over the last three seasons, the teams he has helped coach have won a combined 67 games and earned three postseason bids, including two straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

 

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to coach at Nebraska, and I am looking forward to being there and trying to help as much as I can,” Roese said. “The coaches have done a great job, and I’m excited to be a part of the staff. I’m excited to work with Doc and keep the program moving in the right direction.”

 

Roese also touched on his international experience and how that may help the Huskers attract foreign athletes to Nebraska.

 

“There are no secrets anymore, everybody wants to go international,” he said. “It’s very competitive, but I believe I have some connections and being a foreigner myself I think that helps. I will also try to recruit locally in Nebraska, as well as internationally. I hope I can be able to do a good job and help to get good players.”

 

Roese comes to Nebraska from San Diego, where he spent one season under first-year coach Bill Grier, helping the Toreros to the 2008 West Coast Conference title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. After winning three straight games at the WCC Tournament to earn the league’s automatic berth into the Big Dance, USD upset Connecticut, 70-69 in overtime, before losing to Western Kentucky in the second round. San Diego ended the season with a 22-14 record, including winning 14 of its last 17 games of the season.

 

Previously, Roese spent two years (2005-06 and 2006-07) as an assistant at BrighamYoungUniversity, including helping the Cougars to a 25-9 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2006-07. In his first season, BYU recorded a 20-9 mark and earned a berth in the National Invitation Tournament.

 

Roese, who is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, earned his bachelor’s degree in international business administration in 1994 from BYU-Hawaii. He also attended Houston and West Texas A&M before finishing his playing career at BYU-Hawaii, where he was named a Scholar-Athlete All-American. He started his coaching career in collegiate basketball at BYU-Hawaii as a volunteer assistant coach and after earning his MBA from BYU in 2003, he served as the Cougars’ director of operations in 2003-04 and 2004-05 before moving up to an assistant coaching position.

 

Along with his collegiate experience, Roese has served as a coach for the Brazilian Junior National Team, helping the squad qualify for the 2007 World Cup. He was also named the head coach of the Brazilian team for the 2007 WorldUniversity games in Thailand.

 

One of six members of his family to participate at the Olympic level in basketball, volleyball or tennis, Roese played professionally for seven years in Brazil and Italy. He also spent extensive time with the Brazilian National Team and professional clubs, playing in four World Cup Tournaments and at international competitions in Europe, Asia and South America.

 

Roese and his wife, Monique, have two children, Leonardo and Agatha.