Karl Hobbs
Encyclopedia
Karl Hobbs is a former men's college basketball
coach. He is currently the Director, Basketball Operations at the University of Connecticut
. He is the former head coach
of the George Washington University
Colonials
men's basketball
team. During his tenure, the Colonials won two Atlantic 10 Conference championships and made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2005-07. Hobbs is known for his high-energy, frenetic coaching style.
, a neighborhood of Boston. Hobbs began at basketball at Burke High School before he transferred to Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
in highly controversial decision in which Burke coach Joe Day accused Cambridge coach Mike Jarvis
of illegally recruiting Hobbs. At Cambridge, Hobbs played point guard alongside future NBA star Patrick Ewing
. They won the Massachusetts State High School title and Hobbs was named Massachusetts Schoolboy Player of the Year for the 1979-80 season. After high school, the 5'8" Hobbs attended the University of Connecticut
playing basketball for coach Dom Perno
and setting a school record (since-broken) with 534 career assists - a total that currently ranks fourth in school history. After graduating, Hobbs signed with the Rhode Island Gulls of the USBL
.
in 1988 and remained there as an assistant through 1993. Then, he joined Jim Calhoun
as an assistant at UConn where he stayed from 1993-2001. During this time, he worked at both schools in the training and development of their guards and honed his recruiting skills. When Dave Leitao
left Calhoun's staff to become the head coach at Northeastern University, Hobbs was elevated to his position as the top recruiter. Hobbs is credited as the recruiter who brought Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler
and Khalid El-Amin
to UConn, among others, and he was vital in the development of Ray Allen
, who still credits him for the development of his strong jumpshot.
Through Hobbs's fourteen years as an assistant, he was a member of coaching staffs that made eight NCAA Tournaments and two NIT appearances. Additionally, UConn made five Sweet Sixteen appearances during his tenure and won the 1998-99 National Championship.
During this time, it was natural for Hobbs's name to begin popping up for head coaching vacancies. Some of the various schools at which he was a candidate were the University of New Hampshire
, Fordham University
, Tulane University
, American University
, the University of Hartford
, the University of Delaware
, the University of Miami
, Siena College
and Drexel University
before he finally accepted an offer to become the head coach at George Washington University
in May 2001.
after previous coach Tom Penders
resigned following a lack of success and a number of scandals in Foggy Bottom. Penders said his resignation was because after 30 years of coaching, it was "time for a sabattical," and said the resignation was not related to the off-the-court issues.
Hobbs won his first Atlantic 10 Conference Championship in 2005, the first in GW history, and then added the second in 2007 in Atlantic City
. On January 3, 2007 he achieved his 100th win at the Smith Center
over Fordham.
Hobbs was known for his enthusiastic demeanor on the sidelines. He is known for his intensity, fast substitutions and frequent whistling and hollering. His teams were typically characterized by their frenetic, trapping defense which has led the Colonials
to be one of the top teams in steals. Additionally, he tended to recruit stocky guards and pencil-thin athletic forwards while coaching one of the quickest teams in the country that force turnovers with full-court defense.
Two of Hobbs's players at George Washington played in the NBA and a third was drafted in the second round in 2006. They are: Pops Mensah-Bonsu
, Mike Hall
and J. R. Pinnock. Yet, after making it to the NCAA tournament the following season, Hobbs's squad missed the A-10 tournament for two consecutive years leading fans to call for his firing.
To start the 2009-10 season, Hobbs brought in a 6-player recruiting class in which (as of December 21, 2009) four players average at least 15 minutes per game. He also added former Michigan Head Coach Brian Ellerbe
to his staff to replace Darrell Brooks, who left to become the head coach at Bowie State University
. Hobbs has led his team to an 11-4 record to start the season, prompting local media to note that Hobbs' team re-energized the campus and kick-started its rebuilding process. The Colonials finished the season with a winning season for the first time in three years, and Hobbs had two players receive conference postseason honors for the first time in three years as well. Freshman Lasan Kromah was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and Senior Damian Hollis was named an Atlantic 10 Honorable Mention.
The turnaround in victories coincided with an increased presence for Coach Hobbs in communication with fans and on television. Hobbs partnered with local television personality Ron Harris for The Karl Hobbs Show which aired on MASN through the 2009-10 basketball season.
On April 25th, 2011 it was announced that George Washington had released Hobbs from his contract. Officials stated that "The university determined that now is the time for new leadership of GW’s men’s basketball team"
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach. He is currently the Director, Basketball Operations at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
. He is the former head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
Colonials
George Washington Colonials
The George Washington Colonials are the athletic teams of George Washington University. The school sponsors 21 varsity sports , the majority of which compete in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The men's and women's water polo teams compete in the Collegiate Water Polo Association and the...
men's basketball
George Washington Colonials men's basketball
The George Washington Colonials Basketball team represents The George Washington University in Washington, DC. It plays its home games in the Charles E. Smith Center, which is also shared with other George Washington Colonials athletic programs. The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic...
team. During his tenure, the Colonials won two Atlantic 10 Conference championships and made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2005-07. Hobbs is known for his high-energy, frenetic coaching style.
Early years
Karl Hobbs was born and raised in Roxbury, MassachusettsRoxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
, a neighborhood of Boston. Hobbs began at basketball at Burke High School before he transferred to Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
The Cambridge Rindge and Latin School is a public high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.The school, serving grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Cambridge Public Schools....
in highly controversial decision in which Burke coach Joe Day accused Cambridge coach Mike Jarvis
Mike Jarvis
Mike Jarvis is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Florida Atlantic University. He has coached at Boston University, George Washington University and St. John's University. He also has worked as a commentator for college basketball games on ESPN...
of illegally recruiting Hobbs. At Cambridge, Hobbs played point guard alongside future NBA star Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...
. They won the Massachusetts State High School title and Hobbs was named Massachusetts Schoolboy Player of the Year for the 1979-80 season. After high school, the 5'8" Hobbs attended the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
playing basketball for coach Dom Perno
Dom Perno
Dom Perno is an American basketball coach and current associate athletic director at George Washington University. He was head basketball coach at the University of Connecticut for nine seasons, from 1977 to 1986, compiling a 139-114 record, making both the NCAA tournament and NIT. He coached...
and setting a school record (since-broken) with 534 career assists - a total that currently ranks fourth in school history. After graduating, Hobbs signed with the Rhode Island Gulls of the USBL
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
.
Early positions
Hobbs joined Jarvis's staff as an assistant coach at Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1988 and remained there as an assistant through 1993. Then, he joined Jim Calhoun
Jim Calhoun
James A. Calhoun is the head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. His teams have won three national championships , played in four Final Fours , won the 1988 NIT championship, and have won seven Big East tournament championships...
as an assistant at UConn where he stayed from 1993-2001. During this time, he worked at both schools in the training and development of their guards and honed his recruiting skills. When Dave Leitao
Dave Leitao
Dave Leitao is the head coach of the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League and the former head men's basketball coach of the University of Virginia. Previously, he was head coach at Northeastern University and DePaul University...
left Calhoun's staff to become the head coach at Northeastern University, Hobbs was elevated to his position as the top recruiter. Hobbs is credited as the recruiter who brought Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler
Caron Butler
James Caron Butler, widely known as Caron Butler , is an American professional basketball player who most recently played at small forward for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.-Early life:...
and Khalid El-Amin
Khalid El-Amin
Khalid El-Amin is an American professional basketball player. He was a member of the 1999 UConn men's basketball team that won the NCAA championship. He is originally from Minnesota where he played for North High School in Minneapolis...
to UConn, among others, and he was vital in the development of Ray Allen
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
, who still credits him for the development of his strong jumpshot.
Through Hobbs's fourteen years as an assistant, he was a member of coaching staffs that made eight NCAA Tournaments and two NIT appearances. Additionally, UConn made five Sweet Sixteen appearances during his tenure and won the 1998-99 National Championship.
During this time, it was natural for Hobbs's name to begin popping up for head coaching vacancies. Some of the various schools at which he was a candidate were the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
, Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, the University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
, the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
, the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, Siena College
Siena College
Siena College is an independent Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Loudonville, in the town of Colonie, New York, United States. Siena is a four-year, coeducational, independent college in the Franciscan tradition, founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937. It has 3,000 full-time students and...
and Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
before he finally accepted an offer to become the head coach at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in May 2001.
George Washington
On May 7, 2001, Hobbs was named the head coach at the George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
after previous coach Tom Penders
Tom Penders
Tom Penders is a retired college basketball head coach, who last coached from 2004 through 2010 at the University of Houston. He is from Stratford, Connecticut and has a 648-438 career record...
resigned following a lack of success and a number of scandals in Foggy Bottom. Penders said his resignation was because after 30 years of coaching, it was "time for a sabattical," and said the resignation was not related to the off-the-court issues.
Hobbs won his first Atlantic 10 Conference Championship in 2005, the first in GW history, and then added the second in 2007 in Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. On January 3, 2007 he achieved his 100th win at the Smith Center
Charles E. Smith Athletic Center
The Charles E. Smith Athletic Center is a 5,000-seat multipurpose arena in Washington D.C.. It is home to the George Washington University Colonials men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the university's swimming, water polo, gymnastics, and volleyball teams...
over Fordham.
Hobbs was known for his enthusiastic demeanor on the sidelines. He is known for his intensity, fast substitutions and frequent whistling and hollering. His teams were typically characterized by their frenetic, trapping defense which has led the Colonials
George Washington Colonials
The George Washington Colonials are the athletic teams of George Washington University. The school sponsors 21 varsity sports , the majority of which compete in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The men's and women's water polo teams compete in the Collegiate Water Polo Association and the...
to be one of the top teams in steals. Additionally, he tended to recruit stocky guards and pencil-thin athletic forwards while coaching one of the quickest teams in the country that force turnovers with full-court defense.
Two of Hobbs's players at George Washington played in the NBA and a third was drafted in the second round in 2006. They are: Pops Mensah-Bonsu
Pops Mensah-Bonsu
Nana Papa Yaw Dwene "Pops" Mensah-Bonsu is a British professional basketball player of Ghanaian descent.-Amateur career:...
, Mike Hall
Mike Hall (basketball)
Michael Horus Hall is an American professional basketball player with the Erdemir SK of the Turkish Basketball League.-College career:He attended Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights, Illinois...
and J. R. Pinnock. Yet, after making it to the NCAA tournament the following season, Hobbs's squad missed the A-10 tournament for two consecutive years leading fans to call for his firing.
To start the 2009-10 season, Hobbs brought in a 6-player recruiting class in which (as of December 21, 2009) four players average at least 15 minutes per game. He also added former Michigan Head Coach Brian Ellerbe
Brian Ellerbe
Brian Hersholt Ellerbe is an American basketball coach, currently an assistant at DePaul.The Seat Pleasant, Maryland native served as head men's basketball coach at Loyola-Maryland from 1994 to 1997, and then at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 2001, where he posted a 62-60 record...
to his staff to replace Darrell Brooks, who left to become the head coach at Bowie State University
Bowie State University
Bowie State University , is a public university located on 355½ acres in unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, north of the suburban city of Bowie. Bowie State is part of the University System of Maryland...
. Hobbs has led his team to an 11-4 record to start the season, prompting local media to note that Hobbs' team re-energized the campus and kick-started its rebuilding process. The Colonials finished the season with a winning season for the first time in three years, and Hobbs had two players receive conference postseason honors for the first time in three years as well. Freshman Lasan Kromah was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and Senior Damian Hollis was named an Atlantic 10 Honorable Mention.
The turnaround in victories coincided with an increased presence for Coach Hobbs in communication with fans and on television. Hobbs partnered with local television personality Ron Harris for The Karl Hobbs Show which aired on MASN through the 2009-10 basketball season.
On April 25th, 2011 it was announced that George Washington had released Hobbs from his contract. Officials stated that "The university determined that now is the time for new leadership of GW’s men’s basketball team"