Men's Basketball Notes - June 12, 2001

Bennett Earns Chance of a Lifetime With Austrian Basketball Squad

     University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball coach Jack Bennett has earned the opportunity of a lifetime this summer as a consultant and advisor with a developmental team of amateur high school and college players in St. Polten, Austria.

     Bennett will leave for Europe following the Pointer summer camps in late July and will work with the team for three-and-a-half weeks. He will be joined by his wife, Sue, on the trip.

     "It's the chance of a lifetime," Bennett said. "It's the chance to work in the sport I love and it will be our first time in Europe."

     The Austrian team is coached by Mauricio Parra, who has spent time in the United States and worked camps with Bennett's brother, Dick, at UW-Madison. Bennett will be advising the team on offensive and defensive systems.

     A former high school history teacher, Bennett will also have time for sightseeing. He plans trips to Vienna, Munich, Budapest, Salzburg and Venice.

     "This opportunity really challenges my passion for basketball and excites our love of history," Bennett said. "It's one of the most historical parts of Europe and I'm thankful and grateful for the opportunity."

Adelman Added to Men's Basketball Coaching Staff

     David Adelman, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Division I Duquesne University, has been added to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball staff as a graduate assistant coach.

     Adelman, a Highland Park, Ill. native, is a 1994 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He previously coached four seasons at Division I Loyola University (Ill.) and currently operates the Hoops Education Camps in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Boston each summer. He also has been selected to coach the junior team in the upcoming World Maccabi Games.

     "We're excited about him from the standpoint of the circles he's traveled in recruiting," Bennett said. "He will help us a lot in Chicago and could even help us in recruiting out East."

     Adelman coached former Pointer Gabe Frank to a gold medal performance in the Maccabi Games in 1999.

     "I think it'll be a wonderful experience," Adelman said. "It's a great honor to join coach Bennett's staff and the tradition at Stevens Point. They've had great success in the past and I hope I can help carry that success into the future."

Koelbl Named Director of Men's Basketball Operations

     UW-Stevens Point men's basketball assistant coach Ken Koelbl has been named the team's Director of Basketball Operations. Koelbl, who is beginning his seventh year with the Pointers, will retain his current position as the team's top assistant coach.

     "This title just reflects the consistently fine job he has done in really helping us with the renaissance of basketball at the university," Bennett said of Koelbl. "This better describes what Ken's done for this program."

     Koelbl handles most of the team's administrative duties, including the direction of five summer basketball camps.