For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 17, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director (956) 381-2240

HOFFMAN WITHDRAWS AT CAMPBELL, WILL STAY AT UTPA

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's head men's basketball coach, has withdrawn his name from consideration for the head coaching position at Campbell University.

Bob Hoffman has notified the administration at Campbell that he will remain at Texas-Pan American.

"I was honored to be considered as the head men's basketball coach at Campbell University," said Hoffman. "They have a great university. My wife, Kelli and I, after prayerful consideration, have decided to withdraw from consideration at Campbell. We are excited about the days ahead with Bronc basketball, and feel that our place is here. The administration and the university family at The University of Texas-Pan American have been good to us, and we've gotten great support from all the people in the valley. We hope to continue what we have begun, and to make it even greater."

"We are extremely pleased that Bob Hoffman will remain at The University of Texas-Pan American as our head men's basketball coach," said UTPA Director of Athletics William J. Weidner. "Coach Hoffman has provided outstanding leadership for our men's basketball program, and has laid a solid foundation upon which to build future successes, both on and off the court."

"The fact that Coach Hoffman was chosen as a finalist at another NCAA Division I university is a compliment to Bob personally, to our men's basketball program, and to our entire athletic department," Weidner added. "He is, in our opinion, one of the finest collegiate basketball coaches in the country, and we are very fortunate to have him on our staff at UTPA. I know that Bob is extremely proud of our athletic department's recent accomplishments, and we share the same exciting vision in regards to the future of Bronc basketball, as well as our entire athletic program."

Hoffman, who led the Broncs to a 10-20 record last season, has a 54-63 record at Texas-Pan American in four seasons, and is 385-157 in 15 years as a collegiate head coach. His record at UTPA is the fourth best in school history, trailing only Abe Lemons (55-16, .775), Sam Williams (244-164, .598) and Bill White (94-66, .588).
In 2001-2002, Texas Pan-American was 20-10, the most wins the Broncs have had since the 1989-90 season. They had their first winning season since the 1993-94 campaign, earned their first tournament victory since 1989-90, and, with 12 victories at home, recorded the most wins at the UTPA Fieldhouse since the 1993-94 campaign.
The Broncs were ranked for the first time ever in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll. Rated as high as 14th, they were considered for an invitation to the National Invitational Tournament. UTPA averaged just over 3000 fans per game at home, and drew five crowds of 3500 or better, including 5224 for the final home game against Centenary, the second-largest home crowd in the history of the program.

Hoffman was honored twice. He was named National Independent Coach of the Year by CollegeInsider.com, and also named Independent Coach of the Year by the independent coaches and sports information directors.

Under Hoffman, the Broncs have made the UTPA Fieldhouse into a true home court advantage. The Broncs were 8-3 at home last season, 12-2 two years ago, and are 38-12 at home during his four-year tenure.

Hoffman began his college coaching career at Southern Nazarene, where his team began the longest home court winning streak in women's basketball history-120 games in succession-while winning the 1989 NAIA Championship. He then went on to a stellar career at Oklahoma Baptist, leading the Bison to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics finals. He was named Women's Coach of the Year by the NAIA in 1988-89, and was honored as Men's Coach of the Year by Basketball Times in 1992-93.

Hoffman began his coaching career at Piedmont (OK) High School, shortly after he graduated from OBU. After two years as an assistant coach, he led Piedmont to a 79-30 record, and their first three appearances in the state tournament, including two trips to the quarterfinals. Named Oklahoma City Coach of the Year before moving on to the college ranks, Hoffman was an assistant coach at Oklahoma Baptist for two seasons before being named head women's coach at NAIA District 9 rival Southern Nazarene.

Hoffman's teams have been as successful off the court as they have been on the court. At Southern Nazarene, two of Hoffman's players were named All-American Scholar Athletes, while during his nine years at OBU, Hoffman's teams had an 87 percent graduation rate. Four times OBU players were named All-American Scholar Athletes. In 2001, Reggie Kuzet, a senior center, received numerous academic honors, including an invitation to the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. He was named an All-American Scholar and earned National Dean's List recognition. Recently, senior guard Kevin Mitchell was named a member of the Verizon Academic All-Region VI Team, and was named to the inaugural NCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Directors' Scholar-Athlete Team.

Very well respected in both the Oklahoma and South Texas communities, Hoffman ran the largest summer basketball team camp in Oklahoma. His 1999 camp had over 1,300 participants, more than camps at either the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University. His camps at Texas-Pan American have attracted the highest number of campers in recent memory.

A standout guard and forward and a 1979 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist, Hoffman is one of just 30 players to score at least 1,000 points in his OBU career. A native of Oklahoma City, Hoffman is married to the former Kelli Lumry. The couple have one son, Grant, 6.

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