Former Wisconsin standout Sharif Chambliss is returning to the Badger bench as an assistant coach, head coach Greg Gard announced on Friday.

With 15 years of collegiate experience at five different schools, Chambliss has been part of 11 winning seasons, including eight 20-plus win campaigns, five regular season titles and four NCAA tournament appearances.

“The opportunity to join Coach Gard and his staff is truly an honor,” Chambliss said. “Wisconsin is home to me and I could not be more excited to get back on the court I once played on, now as an assistant coach. I look forward to working with the players and staff, continuing to execute the Badger basketball vision. The men’s basketball program can count on me to bring a genuine, high level of energy to an already outstanding base of basketball values. Many thanks to Greg Gard, Barry Alvarez, the staff and entire athletic department for trusting in me to represent the university as an assistant coach.

“I’m extremely grateful for the support of my family and the many coaches, staffs and mentors I have had the privilege to work with including Bo Ryan, Scott Nagy, Rob Jeter, Jeff Gard, Gary Edwards and many others. I’m also indebted to Bob Grant and the Wright State athletic department, university leadership, men’s basketball staff and players for five incredibly successful years.

“I’m very blessed for this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started in Madison. On, Wisconsin!”

Voted the No. 1 assistant coach in the Horizon League by his peers in 2020 (Stadium.com), the 2021-22 season will mark the 12th of Chambliss’ coaching career. It will also mark his second stint on the Badger bench, as Chambliss served as video coordinator at Wisconsin from 2010-12 under hall of fame head coach Bo Ryan and Gard, UW’s top assistant at the time.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Chambliss and his family to our staff,” Gard said. “This search and interview process was extensive and spanned a wide scope of excellent candidates. Sharif’s energy, passion, loyalty and experience were evident from the start of our search. Knowing that Coach Howard Moore would not be able to return to his position and having to replace him is difficult for all of us who love him and know everything he has done for our program.

“Sharif brings 15 years of college basketball coaching experience to our program and has a proven track record of success as a coach and as an effective, established recruiter. As we evaluated the landscape of potential coaches, Coach Chambliss was highly regarded and recommended by both his past colleagues that he’s worked with and his peers across college basketball.

“Sharif brings to our staff what I wanted. Someone with experience at a variety of other institutions, a proven track record as a coach and recruiter, and a committed, red-hot burning desire to be at the University of Wisconsin and help our program going forward.

“I know how excited and energized Sharif is to get to Madison and start working with our players and staff. We are all looking forward to welcoming Sharif, his wife Melissa, and sons Julian and Kellen to the Badger family very soon.”

Chambliss, a native of Racine, Wisconsin, returns home to UW after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Wright State University from 2016-2021.

In Chambliss’ five seasons at Wright State, the Raiders went 109-49 (.690), winning each of the last three Horizon League championships. His tenure included an appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament as well as the school’s first-ever NIT appearance in 2019. The Raiders were also selected to the 2020 NIT prior to its cancellation due to COVID-19.

Prior to Wright State, Chambliss spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Milwaukee from 2012-16. The Panthers made a huge turnaround with Chambliss on staff in 2013-14, improving 13 games in the win column, posting 21 wins overall and reaching the NCAA tournament for the second time under head coach Rob Jeter.

Chambliss made his first return trip to Wisconsin from 2010-12 when he served as video coordinator, helping the Badgers advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in each of his two seasons on the bench. 

Chambliss has also held assistant coaching stints at UW-Platteville (2009-10) and Francis Marion University (2008-09). He also gained experience serving as a student academic advisor for both Milwaukee (2006-08) and UW-Platteville (2009-10).

A two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten guard, Chambliss scored 1,107 points in his collegiate career playing at both Wisconsin (2004-05) and Penn State (2000-04). He transferred to Wisconsin for his final year, becoming a team captain and averaging 7.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game to help the Badgers reach the Elite Eight in 2005. Chambliss finished his career ranked eighth all-time in made 3-point field goals in the Big Ten, leading the league in 3-point field goal shooting percentage (42%) during the 2001-02 season.

Chambliss was the team’s leading scorer in two of his three seasons with the Nittany Lions.

Upon graduating, Chambliss played professional basketball in Portugal for one year.

Chambliss earned a bachelor of science degree in life sciences communication from Wisconsin in 2005. He earned a master’s degree in adult education from UW-Platteville in 2011. 

Chambliss and his wife, Melissa, married in spring 2015. The couple have two sons, Julian and Kellen.

https://uwbadgers.com/news/2021/5/21/mens-basketball-sharif-chambliss-hired-as-assistant-coach.aspx