It was another chilly December night in Green Bay. A week before the Christmas holiday, the Green Bay Packers were still holding on to a playoff spot, and second-year head coach Doug Gottlieb led the Phoenix of Wisconsin–Green Bay to their second win in a row, defeating UCSB. During the postgame media availability, however, the focus shifted quickly. After Marcus Hall scored a season-high 25 points in the victory, his head coach made a stunning announcement.
After nearly a quarter century, Doug Gottlieb was leaving sports talk radio.
“It wasn’t until the night before that game that it dawned on me what radio really meant,” explained Gottlieb. “I talked to Josh Moon (Wisconsin–Green Bay Athletics Director) and Scott Shapiro (Senior Vice President, FOX Sports Radio & Premiere Networks), and they decided to let me do whatever I’d like to do, and however I’d like to do it.”
The decision to leave his daily radio program at FOX Sports Radio was not made overnight. When Gottlieb took the head coaching position at Wisconsin–Green Bay in May 2024, he chose to honor his commitments to both roles. He attempted to host a daily program on FOX Sports Radio while also taking on the responsibilities of a Division I basketball coach.
“Scott Shapiro, Don Martin (former EVP Sports, Premiere Networks), and I had agreed on trying it for a year, then see what we think,” said Gottlieb. “Once the season started, I got so immersed in everything I wanted to do here. I’m a perfectionist, and it became let’s try not doing this and see how my life works.”
The Decision
What ultimately helped shape the decision was a trip to the Virgin Islands, where the Phoenix played three games in the Paradise Jam tournament. The trip was filled with hiccups, including travel issues throughout. Wisconsin–Green Bay won two of three games and finished fourth in the tournament, but Gottlieb missed an entire week of programs on FOX Sports Radio. While he never considered leaving radio during the summer, the experience sparked a period of introspection.
“I was thinking do I miss it? Would I have been as good a coach if I was doing it? I don’t know,” noted Gottlieb. “Fast forward to the game against UCSB a month later, I wasn’t thinking about leaving radio during the game. I didn’t even think about it till the game was over and I collected my thoughts.”
A good coach stays focused on his players, and Gottlieb said he initially hesitated to make the announcement because he did not want to take attention away from his team’s victory. However, after weighing the logistics of media access, the decision was finalized.
Gottlieb is a college basketball lifer. He played at both Notre Dame and Oklahoma State before competing in several professional leagues around the globe. When he transitioned into sports media, he expanded his passion for the game by calling contests for multiple networks on radio and television.
College basketball today looks far different from when Gottlieb played. The competition level is at an all-time high, and NIL has transformed recruiting into a financial arms race. That reality, he said, was the biggest surprise when he took on the role, particularly the sheer number of responsibilities involved.
“I’m running a business, not a basketball program,” explained Gottlieb, referring to budgets, travel, meals, and operations. “I’m the CEO of Green Bay men’s basketball. The part I love to do the most is coaching. I love all the other stuff too, but the job has evolved from paying players to running a business. You’re accountable for every single penny.”
Despite winning just four games in his first season, Gottlieb earned strong reviews from Chancellor Michael Alexander. He said the university never pressured him to decide whether to continue his radio career. Most of the program originated from his office in Green Bay, allowing him to remain fully accessible to his coaching duties.
The Adjustment Period
It has been nearly a month since Gottlieb announced his departure from FOX Sports Radio. He said he is still working through the stages of grief and now has extra time he is learning how to use.
“I can’t yet tell you how it affects coaching. I’ve always felt super prepared and rested. I feel a little restless to be honest,” explained Gottlieb, comparing the feeling to the months following his exit from ESPN in 2012.
He admitted the urge to comment on sports faded initially. However, while watching film of his next opponent during the Steelers’ win over the Ravens on the final night of the NFL regular season, the itch returned.
“That Monday I woke up, and we had a big game. I don’t have a radio show, and I’m like damn, I want to talk about that game,” joked Gottlieb. “I still text my radio crew guys funny things, but I miss it. My life now still has a level of stress, but there’s also some downtime to be a better parent and leader.”
Looking back, Gottlieb said he would still advise his former self to attempt both jobs. While he does not regret the experiment, he is not leaving sports media entirely. He is currently developing a podcast that would allow him to contribute on his own schedule.
FOX Sports Stugotz
As for his successor, Gottlieb wished success to former ESPN Radio teammate Jon “Stugotz” Weiner. He admitted he is unsure what to expect from the longtime Dan Le Batard Show co-host in his former radio timeslot.
“I don’t know what Jon [Weiner] does and have never heard him solo. I know he’s a talented guy because he was playing a character all the time with [Dan] Le Batard. Does he come out of character? Is he a different character? I have no idea,” questioned Gottlieb.
Having often been typecast as a “college basketball guy,” Gottlieb said he understands the challenge Weiner may face with a new FOX Sports Radio audience.
“I understand the fight he’ll have with being known as ‘Stugotz.’ Is he going to be ‘Stugotz’ or Jon Weiner,” explained Gottlieb. “He was always the pure radio talent of that group with Le Batard as the writer and thinker. I hope he does well. I’ve heard he’s a good guy and he’s always been good to me. I don’t think he’s working with my guys, which is disappointing to me. It’s a great opportunity because it’s far and away the best sports radio network. You’re in a good place, so don’t f**k it up.”
Despite stepping away, Gottlieb is not closing the door on a return to sports radio. He believes he has evolved into a strong voice and leader over the past two decades. While the childhood dream may be on pause, it is not necessarily over.
“I love doing sports radio. I loved every one of my stops,” said Gottlieb. “It’s everything I know, and all of a sudden I’m not going to do this anymore feels really weird to me… I always dreamt about it, but I know there’s a limited number of seats. If you give away a seat, it’s going to be very difficult to get one back… Absolutely could I go back to it, but I need to explore what just coaching feels like first.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
