Boasting nearly three decades of coaching experience, Jeff Wulbrun was named Stanford's James C. Gaither Assistant Coach of Men's Basketball on April 11, 2016.
“Jeff is a tremendous addition to Stanford,” Haase said. “He embodies everything I believe in and will be an asset to the team on and off the court. He has proven for many years he is an elite level recruiter and coach.”
Over a successful coaching career that spans 26 years (16 years in college and 10 in high school), Wulbrun has helped guide three different collegiate programs – California, Illinois State and UAB – to the NCAA Tournament.
He comes to Stanford following four years on Haase’s coaching staff at UAB. He served as the Blazers’ associate head coach each of the last two seasons.
At UAB, he was part of a coaching staff that guided the Blazers to 80 wins over the last four seasons, including the 2016 Conference USA regular-season championship and the 2015 conference tournament title. In 2015, UAB earned its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011 and captured the Blazers’ first win in the NCAAs since 2005.
Wulbrun worked with the post players at UAB, helping recruit and mentor all-conference selections Chris Cokley and William Lee the past two seasons. Under Wulbrun’s tutelage, Lee finished the 2015-16 season eighth in the nation in blocked shots, averaging 2.9 bpg.
"I am thrilled to be joining the Stanford program and its rich tradition,” Wulbrun said. “It is an honor and privilege to be associated with this world class institution and all that it represents. Jerod and I have a history together that spans more than 20 years. I have the highest respect for him as a person and a coach. He lives his life with tremendous integrity, character, honesty and sincerity and has the ability to instill these values as the foundation of his program. Jerod and our staff will put our student-athletes first and strive for excellence in all we do at Stanford."
Prior to UAB, Wulbrun served on the staff at Virginia Tech (2011-12), Illinois State (1993-97) and California (1986-93).
A Cypress, California, native, Wulbrun was an assistant coach at California under Lou Campanelli for seven seasons where he helped lead the Golden Bears to five postseason appearances. Cal averaged nearly 17 wins per season. During his time in Berkeley, Wulbrun helped sign Haase out of South Lake Tahoe High School, along with Jason Kidd and Lamond Murray. Wulbrun also coached three-time NBA All-Star Kevin Johnson, who is now in his seventh year serving as the Mayor of Sacramento.
Wulbrun helped lead Illinois State to three postseason appearances, including the 1997 Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament title and berth in the NCAA Tournament in his four seasons with the Redbirds.
Wulbrun stepped out of coaching in 1998, becoming the Chief Operations Officer of Distinctive Designs, a custom construction company working in the real estate development industry in Illinois.
During his seven successful years in the business world, Wulbrun also served as the head coach of Central Catholic High School in Bloomington, Illinois. He developed the Saints into one of Illinois’ top scholastic programs.
Wulbrun jumped back into collegiate coaching full time in 2011, joining the staff at Virginia Tech for one season. He then reunited with Haase on his staff at UAB when Haase was named the head coach of the Blazers in 2012.
Wulbrun holds a bachelor of arts in communications from Cal State Fullerton (1984). He and his wife, Jennie, have a daughter, Kendall, and a son, Jared.