General Information
Location: Akron, Ohio
Population: 223,000
Founded: 1870
Enrollment: 24,704
Nickname: Zips
Colors: Blue (PMS 282) and Gold (PMS 871)
Conference: Mid-American
President: Dr. Luis M. Proenza
Director of Athletics: Mack Rhoades
Executive Senior Associate AD: Hunter Yurachek
Senior Associate AD/SWA: Mary Lu Gribschaw
Faculty Representative: J. Dean Carro

Program History
Seasons of Basketball: Entering 108th
First Season of Basketball: 1901-02
Seasons of Division I Basketball: Entering 29th
First Season of Division I Basketball: 1980-81
All-Time Record: 1,363-907 (.600)
All-Time Division I Record: 408-384 (.515)
MAC Record: 130-154 (.458/16 seasons)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 10
NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances (Last): 1 (1986)
NIT Appearances: 4 (1987, 1989, 2006, 2008)

Team Information
2007-08 Record: 24-11 (Home: 13-3, Away: 7-6, Neutral: 4-2)
2007-08 MAC Record: 11-5 (Home: 6-2, Away: 5-3, Neutral: 0-0)
MAC Finish: 2nd (East)/No. 3 seed in tournament; No. 6 seed in National Invitation Tournament

Mid-American Conference Tournament Results:
defeated (6) Central Michigan (81-60), quarterfinals
defeated (2) Western Michigan (73-62), semifinals
lost to (1) Kent State (55-74), championship

National Invitation Tournament Results:
defeated (3) Florida State (65-60 ot), first round
lost to (2) Massachusetts (63-68), second round

Personnel Breakdown:
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/6

2008-09 Players To Watch
Nate Linhart (Sr., F) – ***all-conference candidate***
2007-08 stats: 8.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.6 spg
• Led team is steals and ranked second in rebounds
• 37% 3FG ranked third on team and 12th in MAC
• Avg. 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds in UA's two NIT contests

Chris McKnight (Jr., F) – ***all-conference candidate***
2007-08 stats: 6.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 70% FT
• Avg. 8.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg in UA's MAC tourney and NIT games

Brett McKnight (So., F) – ***all-conference candidate***
2007-08 stats: 4.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg
• Played in all 26 games after becoming eligible in Dec.
• Avg. 8.7 points in UA's three MAC tourney games

Steve McNees (So., G) – ***all-conference candidate***
2007-08 stats: 5.1 ppg, 1.8 apg, 75% FT
• MAC All-Freshman Team selection

Basketball Staff
Head Coach:
Keith Dambrot (Akron 1982) – fifth season
Record at Akron (four seasons) 92-38 (.708)
Career Record (10 seasons) 200-108 (.649)

Assistant Coaches:
Jeff Boals (Ohio 1995) – third season
Lamont Paris (College of Wooster 1996) – fifth season
Terry Weigand (Ashland 1989) – fifth season

Director of Basketball Operations:
Rick McFadden (Akron 2005) – fourth season

Graduate Assistant:
Cedrick Middleton (Akron 2008) – first season

Akron Media Relations Contacts
Assistant Director/Men's Basketball SID: Gregg Bach
E-Mail: gbach@uakron.edu
Office Phone: (330) 972-6106
Mobile Phone: (330) 760-0522
Assistant AD, Media Relations: Mike Cawood
E-Mail: cawood@uakron.edu
Office Phone: (330) 972-6292
Mailing Address: Rhodes Arena, Suite 83; Akron, OH 44235-5201
Media Relations Office Fax: (330) 374-8844
Web Site: www.GoZips.com
Rhodes Arena Press Row Phone: (330) 374-8771

Mid-American Conference Contacts
Commissioner: Rick Chryst
Associate Media Relations Director/MBB SID: Jeremy Guy
E-Mail: jguy@mac-sports.com
Assistant Commissioner/Media Relations: Gary Richter
E-Mail: grichter@mac-sports.com
Office Phone: (216) 566-4622
Office Fax: (216) 858-9622
Mailing Address: 24 Public Square, 15th Floor; Cleveland, OH 44113
Web Site: www.mac-sports.com