Keith Dambrot (2019) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Keith Dambrot

Induction:
2019
Class:
1982

2005-17
Men's Basketball Head Coach

Keith Dambrot’s motivation for success is different than most head coaches at the Division I level. His commitment saw the Akron basketball program grow into one of the top mid-majors in the nation. This drive didn’t stem from thoughts of career stepping stones, but from his allegiance to his hometown and alma mater.

Dambrot became the 21st head coach of Akron men’s basketball on March 10, 2004, and he wasted no time putting his stamp on the program. He became Akron’s all-time winningest coach, finishing with a 305-139 (.687) record.

In his 13 seasons at Akron, the Zips finished no worse than third 12 times in regular season play. His teams averaged 23.5 wins in annually contending for the MAC title.

Dambrot took over at his alma mater prior to the 2004-05 season and immediately put his stamp on the program by leading the Zips to a 19-10 record. The 19 wins were the program’s most since 1989.

In year two, UA posted 23 wins and in 2006-07, Dambrot began a stretch of seven-straight MAC Tournament championship game appearances. In 2015-16, Akron set the MAC record for the longest streak of consecutive semifinal appearances in MAC Tournament history at 11. The Zips made it 12 in a row in 2016-17, on the way to a program-best 27 wins (27-9).

Named MAC Coach of the Year in 2013, 2016 and 2017, Dambrot coached a total of 18 Akron players who earned first, second or third team all-conference honors. Among the honorees he coached are the MAC’s all-time leading shot blocker, Zeke Marshall (368 blocks), Akron’s all-time assists leader Dru Joyce (503), UA’s all-time winningest player Chris McKnight (97 victories over a four-season span), and Akron’s all-time games played leaders in Steve McNees and Nikola Cvetinovic (141).

Dambrot brought national attention to the Akron program with a Division I-best 19-game winning streak in 2012-13. The Zips earned the No. 24 ranking in the Feb. 25 USA Today Coaches Poll that season, marking the first national ranking in program history.

Prior to taking the reigns at Akron, Dambrot served as the boys’ basketball head coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School where he propelled the team in to the national spotlight. His teams won a pair of state championships in 2000 and 2001. A key component to those squads was three-time NBA MVP LeBron James (his freshman and sophomore seasons).

A former three-year starter, team captain and team MVP for the Zips’ baseball team (played third base), Dambrot graduated from UA with a bachelor’s degree in management in 1982 and earned an M.B.A. from UA in 1984.

The Akron native was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 for his contributions at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and the University of Akron as both a student-athlete and coach. Dambrot is currently the basketball head coach at Duquesne University where his father Sid played from 1952-54. Dambrot’s late mother Faye was a trend-setting professor at the University, teaching in the psychology department from 1966-89, and being instrumental in forming the women’s studies program. Calling her a heralded member of the faculty and community is an understatement.