The University of Akron Athletics
Staff Directory

Gerald Sambaer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- (330) 972-5510
Gerald Sambaer is in his first season as a member of the Akron women's basketball staff. He joined the staff as a graduate manager in June 2025 before being promoted to assistant coach in December 2025.
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Sambaer will oversee video coordination, technology enhancements, player development, on campus recruiting and evaluation, all while applying differential learning and constraint led approach.
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“We’re incredibly proud to promote G to a full-time assistant coaching role,” said Akron head coach Ryan Gensler. “His work ethic, passion for the game, and commitment to our players have stood out from day one. G has shown exceptional ability to teach, connect and recruit, and this well-earned opportunity will only strengthen Akron Women's Basketball."
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He arrives at Akron after serving as a graduate assistant coach at SMU last season, where he earned a master’s degree in management in 2025. While in Dallas, he also gained valuable experience as a practice player with the Dallas Wings of the WNBA.
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As an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, he was a practice player with the women’s basketball program. Following graduation, Sambaer spent two years in Manhattan working in finance before returning to basketball.
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A native of Okemos, Mich., Sambaer graduated from Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in business administration before earning a master’s degree in management from SMU in 2025.
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Sambaer will oversee video coordination, technology enhancements, player development, on campus recruiting and evaluation, all while applying differential learning and constraint led approach.
Â
“We’re incredibly proud to promote G to a full-time assistant coaching role,” said Akron head coach Ryan Gensler. “His work ethic, passion for the game, and commitment to our players have stood out from day one. G has shown exceptional ability to teach, connect and recruit, and this well-earned opportunity will only strengthen Akron Women's Basketball."
Â
He arrives at Akron after serving as a graduate assistant coach at SMU last season, where he earned a master’s degree in management in 2025. While in Dallas, he also gained valuable experience as a practice player with the Dallas Wings of the WNBA.
Â
As an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, he was a practice player with the women’s basketball program. Following graduation, Sambaer spent two years in Manhattan working in finance before returning to basketball.
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A native of Okemos, Mich., Sambaer graduated from Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in business administration before earning a master’s degree in management from SMU in 2025.
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