It’s been nearly three decades since Rob Senderoff walked around downtown Albany, New York, with the same eyes as the young men he now coaches.
“I’m having a blast. I’m really having a blast,” Senderoff said as he prepares his Kent State team to play in the NCAA Tournament in a city he knows so well.
A 1995 graduate of the University at Albany, Senderoff spent his college days as a student assistant on the Great Danes’ staff on his way to a career in coaching.
“I tried out for the junior varsity team here at Albany – it was a Division III school at the time – and I got cut,” Senderoff recalled in noting that not making the team meant life-changing advice from his coach to consider becoming a coach instead. That conversation made all the difference.
“In my college days, I knew this (coaching) is what I wanted to do, and I’ve been very fortunate to live out my childhood dreams,” he said.
Senderoff, 49, grew up in Spring Valley, New York, just outside of New York City and about 125 miles south of Albany. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Senderoff found his way to Ohio earning a master’s degree in sports studies from Miami University in 1997.
Coincidentally, Senderoff became the winningest coach in Kent State men’s basketball history with a 2018 victory over Albany, so maybe it’s fitting that he gets the opportunity to return to the city that helped launch his interest in college coaching on college basketball’s biggest stage.
“Albany’s a great college town and a great basketball town,” Senderoff said. “They love basketball in the city. They have two universities here (Albany and Sienna College). It’s great.”
Even with 30-70 friends and family members in attendance, there isn’t much time for Senderoff to stroll down memory lane as the Golden Flashes prepare for Friday night’s showdown with Indiana University.
But whether it’s a stolen moment during warmups or a glance at some familiar faces in the arena crowd, Senderoff is bound to take the advice he gives his players and allow himself to embrace the moment.
“We have a great program, not just a great team,” he said. “This is awesome. I’m happy for my kids. I’m having a great time watching them have a great time.”
Watch Kent State Today's full interview with Coach Senderoff:
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