Bender s Redbirds drew defending champion Michigan in the first round of the 1990 NCAA Tournament, suffering a 76-70 loss against the Wolverines. After a 5-23 record in 1991, the Redbirds became just the fourth team in 85 years of league play to go from last place to first in one season. Bender was named MVC Coach of the Year and the Illinois Collegiate Coach of the Year in 1992. The Redbirds were 19-10 in 1993, won the regular season MVC title and advanced to the conference tournament championship game. Illinois State fans showed staunch support for Bender s program at Redbird Arena, leading the conference in attendance all four years.
Bender is strong presence off the court as well.
His teams at Washington and ISU were heavily involved in community service while he served in numerous charitable capacities. During his 11 years as a head coach, Bender has mentored several assistants, including three who became head coaches. Billy King, an assistant at Illinois State and briefly at Washington, became an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers before taking over as Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers. Former Bender assistant Ritchie McKay, is the head coach at Oregon State and Ray Giacoletti, an assistant during Bender s first eight years as a head coach, is the head coach at Eastern Washington. The education of Bob Bender began from his upbringing as a coach s son in Illinois.