Rob Zewe wrapped-up his third season as Assistant Coach for the Pioneers in 2023-24.
2023-24 Season
Denver continued to trend up, earning two more wins than the previous season to get to 17-17, all while making a deep March run to the program’s first Summit League Championship Game. The 17 victories were the most by the program since going 22-10 in the 2012-13 Western Athletic Conference regular season championship campaign.
Tommy Bruner, who became the first Summit League First Team selection since Joe Rosga in 2018, led the nation in scoring for a majority of the season before finishing second overall with 24.0 points per game. In addition to his postseason Summit League honor, Bruner was a five-time Summit League Peak Performer of the Week and a three-time Summit League Male Athlete of the Month. At the regional level, Bruner earned NABC First Team All-District 12 honors, and was named to both the Oscar Robertson Trophy and All-America Watch List, and the Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List.
Zewe and the Pioneers excelled on the offensive end, averaging 81.0 points per game, which ranked in the top-30 nationally. Denver recorded 16 80+ points games, the program’s most since 1996-97. Denver also had 10 90+ point games (top-10 nationally) while scoring 99 in its South Dakota State win on January 13, Denver’s most in a regulation game against a DI opponent since February 10, 2001 against North Texas.
2022-23
Zewe continued to let his offensive mind shine in 2022-23, resulting in the Pioneers improving to 15-17 on the year, the most wins by the program since 2017-18. With Zewe handling the offensive playcalling, the Crimson and Gold averaged 72.7 points per game as a team this year, the most since 2017-18. Zewe helped in the development of point guard Tommy Bruner, who was selected to the Summit League All-Newcomer Team and Honorable Mention All-Summit League.
Not only did Zewe help in Bruner's success, but also contributed in a career year from graduate forward Lukas Kisunas, who tied for first in the NCAA in in total number of games with at least 10 points on 80 percent shooting-or-better this year with 10 games.
2021-22 Season
Zewe made an impact in his coaching debut in 2021-22, helping get the Pioneers to 11 wins on the year, the first time since 2017-18 the program has reached double-digit victories.
DU also record seven Summit League wins, matching the total of the three previous seasons combined, highlighted by picking up four road wins in year one with DU, matching the total of the previous four years combined.
Working with Head Coach Jeff Wulbrun, Zewe helped revitalize an offense that had been stagnant for several seasons, resulting in notable milestones set, including highest scoring output (70.5) since 2017-18, along with having the highest field goal percentage (46.0), made 3s (232), three-point percentage (36.8) and assists (397) in years for the program. Denver also dialed it up in league play, averaging 74.4 points per game, its best scoring output in league play since 2016-17.
Zewe was part of a staff that some big success in its first recruiting class, resulting in nine new players for the Pioneers in 2021-22, including a gifted freshmen class of Tevin Smith, Coban Porter, Touko Tainamo and Pedro Lopez-Sanvicente.
The freshmen trio of Smith, Porter and Tainamo made a major impact in year one with each have huge moments throughout the season. Smith, DU’s highest rated recruit to sign coming out high school ever, showcased his athletic abilities, getting 33 blocks on the season, the most by a Pioneer since Chris Udofia in 2013-14. Smith also made history, becoming the only player in college basketball this season to score at least 23 points and grab 10 rebounds while not missing a shot (7-7 FG, 8-8 FT) in a 63-53 win at Kansas City.
Smith also became the first Denver freshman to ever win Summit League Player of the Week award back on Jan. 24. He was the first true freshman to win the award in the league since South Dakota State's David Jenkins did back on Jan. 22, 2018.
Porter came in and provided elite-level shooting to the program immediately. The sharpshooting guard was just one of four players in all the NCAA freshmen class to make at least 70 3s on the year while shooting at least 41.3 percent as of Mar. 5. The Columbia, Mo. native led the Summit League in 3-point percentage for the season at 41.3 percent.
Porter’s 71 3s made rank tied for eighth out of all freshmen in the NCAA and set a new freshman record for DU in its DI era (1998-pres.). The freshmen also provided a scoring option off the bench with his 11.4 points per game average being the highest by a DU freshman since Joe Rosga’s 12.7 in 2015-16.
Tainamo brought efficient post play not seen by the Pioneers in a while. The Helsinki, Finland native was the first Denver freshman to record at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game on Dec. 20 against Western Illinois since Chris Udofia did it back on Jan. 15, 2011.
Tainamo recorded his second double-double of the season against Kansas City on Jan. 27, finishing with 15 points and 15 rebounds, first player since Daniel Amigo (24 points, 16 rebounds) to get at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in a game back on Nov. 25, 2017. His three double-doubles are the most by a Pioneer since Ade Murkey (4) in 2019-20 and most by a DU freshman since Royce O’Neale back in 2011-12.
Previous Coaching History
Zewe spent the past two seasons at Cal State Fullerton prior to coming to Denver.
As a Titan, Zewe was tasked with helping the coaching staff in development and implementation of recruiting strategies as well as helping with all aspects of opponents scouting including film breakdown and statistical analysis for player/team development purposes. He will also help create and organize creative content for recruiting and brand development purposes. He is also set to aid in the planning and execution of on campus recruiting visits and in the organization and coordination of all Titan Basketball Camps.
In his first year with the program, Zewe and the 2019-20 Titans had their season cut short just prior to the start of the Big West Tournament due to COVID-19. He helped Jackson Rowe and Brandon Kamga claim Second-Team All-Big West honors while Kamga was also named Big West Newcomer of the Year.
2019-20 Graduating seniors Rowe (France), Davon Clare (Portugal) and Austen Awosika (Austria) each signed professional contracts to play in their respective country's top leagues.
Zewe joined the Titans after spending the 2018-19 season as a graduate assistant coach at Nevada. The Wolf Pack reached the NCAA Tournament, won the Mountain West Championship for the third straight year and tied a school record by winning 29 games.
During his time at Nevada, Zewe helped Caroline and Caleb Martin earn first-team all-conference honors while Cody Martin was named to the third team. Jazz Johnson was chosen as the the Sixth Man of the Year. Caroline and both Martins were selected to the defensive team. Prior to the season, the Martin twins and Caroline were named to the 2018-19 MW media preseason team.
Caroline and Caleb Martin were also named to the United States Basketball Writers Association District VIII team today for the second year in a row. Caleb Martin was named the District VIII Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Cody Martin went on to be drafted No. 36 by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2019 NBA Draft. Also, Caleb Martin signed with the Charlotte Hornets, Jordan Caroline signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Tre’Shawn Thurman signed with the Detroit Pistons. In addition, Jalen Harris – who redshirted with the Wolf Pack during the 2018-19 season – went on to be drafted No. 59 by the Toronto Raptors in the 2020 NBA Draft.
His primary responsibilities at Nevada included working with head coach Eric Musselman and assistant coach Gus Argenal in scouting preparation, video breakdowns, recruiting and on-court drills. He conducted individual workouts and developed creative content to send to recruits and their families.
Prior to Nevada, he was an assistant coach for two years at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He was responsible for player development, video analysis, scouting reports and recruiting. The team won back-to-back regular season PSAC Conference Championships and was ranked as high No. 2 in the country. He helped develop two All-Americans in Anthony Glover Jr. and Jacobo Diaz.
Zewe played collegiately at Grove City College and Penn State Behrend and is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn.
