Chris Hollender and Marty Simmons were key ingredients in the University of Evansville basketball program in the 1990s, and today they are together again. After spending the past seven years as an assistant under former UE coach Jim Crews at Army, Hollender has accepted Simmons’ offer to become an assistant coach for the Purple Aces.
A second team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 1998, Hollender scored 1,029 points at Evansville in just three seasons. Simmons was an assistant coach at UE during two of those three years.
“Chris has such passion for our university and our community, and great knowledge of the game,” Simmons said. “That’s why he is such a great fit for this place, and for me. As a former player here, Chris can relate really well to our current players and to the players he will be recruiting. Plus, he worked under Coach Crews and there’s no one better to learn from than him.”
Added Hollender, “I can’t tell you how excited I was when Marty asked me to join the staff. I had a great experience at West Point, but Evansville is home and Marty is someone I always looked up to when I was a player at UE. I love the University and the Evansville community. As a former player, I’ve always felt like I am still part of the Evansville basketball program. Now I’m anxious to work hard and have an impact on these young guys.”
Hollender, 32, spent his freshman season at Lake Land (Ill.) College in his hometown of Mattoon, Ill. before embarking on his three-year career at UE. In addition to earning all-MVC honors and leading the league in field goal percentage (.548) as a senior, Hollender was captain of the MVC Most Improved Team in 1998 after his scoring average rose from 11.8 as a junior to 16.5 as a senior. He scored a career-high 34 points against Indiana and posted seven double-doubles that season. Hollender was a team captain in 1997-98 along with Curt Begle and Marcus Wilson. In 84 career games, which included 70 starting assignments, Hollender averaged 12.3 points and 5.9 rebounds. He ranks 42nd in career scoring for the Aces.
After graduating with a degree in marketing, Hollender spent one season with Bremerhaven in Germany before joining the St. Louis Swarm of the International Basketball League. The Swarm won the IBL Championship in each of Hollender’s two seasons with the club (1999-2000, 2000-01). He then signed on with the Rockford Lightning of the Continental Basketball Association, where he played 14 games during the 2001-02 season before starting his coaching career at West Point.
Hollender joins a UE program that has improved its victory total from nine to 17 in Simmons’ two years as head coach. Last season’s team finished 17-14, fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference, and played in the CollegeInsider.com Post-Season Tournament.
