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.
Sambaer will oversee video coordination, technology enhancements, player development, on campus recruiting and evaluation, all while applying differential learning and constraint led approach.
“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."
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.
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.
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.
Sambaer will oversee video coordination, technology enhancements, player development, on campus recruiting and evaluation, all while applying differential learning and constraint led approach.
“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."
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.
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.
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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