PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Stanford's James C. Gaither Associate Head Coach of Men's Basketball, Jeff Wulbrun, has been named to the coaching staff for the Maccabi USA's Open Men's Basketball team for the European Maccabi Games.
Wulbrun, who recently completed his third season on the Cardinal coaching staff, will serve as an assistant coach for Maccabi USA Basketball at the 15th annual European Maccabi Games. He will coach the Open Division team, consisting primarily of college standouts. The event will take place July 28 through August 7 in Budapest, Hungary.
"I have been interested in getting involved in the Maccabi games throughout my coaching career," Wulbrun said. "The opportunity to represent my country, my faith and do it in the game that I love will be an incredible experience. It will be a tremendous honor to represent Team USA in the European Maccabi Games this summer."
Wulbrun will serve on the staff for Maccabi USA along with head coach Jake Rauchbach, overseeing a 12-man roster for the event.
Maccabi USA will bring a team of more than 200 athletes to the European Maccabi Games, competing along with Jewish athletes from 28 other countries in 22 different sports.
Boasting nearly three decades of experience as a basketball coach altogether, Wulbrun was elevated to Associate Head Coach at Stanford prior to the 2018-19 season after serving as an assistant coach his first two years on The Farm. He primarily works with the Cardinal post players and oversees Stanford's defensive strategy. Wulbrun is responsible for the team's scheduling and is heavily involved in the program's recruiting efforts.
Wulbrun helped develop All-Pac-12 frontcourt selections Josh Sharma and Reid Travis at Stanford. After averaging less than four points per game his first two seasons, Sharma enjoyed a breakout senior season under Wulbrun's tutelage, establishing a school-record 67.3 field goal percentage. The mark ranked as the eighth-best field goal percentage in a season in Pac-12 history. The senior, who was a finalist for the Pac-12's Most Improved Player Award, averaged 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in conference play as a senior.
In Wulbrun's second season on the staff, Stanford won 19 games overall and finished third in the Pac-12 standings with 11 conference games, its best finish and most conference wins in 10 years.
The European Games are a high-level athletic competition for Jewish athletes all over the world. They are hosted by the European Maccabi Confederation and conducted in cooperation with Maccabi World Union. They are held every four years, two years after the Maccabiah is held.