Miami (Ohio) In 1993, Sendek accepted his first college head coaching job, at
Miami University in
Oxford, Ohio, succeeding
Joby Wright, who left to become head coach at
Wyoming. In his first season, 1993–94, the Redskins (now
RedHawks) posted a 19–11 record and finished second in the
Mid-American Conference (MAC). In 1994–95, Miami improved to 23–7 overall, winning the MAC championship with a 16–2 record and earning a spot in the
NCAA tournament. In the Midwest Regional, #12 seeded Miami shocked #5 seeded
Arizona 71–62, before losing to #4 seeded
Virginia in overtime in the second round. He immediately improved upon the
Les Robinson era, winning 17 games for the program's first winning record in six years. The Wolfpack ended the season winning eight of 11 games, advanced to the finals of the ACC
tournament, and earned a trip to the postseason in the
NIT. Sendek coached NC State to the
NCAA tournament five consecutive years from 2002 until 2006 (tying the school record). He won his 100th game at NC State in 2002. In 2004, Sendek won ACC Coach of the Year and
Julius Hodge, one of Sendek's most prized recruits during his NC State tenure, was named
ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year. In 2005, NC State upset defending champion
Connecticut in the Second Round of the
NCAA tournament to advance to the Sweet 16, NC State's deepest run into the tournament during Sendek's years. Due in part to an 8–38 record against
Duke and
North Carolina combined with failing to win an
ACC championship, fan and booster support was in steep decline. This ultimately played a factor in Sendek deciding to leave NC State for the head coaching vacancy at
Arizona State.
Arizona State On April 3, 2006, Sendek accepted the head coaching job at
Arizona State. While his first year record in the
Pac-10 was a paltry 2–16, recruiting went well: ASU signed Jerren Shipp, a highly regarded high school guard, point guard Derek Glasser from the LA area, and
Eric Boateng, a McDonald's All-American who transferred from Duke. His second recruiting class included highly touted McDonald's All-American
James Harden and point guard Jamelle McMillan (a four-star recruit and the son of former NC State basketball star
Nate McMillan). The
2007–08 season was a great improvement over the previous season. Sendek and freshman guard
James Harden led the Sun Devils to fifth place in the Pac-10 Conference, including a sweep of rival Arizona. Arizona State was rewarded with a number 1 seed in the 2008 NIT. The
2008–09 team led by
Pac-10 Player of the Year Harden improved to a 25–10 record and advanced to the second round of the
NCAA tournament. After the departure of Harden for the
NBA, the Sun Devils program finished second in the Pac-10 during the
2009–10 season in what was a weak Pac-10 Conference. That year, the conference RPI was so weak, it was the first time the second-place Pac-10 team did not get an at-large invitation to the
NCAA tournament. The Sun Devils instead were given a #1 Seed in the
NIT and lost 67–66 to Jacksonville in
Tempe. With three returning seniors, there were high expectations for the
2010–11 season with an expected run at the Pac-10 title again. However, the Sun Devils finished in last place with a record of 12–19 (4–14). The
2011–12 season was anticipated to be better with the addition of newcomer and 2010–11 Arizona High School Player of the Year
Jahii Carson. However, Carson failed to gain NCAA clearance to play. The season became even more troublesome as Sendek dismissed his leading scorer, Keala King, from the team on January 7, 2012, for undisclosed reasons. The season resulted in a tenth-place finish in the new
Pac-12. A sixth-place finish followed in
2012–13 with a trip to the
NIT. In
2013–14, ASU finished with a 21–12 record and a loss in the second round of the
NCAA tournament. On March 24, 2015, Sendek was fired by Arizona State after an
18–16 record, losing to
USC in the
Pac-12 tournament, and a trip to the
NIT.
Santa Clara On March 28, 2016, Sendek accepted the head coaching job at
Santa Clara, replacing recently fired coach
Kerry Keating, who was fired after nine years. On January 12, 2022, Sendek got his 500th career win against Pacific. On March 9, 2026, he got his 600th career win after a victory over Saint Mary's in the
West Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament semifinals. ==Personal life==