Revisiting Wally Szczerbiak's playing career at Miami (OH): What to know about 1999 RedHawks' run to Sweet 16
Long before Miami (OH)'s surprise run to the NCAA Tournament in 2026, Wally Szczerbiak was the face of the RedHawks.
Revisiting Wally Szczerbiak's playing career at Miami (OH): What to know about 1999 RedHawks' run to Sweet 16 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Long before Miami (OH) put together an undefeated regular season, the face of the RedHawks was Wally Szczerbiak.
The NBA forward-turned-analyst first made his name in Oxford, Ohio as one of the nation's top offensive players and led Miami to an unlikely Sweet 16 appearance. Szczerbiak has gotten to sit back and watch the revival of the program he helped bring back to life in the late 1990s, and the latest iteration of the RedHawks undoubtedly has him feeling prouder than ever. Here's a look back at Szczerbiak's college career and Miami (OH)'s memorable 1999 run.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | Full TV schedule | Printable bracket Where did Wally Szczerbiak go to college? Szczerbiak spent all four of his collegiate seasons at Miami (OH), starting out as a reserve in 1995-96 and developing into the focal point of the RedHawks by his final two seasons with the program. Szczerbiak was born in Spain while his father played basketball internationally, but his family was originally based in Pittsburgh before relocating to New York.
Szczerbiak committed to Miami (OH) after a visit and was recruited by coach Herb Sendek, who currently coaches Santa Clara. Here's more to know about Szczerbiak's career with the RedHawks. MORE: Where is Miami (Ohio) located?