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When Bobby Lutz had a chance to bring back a Charlotte 49er letterwinner before the 2004-05 season, he jumped at the chance. Bobby Kummer was known as a passionate, hard-nosed, team player in his 49ers career under coach Jeff Mullins. A four-year letter winner and two-time team captain, Kummer was able to bring those same qualities back as a coach.
Initially hired as Director of Basketball Operations for 2004-05, Lutz promoted Kummer to Assistant Coach, June 21, 2005. He has served in that capacity for the past four years. Kummer was also an assistant for the 49ers along with Lutz from 1996-98, helping the Niners to a pair of NCAA Tournament victories. In all he has spent seven years on the 49ers staff and has been part of four 20-win seasons, three NCAA Tourneys, two NIT appearances and 127 wins. He is instrumental in recruiting, opponent scouting, defensive instruction and player development.
"Bobby is the kind of person any coach would love to have on his staff," said Lutz. "He was a fan-favorite here because of hustling, relentless style of play and he takes the same passion and leadership qualities he embodied as a player to work every day. I am extremely pleased, both personally and professionally to have Bobby on my staff."
Kummer began as an assistant to Melvin Watkins, when Watkins was hired as head coach in 1996. Watkins, who initially helped recruit Kummer from his native Livonia, Mich., won 42 games and two NCAA Tourney games in his two seasons as the coach. When Watkins left for Texas A&M, he made sure Kummer was part of his staff at the Big 12 School.
"It was hard for me to leave Charlotte. This is the place that gave me a chance and it is where I left it all on the floor as a player," Kummer recalled. "But, after counseling with Coaches Mullins, Watkins and Lutz, they encouraged me to branch out and look at the opportunity as a chance to grow my career. It definitely was a good move for me and gave me a foothold into recruiting areas of the southwest where I was able to make some strong contacts."
Kummer made a name assessing the talent in Texas' high school and junior college ranks as Texas A&M grew its program through the likes of NBA Draft picks Antwon Wright and A.C. Law. Kummer returned to Charlotte after six years.
"In 2004, I said I was thrilled to return to the University. As I enter my sixth year with Coach Lutz, I am even more excited," he said. "We have worked extremely hard to make this program one the country's best. We leave it all on the floor. We recruit kids who understand what it takes to put on this uniform and play at the highest level and to be a student-athlete at this University."
Kummer, the 49ers team captain in 1995 and 1996 played in all 114 games during his four-year 49ers career. A two-time GTE/CoSIDA Academic all-Region honoree who graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in history in 1996, Kummer was named the Metro Conference Male Academic Student-Athlete of the Year in 1995. He won the 49ers' coveted Grubstake Award in 1993 and 1996 and helped the 49ers to the 1995 Metro Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament and the 1994 NIT.
Kummer will forever reside in 49er folklore for a definitive event in one of the biggest wins of the 49ers 1995 Metro Conference Championship season. At home against Louisville, Kummer had his two front teeth knocked out by a teammate's errant elbow. He spit them out on the playing floor, handed them to the team trainer and with blood on his jersey attempted to return to play. While the referee made sure he was cleaned up, he returned to action at the next media timeout to help the 49ers win, 86-82 on January 19, 1995.
Kummer, 35, and his wife, Nicole, reside in Charlotte.
