Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball coach Doug Gottlieb made an unconventional roster addition by bringing in 30-year-old sophomore Ramel Bethea, a Navy veteran with a reported 7’4″ wingspan. Bethea, originally from Fort Washington, Maryland, graduated from high school in 2013 but delayed college athletics.
He worked in a grocery store before enlisting in the Navy in 2020, serving as a mechanic aboard the USS John C. Stennis. This bold move reflects Gottlieb’s fresh approach to reviving the Phoenix program and underscores his commitment to building a team that defies traditional paths.
Doug Gottlieb Calls On 29-Year-Old Navy Vet For Phoenix
Doug Gottlieb’s latest addition as head coach at Green Bay is turning heads. Ramel Bethea, a 29-year-old sophomore with a 7’4″ wingspan, has committed to the Phoenix, bringing a remarkable backstory to Division I basketball.
MiraCosta College (JUCO) transfer Ramel Bethea has committed to Green Bay, he announced.
Bethea graduated high school in 2013 but enrolled in the Navy shortly after. During the time of his service, he grew from 6’3” to 6’9” and reached a 7’4” wingspan.
His friends in the Navy… pic.twitter.com/QeD8EBTIm3
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) May 15, 2025
Bethea graduated from Friendly High School in 2013. College wasn’t in his plans at the time.
“I didn’t come from a college family,” Bethea told The Coast News. “My dad was a trucking worker, and my mom was a receptionist. We just worked.” He took a job in the produce section at a Harris Teeter in Alexandria before eventually joining the Navy in 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
While stationed aboard the USS John C. Stennis as a mechanic handling auxiliary and air conditioning systems, Bethea experienced a significant late growth spurt, growing from 6’4″ to 6’9″. Encouraged by his shipmates, he tried out for the Navy’s basketball team in 2021 and made the roster largely due to his athleticism.
“The first year, I only made the team because I was athletic, but I didn’t know anything about basketball,” he said. “I was like the little brother of the team. After that, I worked on my game and put on a couple of pounds.”
By 2022, Bethea was leading the Navy to a second-place finish at the Armed Forces Championship and later competed internationally in Belgium. His play earned him a spot at MiraCosta College, where he averaged 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds in the 2024–25 season.
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Initially challenged by the pace of junior college hoops, Bethea adjusted.
“It’s a reality check – once we played our first scrimmage, I could barely make it up and down the court,” he said. “I am open to learning every day.”
Interest from Fresno State, Boston College, Texas A&M, and Eastern Kentucky followed, but Green Bay and Gottlieb secured the commitment.
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