During his thirteen seasons as Bradley's head coach he won 197 games. The Redbirds cleared out the coaching staff after the season ended. 20 UNLV in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual champion Louisville. Wardle, claiming he wasn't superstitious, "everyone else is," wore his red shoes. It was just a big game for everybody.". I can count on those guys.". Unreal. @BradleyBraves. Jones took over as interim head coach last season at ISU after Dan Muller resigned. Coach Wardle reflects on the milestone and history-making game including his thoughts on. I'm a very competitive person. "We won some games, I know in the nonconference. Check out this great listen on Audible.com. 2022-23 Klein Oak Basketball. I try to stay in the moment and zone everything out, to be honest. "That was my goal, because my parents told me if I wanted to go to college, I'd have to work my way through it," Wardle said. The following is a list of Bradley Braves men's basketball head coaches. As for recruiting overseas, Drew's connections and relationships are my connections and relationships too. G/F 6-7 Waukee, Iowa (Waukee High), Marcus Domask, S. Illinois Sr. F 6-6 Waupun, Wis. (Waupun High), Ben Krikke, Valparaiso Sr. F 6-9 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Jasper Place), Rienk Mast, Bradley Jr. F 6-9 Groningen, Netherlands (Donar Groningen), Roman Penn, Drake Gr. The announcement was made during the MVC Awards Banquet on March 1, in downtown St. Louis. Brian Wardle: A look at the Bradley University basketball head coach. But I think getting Reink (Mast) back (from injury) and (Ja'Shon Henry). He is the only player in Horizon League history to accumulate 2,000 points, 500 assists and 400 rebounds (467) and would eventually play for the Indiana Pacers during his professional career. Oh, and it definitely helped my golf game. I don't think anyone walked out of that meeting not believing in it. In 2015, he left to take the coaching job at Bradley, which posted a 9-24 record the season before his arrival . He met Brian Wardle's mom, Cindy, on a show stop in Chicago. I love proving people wrong. Bradley is the No. Charles Warnell Bradley (born May 16, 1959) is an American former basketball player and coach. 1:14. The Ramblers (22-7, 13-5) slipped from first to fourth after dropping their final game to Northern Iowa. Bradley Beal scored a season-high 37 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, to help the short-handed Washington Wizards overtake host Atlanta 119-116 and ruin the debut of new Hawks head coach Quin Snyder. 1 seed. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson), Bradley coach Brian Wardle gestures during the first half of a first round men's college basketball game against Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday, March 21, 2019. And here you are today. No cause of death was given. Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and . If you don't win this tournament? And being able to get guys a round of applause and get them out of the game in the last minute was big for me. Usually guys with that experience are not available in September. We just got to keep believing and keep getting better and staying humble and hungry one day at a time. Because it is a numbers game.". PEORIA The Bradley Braves filled their vacant assistant coach position with former Illinois State associate head coach Brian Jones on Wednesday afternoon. And we stayed healthy, knock on wood, this whole regular season and that's what led to a consistent play, and guys being stars in their role. "He was a big swimmer. ", Valley champions: Bradley beats Drake to win the MVC men's basketball championship, Tucker DeVries, Drake So. By the time he left, he had set the University of Arkansas and Southeastern Conference all-time records for three-point field goals made (366) and . "I remember the little details of things with him," the BU coach said. Bradley Braves Men's Basketball Coaches. Division regular season and conference tournament champion The Rock Island native played for Northern Iowa and, after graduation, played pro basketball in Australia and Portugal. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. G/F 6-6 Eldridge, Iowa (North Scott High), Darnell Brodie, Drake Sr. F 6-10 Newark, N.J. (Newark East Side)/Seton Hall, Zek Montgomery, Bradley So. "Jimmie and Mike know him well and that's important to me and I respect their input," Wardle said. The success showcased by Wardle at Bradley is nothing new for the head coach. The BCAM Hall of Fame inducted the first members in 1985. In his days coaching at Green Bay, he'd host a block party to celebrate the finish of the season. Bradley University Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. Bradley beats Drake to win the MVC men's basketball championship, Catching up with Bradley's last Missouri Valley basketball champion, How Twitter reacted to Bradley basketball's big MVC victory, How Bradley landed a unique 7-foot-1 recruit, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Because he saw it that way while putting away the typesetter blocks. . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 309-677-2668. They've worked really hard. Brian was close to grandpa. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. We couldn't let them get 3s. Prior to taking over the Braves program in 2015, Wardle compiled a 95-65 overall record at Green Bay, a five-year run that culminated with consecutive 24-win seasons and three-straight postseason appearances. Darius (Hannah) has been huge for us all year. "I don't care what anyone says: That's the identity of our program. "We did that for about seven years," Wardle said. The honor is presented to the leagues top reserve player. Having reestablished Bradley mens basketball as a championship-level program, Brian Wardle is in his eighth year as head coach of the Braves. "Yeah, you know, I think they went up 41-40. When was the last time you coached in front of a home crowd like that? "I've been coaching for 27 years and that was the first time I've ever been on a staff that was let go," Jones said. Brian Wardle won the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award in a vote of media, coaches and SIDs, while senior forward Malevy Leons was named MVC Defensive Player of the Year. "It's crazy how it all worked out. I had to call time out. You got a good healthy balance, can't be one-dimensional offensively. Jones was associate head coach at ISU the last three seasons . It's experience wins and the big talk was that Drake, they have a lot of experience in the starting lineup, but one look at the box score: 16 points from the bench for you and Drake had two. The next day, 'Let's go again.' (Doug DeVoe, MVC), Bradley coach Brian Wardle yells to his team against Southern Illinois during first half action of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center on Friday, March 6, 2020. No cause of death was given. Bradley University Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. Conference tournament champion. All . 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. Bradley University Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle about the team's Missouri Valley Conference title victory against Drake yesterday at Carver Arena. PEORIA The Bradley Braves rode a soundwave in Carver Arena to a shockwave in their program history Sunday.. A native of Willowbrook, Illinois, Wardle was a two-time all-state selection at Hinsdale Central High School, where he ranks as the schools all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Sycamores ake 4 free throws to cut to 70-64. "There was Westmont Park, Prospect Park, others. He has a recruiting network from so many years of experience in the game, and we needed those connections with (Drew Adams') departure. We were executing, guys knew the gameplan and I just felt good after I woke up this morning around 7 a.m., and that's sleeping in for me, too. We eat at 11, and then I go home and relax and then come here and the best part was driving in. "I remember so many little things with him like that. Yes, we did. Bradley played basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks under legendary Coach Nolan Richardson, and was a four-time letterman from 1996 to 1999. The couple has three children daughters Mya and Emery, and son, Davin. Bradley University head men's basketball coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year during the MVC Awards Banquet on Wednesday, March 1, in downtown St. Louis. Wardle later apologized and the reporter's access to the team was restored. Jeanette Bradley: Athletics Business Manager Amanda Brooks: Athletics Accountant Taylor Patterson: Business Office Graduate Assistant . G 6-5 Titusville, Fla. (Astronaut High), Donovan Clay, Missouri St. Sr. G/F 6-8 Alton, Ill. (Alton High)/Valparaiso, Malevy Leons, Bradley Sr. F 6-9 IJmuiden, Netherlands (Mineral Area College), Courvoisier McCauley, IndSt. Whitnall vs South Milwaukee Game Highlights - Jan. 31, 2023. 2023 www.pjstar.com. Getting ready for who we might play. That was special, because that's what you want as a coach, you want to build your community and you want to bring a lot of pride and excitement to your city. Still has it, I think, in his office.". ATLANTA (AP) The Washington Wizards spoiled Quin Snyder's Atlanta coaching debut, getting 37 points from Bradley Beal and 28 from Kyle Kuzma in a 119-116 victory over the Hawks on Tuesday . Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Gr. Ferguson had suffered from dementia the last few . Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. 0. "He was such a good man, he supported me a lot when I was younger. And you can find us executing better and better as the year went on, just because we were able to stay healthy and get our rotations down consistently. And then your defensive rebounding has to win you games this time of year, and I thought we were able to do that. FIGHTERS: Klein Oak in Regional Semis. He was an assistant under legendary coach Chuck Buescher during the Lions' back-to-back 2003 and 2004 Class AA state championships in boys basketball. He narrowly missed becoming the first player in Valley history to reach 50-50. (Connor Hickman) and Duke (Deen) and Ville (Tahvanainen) stepping up down the stretch. Joe Stowell is an American former college basketball coach and broadcaster. Bradley basketball fans hear Wardle often talk about wanting his teams to be tough and physical. Fact by fact, story by story. Beyond that connection is a basketball coach'slife story from a musical family led by a father who played in a traveling band, to a boy helping out in his father's signage business whileeating Italian beef lunches, to a young man riding his bike to area parks to play pickup basketball games. Dressed in his red blazer, Bradley coach Brian Wardle sat down in the Carver Arena press room on Sunday and basked in the glow of a Missouri Valley Conference championship victory. "I was not very good in basketball for a while, I got cut from teams in fifth grade and sixth grade," Wardle said. Transition defense was huge to make up for our turnovers, because 15-15 with the points off turnovers when you have 16 (turnovers) we haven't had that many in a long time. "Everyone in the family worked in it. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com, Bradley coach Brian Wardle yells at the referee on Sunday, March 10, 2019, during the championship game of the Missouri Valley Tournament that was won by Bradley over Northern Iowa 57-54. Women's Basketball Hitting the Road for SIU and Missouri State - Bradley University Athletics. Jeff White, jwhite@virginia.edu. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996.