Following his Bradley career, Versace served as an assistant coach with the NBAs Detroit Pistons before being named head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1990. I would just bike around each day to wherever the pickup games were going. Coach. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com, Bradley head coach Brian Wardle talks to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Loyola on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, in Chicago. Yeah, so, another box check. Jeanette Bradley: Athletics Business Manager Amanda Brooks: Athletics Accountant Taylor Patterson: Business Office Graduate Assistant . Men's Basketball; Jamie Dixon: Head Coach Tony Benford: Associate Head Coach Duane Broussard: Assistant Coach Jamie McNeilly: Assistant Coach Thomas Montigel: Assistant Athletics Director, Men's Basketball . Leons and wing Zek Montgomery were named to the MVC Most Improved Team on Tuesday, joined by Tytan Anderson (Northern Iowa), Darnell Brodie (Drake) and Ben Krikke (Valparaiso). Conference regular season champion He was a very skilled guy, he hand-painted signs. You have to have a third and fourth option, which we do. I have the best staff, just love 'em and our players. They married, and she spent two years traveling with him. The appointment to coach was a promotion for Crouch, who was an assistant coach under Walraven for eight years after he spent two years as the boys basketball coach at Illini Bluffs. 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. Joe Stowell is an American former college basketball coach and broadcaster. "But I thought transition D was a huge key for us, getting back matching up. As you know with typesetting, all the symbols on the blocks are backwards. The enigmatic team flopped down the stretch in Snyder's Atlanta coaching debut, losing 119-116 to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night. "I know it means a lot to the city, to the university, and to the community," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said . You guys are playing your best right now. Visit ESPN for the game videos of the Northern Iowa Panthers vs. Bradley Braves NCAAM basketball game on March 3, 2023 . 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. "My dad gets things done fast, great quality and price, so we had to use him. Brian Wardle (born October 9, 1979) is an American college basketball coach and the current men's basketball coach at Bradley University. "My strength is player development and game-planning," Jones said. Then turned to hoops. "Man, I mean, we've had we had some big ones in 2020 not 10,000, not sold out though. I did try to play," Brian Wardle said, laughing. You have permission to edit this collection. [3] Tenure. The Valley teams assembled at an awards banquet on Wednesday evening at which the league announced the winner of the Coach of the Year, Larry Bird Trophy for Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and the first, second and third All-Missouri Valley Conference teams. The Braves have had 14 coaches in their 118-season history. Visit ESPN for the box score of the Northern Iowa Panthers vs. Bradley Braves NCAAM basketball game on March 3, 2023 . So is my staff, and I got a great staff. Staff Directory Members By Category/Department; Name Title Phone Email Address Twitter; Brian Wardle: Head Coach 309-677-2668 309-677-2668 G 6-5 Indianapolis, Ind. Mostly tried to stay in Las Vegas and Reno, went up through Canada. Watch this highlight video of the Whitnall (Greenfield, WI) basketball team in its game Whitnall vs South Milwaukee Game Highlights - Jan. 31, 2023 on Jan 31, 2023. 2023 Hoops in the Heartland Reservations Form. "Brian never really played music," said Jim Wardle, laughing. "We did that for about seven years," Wardle said. Wardle also remembers, at age 13,how playing golf with his father and grandfatherforever changed him. F 6-7 State College, Pa. (State College)/Princeton, Cade Tyson, Belmont Fr. He'd sort them out and put them back in the racks. All the hugs on the court and everything like that, you thought about it but now that you've experienced it? Coffee. 03-01-2023 . Bradley is the No. The Redbirds cleared out the coaching staff after the season ended. St. Louis, Mo. Jones was associate head coach at ISU the last three seasons, where he specialized as offensive coordinator and helped the Redbirds to top 3 spots in scoring offense in the Valley the last two years. Moline opened with a 23-10 advantage over Bradley-Bourbonnais through the first . PEORIA The Bradley Braves rode a soundwave in Carver Arena to a shockwave in their program history Sunday.. His most successful season at Bradley came in 1985-86, when the Braves cracked the Top 10 in the AP poll, finished with a 32-3 record and a perfect 16-0 mark in the MVC, and defeated No. Bill Murphy was tall, a very direct man with an endlesswork ethic. "That's something he'll always remember, it's a memory our team will remember. 52-49 (W) Bradley vs. Lafayette County. ", Technology, trust and an 11-hour flight:How Bradley landed a unique 7-foot-1 recruit. Russell, who propelled the Celtics to 11 N.B.A. What's your take on that? Bradley University has extended the contract of men's basketball coach Brian Wardle through the end of the 2022-2023 season, according to an announcement by Bradley Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Reynolds. F 6-7 Monroe, N.C. (Carmel Christian High), Courvoisier McCauley, IndSt. "Not well, and not for long. Twitter. We traveled with one of the guys who sang that, and we backed him when he sang it. Dick Versace, one of the most successful men's basketball coaches at Bradley University, died Friday at the age of 81. I'm a fast player now. High Point University has fired men's basketball coach G.G. Because it is a numbers game.". Jeff White, jwhite@virginia.edu. Analysis: Here are 3 reasons to be even more excited after Bradley's historic basketball victory. "He looked at me and said, 'Listen, nobody in life is waiting for you. That was one of the hardest things to go through as a coach, when that happened to that group, but we'll see. Because he saw it that way while putting away the typesetter blocks. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. But yes, we want to get back. The Missouri Valley Conference also selects a Sixth Man Award recipient, and for the second time it goes to a Bradley student-athlete, as JaShon Henry earned the award this year. Conference tournament champion. Jones worked for Alford at Missouri State, where he was an administrative assistant for a Bears team in 1998-99 that advanced to the Sweet 16. Still has it, I think, in his office.". "You don't know how it's gonna go, and there's gonna be momentum swings and ups and downs. You take the COVID year out, we've got a lot of success in February, March. I'm very grateful, humbled. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. Nate Kennell shared the Sixth Man of the Year honor with UNI's Spencer Haldeman in 2019. Phone: (614) 921-7430 | Fax: (614) 921-7431. G 6-0 Calumet City, Ill. (Bishop Noll)/Siena, Ben Sheppard, Belmont Sr. G 6-6 Atlanta, Ga. (Greater Atlanta Christian), Bowen Born, UNI So. I'll reflect on this award in April some time.". He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. You don't know how these games are gonna go. STA00221PO23 . "I grew up in Las Vegas, a musical family, my parents all my siblings," Jimsaid. "We won some games, I know in the nonconference. "It's really good timing, in a way, that he was available. 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 . "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. Featuring the nations youngest team in his first season on campus and the youngest in the conference each of his first three years, Wardle quickly improved BUs fortunes increasing by eight wins in 2016-17 and seven victories in 2017-18, while earning the schools first 20-win campaign in nine years to cap the early success. This is huge for you personally and your team and your program, winning the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title. He was selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round (23rd pick overall) of the 1981 NBA draft.Born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, Bradley was a 6'5" shooting guard from the University of Wyoming.He played in three National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons, from 1981 to 1984, with the Celtics . Fact by fact, story by story. On 1/4, the Bradley varsity basketball team won their home conference game against Lafayette County (Stamps, AR) by a score of 52-49. "I went over and got a glass of water. ATLANTA -- Returning to the . 15 Miami, Wardle's final Green Bay squad followed with a 24-9 record in 2014-15 and earned an at-large selection to the NIT after finishing as runner-up in the Horizon League regular season and postseason tournament. "But when we face them, I'm old enough and been around long enough to know it's a job, it was a tough circumstance. Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. Moline jumped in . Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. But I think getting Reink (Mast) back (from injury) and (Ja'Shon Henry). Final. His Braves put together the nation's third-longest active home win streak at 17 games, and head into Arch Madness on a 10-game overall win streak and with the No. The 2014 Horizon League Coach of the Year, Wardle led the Phoenix to a 24-7 mark in 2013-14, including a 14-2 league record to claim the regular-season conference title and an automatic bid to the NIT. 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 . 'Part of history':Catching up with Bradley's last Missouri Valley basketball champion. The Braves and Ramblers split their two regular-season matchups, with Bradley dropping a 78-71 overtime decision on Jan. 8 in Chicago and claiming a 68-61 victory on Feb. 9 at Carver Arena. Prior to Bradley's NCAA Tournament game against Michigan State, Wardle was involved in a controversy that gained national attention. Versace leaves behind two adult children. The Rock Island native played for Northern Iowa and, after graduation, played pro basketball in Australia and Portugal. Brian Barone played two seasons at Marquette . Yes, we did. Login Promotions and Red Sea Email Sign Up 50/50 Raffle PNC Bank Achiever of the Game Molly Maid Game Day Crew Voice of the Braves Coaches Show Yearbook Bradley All-Access Live Events . [3] In 2014, Wardle was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year. Wardle was asked to keep wearing a red pair of shoes his wife had bought him. The city I think will remember, people at the game. I don't know the numbers well enough. PEORIA, IL - A rising star in the coaching profession, Northwestern Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Kate Popovec has been named the 10th head coach in Bradley University Women's Basketball history, according to an announcement from Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Reynolds Wednesday morning. "I'd want to go practice and play that person again. No cause of death was given. Men's Basketball Head Coach. My favorite. Darius (Hannah) has been huge for us all year. As for recruiting overseas, Drew's connections and relationships are my connections and relationships too. Arkansas, Eric Musselman (4th season). 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. She has worked primarily with the post players, guiding Alicia Froling to 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, the first player . Bradley associate director of athletic communications Jim Rea recently left as well, for a job outside sports. Bradley Braves Men's Basketball Coaches. After the 2009-2010 season, Wardle was named head coach at UW-Green Bay. PublishedFebruary 28, 2022 at 12:20 PM CST. Matthew Ogle. Bradley announced Versaces death in a news release Saturday morning, hours before the Braves finished the regular season with a 79-55 win over Valparaiso at Carver Arena. Wardle left Hinsdale Central as the school's all-time leader in scoring and rebounding. Born in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, Wardle played for Marquette from 1997-2001, . Pickup at the park, you lose, you sit. Postseason invitational champion "Jimmie and Mike know him well and that's important to me and I respect their input," Wardle said. G 6-0 Greeneville, Tenn. (Greeneville High), Chance Moore, Missouri St. "He was a big swimmer. Summary of Bradley Basketball MVC Awards: Rienk Mast All-MVC First Team, All-Scholar Athlete First Team, Malevy Leons- Defensive MVP, All-Defensive Team, All-MVC Second Team, Most Improved Team, JaShon Henry Sixth-Man of the Year, All-Bench Team, Connor Hickman All-Scholar Athlete Second Team. "Guitar? Wardle earned first-place votes in 37 of 56 ballots, and finished nearly 100 points ahead of Indiana State's Josh Schertz (8 first-place votes) and Belmont's Casey Alexander (8). Very handsy team, and we knew that. The youngest head coach in Division I when he took over with the Phoenix, Wardles Green Bay teams averaged 19 wins per season while facing stiff competition. With my bad hip, I definitely don't sleep well, I'm tossing it turning and up a lot. "And we got a group of guys that are connected that are completely unselfish that will sacrifice for the other guy and the left and right of them. We depend on your support to keep telling stories like this one. I don't think anyone walked out of that meeting not believing in it. He has won nearly 69 percent of his games during his nine years as a Division I head coach, recording seven 20-win seasons. "Now it's all digital. Rienk Mast was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team, while Leons earned second-team honors and also earned a spot on the Valley's All-Defensive Team. With their season-ending win over Valparaiso, the Braves finished with a 17-13 overall record and placed fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference at 11-7. Everything coach Brian Wardle said after Bradley's big win over Drake Feb. 27, 2023. His father-in-law, Bill Murphy, owned Murphy's Sign Studio and Jim eventually went to work for him, then later bought the business. (Manual High)/DePaul, Robbie Avila, Indiana St. C 6-10 Oak Forest, Ill. (Oak Forest High), Michael Duax, UNI G/F 6-6 Dubuque, Iowa (Dubuque Hempstead), Conor Enright, Drake G 6-0 Mundelein, Ill. (Mundelein High), Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Belmont G 6-0 Greeneville, Tenn. (Greeneville High), Cade Tyson, Belmont F 6-7 Monroe, N.C. (Carmel Christian High), Cade Tyson, Belmont F 6-7 Monroe, N.C. (Carmel Christian High), Xavier Johnson, S. Illinois Sr. G 6-1 Germantown, Md. F 6-6 Saskatoon (Athol Murray College of Notre Dame), *Tytan Anderson, UNI So. Jim Wardle says his son decided to play basketball when he reached second grade. He helped the team to two Big Ten Tournament titles and six postseason appearances. (Connor Hickman) and Duke (Deen) and Ville (Tahvanainen) stepping up down the stretch. They are turning heads in H-TOWN. 2023 www.pjstar.com. I'll always say that, so we got our hands full.". Whitnall vs South Milwaukee Game Highlights - Jan. 31, 2023. After college, Wardle played in the NBA Developmental League and the Continental Basketball Association. 0:49. And then your defensive rebounding has to win you games this time of year, and I thought we were able to do that. Brian and his sister, Amy, both played collegiately. Very similar to my father in a lot of ways. I love having Murphy in my name.". This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley basketball has a MVC's top coach and defensive player, Here are 3 reasons to be even more excited after Bradley's historic basketball victory, Bradley beats Drake to win the MVC men's basketball championship, Bradley basketball has a MVC's top coach and defensive player. 76-65. It's really hard to score and I love competing in it, because it's a challenge every day. Title. Get the list of all Bradley Braves's Coaches and More About College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Bill didn't have any sons, so we gave his name to Brian as a middle name, to carry it on.". I'm from this area, I still have family here and I'm glad to be able to stay here.". Do you have any difference in opinion now about an at-large bid for this conference? High Point University has fired men's basketball coach G.G. His teacher would ask us, 'Why is he writing his d's and b's backwards?' (Henry's) dunk, and Hickman's dunk just kind of sealing the game and getting the crowd nuts in the last two minutes. The Ramblers (22-7, 13-5) slipped from first to fourth after dropping their final game to Northern Iowa. (AP Photo/Michael Woods), Bradley coach Brian Wardle talks to his team during a time out against Arkansas during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in North Little Rock, Ark. Box Score. Bradley Braves Athletics. Coaches: Bradley, Brian Wardle (8th season). A team that's competitive, but also having fun, is a scary team this time of year, Bradley coach Brian Wardle said entering the 2023 MVC tournament. "It's crazy how it all worked out. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Feb 1, 2023 @ 7:07pm. "But he was a no-nonsense guy, competitive, worked really hard. "I don't know how they'll do with a basketball when they reach 66.". They were based in Las Vegas, and had an agent who booked them for lounge shows in Vegas and Reno. 1 in the U.S. and won a Grammy). He's an experienced, good coach. By his sophomore year he was 6-foot-3, and he kept growing through high school until he reached 6-5. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. "I put the lettering away from the typesetting, took the trash out, mopped the floors," said Brian Wardle, 41. Jones brings coaching experience from the Missouri Valley Conference, Big Ten and Big Sky to the BU staff, filling the void created when longtime assistant coach Drew Adams left earlier this month for Cincinnati. It's a long season. Bradley University 2023 All Rights Reserved 1501 W. Bradley Avenue Peoria, IL 61625. In his days coaching at Green Bay, he'd host a block party to celebrate the finish of the season. No cause of death was given. The purpose was to honor those coaches who had been successful for many years. "Brian Wardle hopes to carry success to Bradley from UW-Green Bay", "Wardle Named Green Bay Head Basketball Coach", "A reporter wouldn't hype Bradley University's "brand," so it pulled his basketball credential", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brian_Wardle_(basketball)&oldid=1142453232, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 13:14. Bradley University Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. The school's boys basketball program has 14 . 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. Basketball did not come easy to Brian Wardle. Smith after . A Bradley Athletics official revoked media access to a local beat reporter due to not "promoting the Bradley brand." On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Wardle later apologized and the reporter's access to the team was restored. Having reestablished Bradley mens basketball as a championship-level program, Brian Wardle is in his eighth year as head coach of the Braves. We couldn't let them get 3s. 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. He has a recruiting network from so many years of experience in the game, and we needed those connections with (Drew Adams') departure. A Nashville native, Chris began his tenure as a teacher and coach in private education in 1997. . On March 10, 2019, Wardle led the Braves to the NCAA Tournament by winning The Missouri Valleys Arch Madness Tournament. I mean they're good at choking down in the post and just diving into the ball hand lanes. Wardle still remembers his time toiling in the familyshop. Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and . Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com, Bradley coach Brian Wardle slows his team as they play against Southern Illinois in the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Enterprise Center on Friday, March 6, 2020. The Bradley Braves men's basketball team represents Bradley University, located in Peoria, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. Charles Warnell Bradley (born May 16, 1959) is an American former basketball player and coach. "As a head coach in college basketball, you don't sleep great usually in January and February. I leave that up to the experts to tell me where we're at. As I got older, I got better every year.". Bradley is the No. The official 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster for the Bradley University Braves. G 6-6 Brookhaven, Ga. (McEachern High)/Arkansas, Landon Wolf, UNI Fr. "Then we'd go to Prospect Park, I was always the youngest kid at the court in seventh, eighth grade. We've gotten to the NCAA Tournament. And what is his scouting report on Bradley? Bradley assistant coach Jimmie Foster was on Jones' staff when he was head coach at North Dakota.When Drew Adams moved on earlier this month, Foster reached out to Jones. "Everyone in the family worked in it. And out of that timeout, I believe we went on a little bit of a run. Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Bradley University Head Mens Basketball Coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. Wardle was in second grade when he made that as part of a homework assignment when students were asked to write down three words to describe themselves. Gus Bradley also is back No Braves player had won it outright. He played basketball at the YMCA, where the young players wore color-coded wristbands so they knew who to guard on the other team. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Having reestablished Bradley mens basketball as a championship-level program, Brian Wardle is in his eighth year as head coach of the Braves. So. Jones is believed to be the first coach to move from Illinois State to rival Bradley without a stop somewhere else in between. ", Valley champions: Bradley beats Drake to win the MVC men's basketball championship, Tucker DeVries, Drake So. The announcement was made during the MVC Awards Banquet on March 1, in downtown St. Louis. Goal's to get back to that NCAA Tournament and hopefully put ourselves in a position to win some games it's one day at a time, one game at a time.