Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com, Jack Watkins, right, works at the scorer's table at a Missouri Valley Conference tournament game in 2019 as Bradley coach Brian Wardle chats with referee Gerry Pollard. The last decade, it's hard to get fans to arenas in all sports. Wardle led the Braves to a 23-8 overall record and a 16-4 mark in the Valley, the latter tied for the most conference wins in program history. Mike Bargen and Jimmie Foster have anchored Wardle's coaching staff, and both are deserving of the promotions they received Wednesday. Whitnall vs South Milwaukee Game Highlights - Jan. 31, 2023. By his sophomore year he was 6-foot-3, and he kept growing through high school until he reached 6-5. Then the guys would come in at 10:30, and we do our film and walkthrough. He played soccer first. 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. Why Bradley's projected starting lineup might surprise you, plus MVC's great expectations, Path is set: Bradley men's basketball gets schedule, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 0:49. Northern Iowa vs. Bradley - Men's College Basketball Team Statistics "What's in my head right now?," Wardle said. Wardle believes deeply in his family, the one on the basketball court at Bradley, the one that raised him, and the one he's raising now. Jones was Big Sky Coach of the Year in 2017, and during his tenure coached four Lou Henson Mid-Major All-Americans, for all-district players and 12 all-conference honorees. 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. Bradley moves on to Arch Madness semifinals after tight victory over UNI Coach. I would get passed over, they wouldn't allow me to play because it was all high school guys. The Braves have had 14 coaches in their 118-season history. I'll reflect on this award in April some time.". Our community supports us so well. "We won some games, I know in the nonconference. He was 88. Bradley lost the game Lede AI Sports Desk. Bradley Beal make big plays to lift Wizards over Hawks, new coach Quin 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 . Bradley Basketball (@BradleyUMBB) / Twitter You have permission to edit this collection. [MVCsports] Bradley's Brian Wardle named 2023 MVC Men's Coach of the But all we can do is win games.". ", 'I love this fricken team! Keep coming out. He died when Wardle was a freshman at Marquette, and never got to see him play a college game. Celtics' Brad Stevens leaves coaching to replace retiring Danny Ainge Northern Iowa vs. Bradley - Men's College Basketball Box Score - March When he needed those 6-inch by 6-inch vinyl adhesive removable signs for the BU floor, he turned to his father. I couldn't figure out how a man could swim that long.". I was just fascinated with that. And here you are today. Yeah, so, another box check. Born in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, Wardle played for Marquette from 1997-2001, . You know what Arch Madness is. Gus Bradley also is back 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. More Videos. 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. I'm practice swinging, taking too long to hit my ball, and my grandfather was a very blunt guy, very direct guy. Versace leaves behind two adult children. 214-768-2886. "You're right. Women's Basketball Hitting the Road for SIU and Missouri State - Bradley University Athletics. I can count on those guys.". After attending Bradley University and playing on the basketball team from 1947-50, he returned as an assistant coach in 1956 and became Bradley's ninth head coach in 1965. Jeanette Bradley: Athletics Business Manager Amanda Brooks: Athletics Accountant Taylor Patterson: Business Office Graduate Assistant . "We're lucky to have them and they deserved these titles and the things that come with it. Ja'Shon at the end with that monster dunk had so much emotion What what's your take about that moment? If you watched us, I thought we were locked into DeVries and (D.J.) G 6-5 Indianapolis, Ind. Bradley announced Versace's 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. Having reestablished Bradley men's basketball as a championship-level program, Brian Wardle is in his eighth year as head coach of the Braves. That was kind of our claim to fame. "It's really good timing, in a way, that he was available. "Being there, helping out and watching them, I think that's maybe why I am the way I am. 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. "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. With my bad hip, I definitely don't sleep well, I'm tossing it turning and up a lot. You don't know how these games are gonna go. Postseason invitational 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. 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. "These reflect on the team, on all of us. Phone. 2023 Hoops in the Heartland Reservations Form. The Bradley Basketball "Movement" will continue for at least five more years. Bradley's Brian Wardle Named 2023 MVC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year "Young players are such visual learners. We're going to celebrate tonight and enjoy this tonight and we'll get back at it tomorrow night.". G 6-5 Indianapolis, Ind. Tasked with coaching Iowa's frontcourt players, the Hawkeyes led the Big Ten in rebounding in four of Jones' final five years, and produced the league's leading shot blocker in three straight seasons. He sketched out this little sign when he was really young: "Born to compete." All the way up the sidelines and then two rows behind the baselines.". And out of that timeout, I believe we went on a little bit of a run. Coaches: Bradley, Brian Wardle (8th season). Pat Bradley (basketball) - Wikipedia Wardle is building his own family now. Because it is a numbers game.". The announcement was made during the MVC Awards Banquet on March 1, in downtown St. Louis. Bradley head coach Brian Wardle, left, talks with Elijah Childs following an NCAA college basketball game against Northern Iowa in the championship of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament . Working in the sign shop instilled in the coach a type of work ethic and attention to detail that remains today. But Wardle has carried his name and life lessons with him. ", Valley champions: Bradley beats Drake to win the MVC men's basketball championship, Tucker DeVries, Drake So. 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. Former Bradley University basketball coach Dick Versace, who went on to coach in the NBA, died Feb. 25 in Chicago, which he made his home most of his adult life. "They are taking on more responsibility with this new role," Wardle said. (2000) Coach Bradley has worked as an gym clinician for the past 20 years in over 12 . Beal, Wizards spoil Snyder's Hawks debut with 119-116 win [1] As a senior, he averaged 18.8 points per game. Bradley Braves Men's Basketball Coaches | College Basketball at Sports 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. "As a head coach in college basketball, you don't sleep great usually in January and February. Our goal was to hold them to six 3s or less, and they had five. His teacher would ask us, 'Why is he writing his d's and b's backwards?' Bradley basketball: Christian Davis a rising talent for the BU Braves You're playing a really, really good team. "Yeah it is. Named the schools 14th head coach in March 2015, Wardle was first tasked with turning around a Bradley program that had not posted a winning conference record in the previous six seasons with the Braves finishing last in the Valley the year before his arrival. * Private institution that did not list how much it paid its women's basketball coach in its Tax Form 990 . Full Release (PDF) Brian Wardle: A look at the Bradley University basketball head coach A lot of people don't know this, but three games ago, before we went over to Southern Illinois, I put '16-4' up in the locker room, and I put the 'MVC Champs 2023' up on the practice gym wall. Bradley basketball fans hear Wardle often talk about wanting his teams to be tough and physical. People aren't coming out to watch games live as much anymore, and there's multiple factors for that, there's not just one, there's multiple. Very similar to my father in a lot of ways. (Troy), Drew Friberg, Belmont Gr. Brian Wardle - Men's Basketball Coach - Bradley University Athletics Beal, Wizards spoil Snyder's Hawks debut with 119-116 win It was the first OCC title in program history and first league title in . Moline jumped in . After taking on NCAA Tournament teams Marquette, Wisconsin and Virginia during the 2011-12 season, Green Bay knocked off Big East champion Marquette during the 2012-13 campaign and eventual ACC champion Virginia during the 2013-14 season to go along with the 2014 victory at Miami. The Valley All-Bench Team included Henry, Sardaar Calhoun (Drake), Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Belmont), Chance Moore (Missouri State) and Landon Wolf (Northern Iowa). "Hasn't been done in a long time here. I was kind of obsessed with the competition part of things. Bradley's Coach Wardle named MVC Coach of the Year He was an assistant coach at Green Bay from 2005-10, before being named Phoenix head coach April 15, 2010. 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. Darius (Hannah) has been huge for us all year. "But I thought transition D was a huge key for us, getting back matching up. Wardle, claiming he wasn't superstitious, "everyone else is," wore his red shoes. The Braves saw senior Ja'Shon Henry named to the All-Bench Team on Tuesday and designated captain. The next day, 'Let's go again.' ', "It was a lot of fun to get on the train and go downtown with him, go to work with him and all the older guys messing with you all day and learn how to do blue-collar work. The official 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster for the Bradley University Braves . "I'd want to go practice and play that person again. (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. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik), Bradley head coach Brian Wardle watches his players in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Memphis Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht), Bradley head coach Brian Wardle is seen on the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Drake in the semifinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference men's tournament Saturday, March 7, 2020, in St. Louis. 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. NCAA: Bradley men's basketball gets new assistant coach, other changes We've won Arch Madnesses back to back, we've checked those boxes. Bradley led Michigan State at half 35-34, dominating the boards in the first half. She has been on the Hilltop since Travis Mays was named head coach in 2016. We just got to keep believing and keep getting better and staying humble and hungry one day at a time. Having reestablished Bradley mens basketball as a championship-level program, Brian Wardle is in his eighth year as head coach of the Braves. I love proving people wrong. Bradley assistant director of athletic communications Jason Veniskey, who handled men's basketball, baseball, soccer and cross country, is moving on to a sports information role at Mizzou. "My dad is very particular, a perfectionist, in the sign business, and so was my grandfather," Wardle said. 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. 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. They hadlittle asphalt stone court with two wooded backboards like a mini full court off their garage. Kate Popovec Named Bradley Women's Basketball Head Coach "We're happy for him. 2022-23 Men's Basketball Roster - Bradley University Athletics "I've done this a long time, and expanding to doing other things is great, the more I can learn the better for me. Sr. G 6-6 Chesterfield, Va. (Lloyd C. Bird)/Lincoln Memorial, Lance Jones, S. Illinois Sr. G 6-1 Evanston, Ill. (Evanston Township), Rob Perry, Murray State Jr. G 6-4 Orlando, Fla. (Oak Ridge High)/Stetson. I mean there are a lot of factors to win this time of year, and depth is always big. All our kids and grandkids are athletic, but my wife and I were into music. Smart basketball is huge this time of year. PEORIA The Bradley Braves filled their vacant assistant coach position with former Illinois State associate head coach Brian Jones on Wednesday afternoon. And I never played sports, only a little bit in high school. 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. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. Talk about that crowd today? List of Bradley Braves men's basketball head coaches. Here's everything Wardle said in his news conference after Bradley's 73-61 victory over Drake in Peoria: Champions: Bradley beats Drake to win the MVC men's basketball championship. While in high school Coach Bradley was Alabama All State Sr Year, then while in College he was a 4 year Scholarship Student Athlete for Don Meyer at Lipscomb University (95-99) Tennessean Sportsmanship award for collegiate athletes. G 5-11 Norwalk, Iowa (Norwalk High), Jace Carter, UIC So. It's a heck of a journey from a team that was 2-7 at one point on the road. She has worked primarily with the post players, guiding Alicia Froling to 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, the first player . We've pushed them and challenged them, and they've challenged back and brought intensity back and it's just it's a family in that locker room, and it's a connected group and usually that's what it takes to win championships, honestly. "I would bring an old cassette player with batteries in it, play music at the park while I played on the court alone. I've sat in that banquet and seen a lot of great coaches get it. The following is a list of Bradley Braves men's basketball head coaches. Dick Versace, one of the most successful men's basketball coaches at Bradley University, died Friday at the age of 81. Bradley has also led all schools during Wardles tenure with seven All-Freshman Team honorees and with four forwards named to the leagues Most Improved Team. "I would wait 45 minutes, an hour, to get an opportunity. Every Italian beef place in Chicago you can think of, I've been there. Staff Directory Members By Category/Department; Name Title Phone Email Address Twitter; Brian Wardle: Head Coach 309-677-2668 309-677-2668 Ron Ferguson, former Bradley AD and Thornridge boys basketball coach Bradley High School | 2800 Walker Road | Hilliard, OH 43026. "My strength is player development and game-planning," Jones said. I just thought it would be easier to do social distancing in practice. The purpose was to honor those coaches who had been successful for many years. He's an experienced, good coach. "It was awesome. Brian Wardle (basketball) - Wikipedia He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. When it was all said and done, Wardles first two recruiting classes at BU graduated as champions as Bradley won back-to-back conference titles for the first time in school history. I felt like two practices, were very efficient, intense. All the hugs on the court and everything like that, you thought about it but now that you've experienced it? I did try to play," Brian Wardle said, laughing. He was named the MVC Coach of the Year twice (80, 86), and his 156 coaching victories rank fifth in Bradley history. Is there extra motivation to get back to the tournament because you won the bid in 2020, but you missed out because it got canceled? And I think that was huge. . In his second season at Bradley, Versace became the first coach in Valley history to win the conference title after finishing in last place the season before. I don't take long. Then He and His Wife Pledged $500K to Career Program. 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. 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. We approached it as team recruiting, not individual recruiting. Moline opened with a 23-10 advantage over Bradley-Bourbonnais through the first . "Standup, high-character guy. I tried to soak up the whole day, honestly, and the players. "Well, I think we're definitely good enough to go and win games. 1 seed. 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. 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. 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. I thought Ja'Shon (Henry's) defense on (Roman) Penn and Malevy (Leons') defense on (Tucker) DeVries. In his first seven seasons on the BU sideline, Wardle has built Bradley into a perennial Missouri Valley Conference contender, capped by winning back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2020. "That was a scary game," Bradley head coach . And how Brian Wardlegot his middle name, Murphy. I listen to old-school hip-hop, kind of from my basketball roots, and my wife likes country so I listen to that, too. We're gonna celebrate tonight and tomorrow we'll get back to work.". Visit ESPN for the box score of the Northern Iowa Panthers vs. Bradley Braves NCAAM basketball game on March 3, 2023 . 'Part of history':Catching up with Bradley's last Missouri Valley basketball champion. Overall, Bradley has featured 10 all-conference performers during the last five seasons leading the league with three selections during the 2019-20 campaign. He played on an elite AAU team, the Illinois Warriors, and went on to Marquette, where he averaged 18.8 points and finished third in scoring all-time for the school. 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. Oh, and it definitely helped my golf game. I wanted something to put on the floor that said 'Stand there.' PEORIA Bradley men's basketball has about 60 Bradley shield logo decals scattered on its practice floor, a sign of the COVID-19 era and social distancing.. Braves coach Brian Wardle wanted . LOUIS, Mo. "I could not be more excited about the future of Bradley Women's . The Braves have also been very active within the Peoria community and consistently lead the athletic department in volunteer service, totaling more than 5,000 hours of community service under Wardles leadership. Analysis: Here are 3 reasons to be even more excited after Bradley's historic basketball victory. Bradley's Brian Wardle Named 2023 MVC Men's Basketball Coach of the While building for success on the floor, Wardle has also made academic success and community involvement pillars of the Bradley program. Bradley head coach Brian Wardle is seen on the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Drake in the semifinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference men's . "Box 1 I wanted to check while being the coach at Bradley, no doubt. [3] Upon his hiring, Wardle became the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. Here are 3 reasons to be even more excited after Bradley's historic basketball victory Feb. 27, 2023. Bradley beats Drake to win the MVC men's basketball championship