On he went to a coaching career, as an assistant at Marquette and Green Bay, then head coach at Green Bay and now at Bradley. "Everyone in the family worked in it. All our kids and grandkids are athletic, but my wife and I were into music. PEORIA Former Bradley athletic director and Thornridge basketball coach Ron Ferguson died July 8 at a Peoria senior care facility at age 89. 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. I don't think anyone walked out of that meeting not believing in it. Born in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, Wardle played for Marquette from 1997-2001, . Northern Iowa vs. Bradley - Men's College Basketball Play-By-Play Jones was associate head coach at ISU the last three seasons . "He looked at me and said, 'Listen, nobody in life is waiting for you. We'll think about these things some time in April. Whitnall vs South Milwaukee Game Highlights - Jan. 31, 2023. 'Part of history':Catching up with Bradley's last Missouri Valley basketball champion. The announcement was made during the MVC Awards Banquet on March 1, in downtown St. Louis. It also marked the first time since 1954 and 1955 that the Braves qualified for the NCAA Tournament in consecutive campaigns, while the teams 23 wins were its most since 1993-94. Amie Smith Bradley was promoted to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2019-20 season. Beal, Wizards spoil Snyder's Hawks debut with 119-116 win They hadlittle asphalt stone court with two wooded backboards like a mini full court off their garage. The Braves defeated Northern Iowa 57-54. Bradley is the No. He posted a 73-87 record over parts of three seasons with the Pacers. In his tenure, Bradley has won back-to-back arch madness tournament championships in 2019 and 2020, as well as leading Bradley to their first regular season championship since the 96-97 season, while being the favorites to win 2023's Arch Mandess tournament. Biography. We just got to keep believing and keep getting better and staying humble and hungry one day at a time. Across the street lived the Devine family. Assistant AD for Marketing and Fan Experience in Spartanburg, SC for Storm warning: Moline unleashes full fury on Bradley-Bourbonnais 71-39 As a senior in 2001, Wardle served as team captain and finished as the second-leading scorer in Conference USA by pumping in 18.8 points per game. G 6-3 Newton, Iowa (Newton), Tucker DeVries, Drake So. Tweets by Amie Bradley. 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. UNI claimed the top seed and will face either Illinois State or Indiana State in Fridays first game, with the winner advancing to face the Bradley-Loyola winner. I thought Ja'Shon (Henry's) defense on (Roman) Penn and Malevy (Leons') defense on (Tucker) DeVries. You know what Arch Madness is. Kenny Strawbridge, UE Sr. G 6-6 Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Lutheran)/Alabama St. Garrett Sturtz, Drake Gr. The MVC Coach of the Year for 2023 is Bradley's Brian Wardle. He was a very skilled guy, he hand-painted signs. Having reestablished Bradley mens basketball as a championship-level program, Brian Wardle is in his eighth year as head coach of the Braves. No excuses': How Bradley basketball moves forward after a tough week. Bill would be amazed. 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. 1 seed. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh), Bradley head coach Brian Wardle calls in a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Drake in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, Friday, March 2, 2018, in St. Louis. What's your take on that? 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). Is your case there if you need it? 0:05. www.uscupstate.edu . Was there any fight to get back because of the COVID year, where you guys made the tournament? I try to stay in the moment and zone everything out, to be honest. "I always tell the team, 'No individual accomplishments happen without the team around you.' 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. (Henry's) dunk, and Hickman's dunk just kind of sealing the game and getting the crowd nuts in the last two minutes. G 6-3 Frisco, Texas (iSchool Entrepreneurial Academy), Malevy Leons, Bradley Sr. F 6-9 IJmuiden, Netherlands (Mineral Area College), *Ja'Shon Henry, Bradley Gr. I would play as hard as I possibly could so we wouldn't lose. Barone grew up on Bradley basketball as his father, the late Tony Barone Sr., was an assistant coach with the Braves from 1978-85. Bradley played basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks under legendary Coach Nolan Richardson, and was a four-time letterman from 1996 to 1999. Smith . Wardle is married to the former Lecia Schuetz, a soccer student-athlete during her collegiate career at Marquette. 52-49 (W) Bradley vs. Lafayette County. ATLANTA -- Returning to the . Braves head coach Brian Wardle also elevated longtime assistants Mike Bargen and Jimmie Foster to associate head coach positions. 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. Feb 24, 2023. Brian Wardle (basketball) - Wikipedia It's really hard to score and I love competing in it, because it's a challenge every day. Overall, Bradley has featured 10 all-conference performers during the last five seasons leading the league with three selections during the 2019-20 campaign. (1999) Coached with an NBA affiliate as an player development instructor. 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. The Redbirds cleared out the coaching staff after the season ended. It can't all be inside. Bradley University Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. He'd show up with an old, big camera, watch us play park games.". She has been on the Hilltop since Travis Mays was named head coach in 2016. 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. Location: Peoria, Illinois Seasons: 119 (1902-03 to 2022-23) Record: 1743-1251 .582 W-L% Conferences: MVC and Ind. 0:49. Provided. Wardle is building his own family now. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Anderson was named captain. I mean, our league's really good. Ja'Shon at the end with that monster dunk had so much emotion What what's your take about that moment? I tried to soak up the whole day, honestly, and the players. "I was not very good in basketball for a while, I got cut from teams in fifth grade and sixth grade," Wardle said. He is the seventh Bradley coach to win the honor. You take the COVID year out, we've got a lot of success in February, March. Give us a little bit of the day. 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. Bill didn't have any sons, so we gave his name to Brian as a middle name, to carry it on.". When was the last time you coached in front of a home crowd like that? Bradley High School (AR) Varsity Basketball - MaxPreps.com I do believe that, no doubt about it, but it's a matter of: Do our numbers add up? Bradley opened the 2018-19 season by defeating Penn State in the Cancun Challenge Championship as the Braves claimed their first regular-season tournament trophy since 1983. The following is a list of Bradley Braves men's basketball head coaches. We're going to celebrate tonight and enjoy this tonight and we'll get back at it tomorrow night.". 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 . As I got older, I got better every year.". Two years later, he guided the Braves to wins over Oklahoma and Purdue to win the NIT. (Manual High)/DePaul, Cameron Henry, IndSt. It's a heck of a journey from a team that was 2-7 at one point on the road. "I'd want to go practice and play that person again. (Photo by Matt Riley, UVA Athletics) September 15, 2019. Here are 3 reasons to be even more excited after Bradley's historic basketball victory Feb. 27, 2023. "My dad is very particular, a perfectionist, in the sign business, and so was my grandfather," Wardle said. Assistant AD for Marketing and Fan Experience . You guys are playing your best right now. The official Men's Basketball Coach List for the Bradley University Braves Skip To Main Content . Bradley Braves Men's Basketball Coaches. Bradley scored 12.5 points per game and added 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Ohio Cardinal Conference champion Tygers. (Episcopal)/George Mason, Julian Larry, Indiana State So. You got a good healthy balance, can't be one-dimensional offensively. "I could not be more excited about the future of Bradley Women's . So. 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. G 6-6 Louisville, Ky. (St. Louis Christian Academy), *denotes team "captain" as designated by the league's beat writers and media panel. 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. They married, and she spent two years traveling with him. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. The announcement was made during the MVC Awards Banquet on March 1, in downtown St. Louis. In his first seven seasons on the BU sideline, Wardle has built Bradley into a perennial Missouri Valley Conference contender, capped by winning . We'd go out to lunch, my dad would take me to get Italian beef. Adams previously has held both positions at Georgetown High School. PEORIA The Bradley Braves rode a soundwave in Carver Arena to a shockwave in their program history Sunday.. "Well, I think we're definitely good enough to go and win games. He went on to play collegiately at Marquette, helping the Golden Eagles to a pair of NIT appearances in 1998 and 2000. * Brian Wardle, Bradley $708,920; Dan Muller, Illinois State $564,000 . The forecast says it'll be During the first media timeout of this Sunday's Red Out game, over 750 T-Shirts will rain down inside Carver Arena in the - in Bradley history! We'd go up to Wisconsin and he'd get up in the morning and swim the length of Kangaroo Lake, where we stayed, all the way to the other side and back. If you don't win this tournament? Basketball did not come easy to Brian Wardle. But yes, we want to get back. Georgetown boys basketball head coach Eric Sparkman resigns after 3 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. Bradley won 57-54. Is that the biggest thing you guys have going for you down there? But I don't know. 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. 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. You could just see some of our veterans found their stride down the stretch here and Hick, I thought he was tremendous today. The BCAM Hall of Fame inducted the first members in 1985. Russell, who propelled the Celtics to 11 N.B.A. They've worked really hard. "I remember the little details of things with him," the BU coach said. All the hugs on the court and everything like that, you thought about it but now that you've experienced it? 2023 www.pjstar.com. 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. ST. LOUIS, Mo. F 6-7 Monroe, N.C. (Carmel Christian High), Courvoisier McCauley, IndSt. Born in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, Wardle played for Marquette from 19972001, ending his career as the third-leading scorer in school history. "We won some games, I know in the nonconference. You better pull your own weight and keep up. "When we look at the record we have with Reink in the lineup with (Henry) and Zek (Montgomery). We've gotten to the NCAA Tournament. He died when Wardle was a freshman at Marquette, and never got to see him play a college game. 309-677-2668. The Celtics announced Wednesday morning that head coach Brad Stevens is transitioning from his head-coaching position to becoming the franchise's new head of basketball operations, replacing . To see the players celebrate, they deserve it. 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 . This is the first conference tournament championship for Bradley since 1988, and the first trip to the NCAA Tournament for Bradley since 2006. Please take a moment to donate now and fund the local news our community needs. He has a recruiting network from so many years of experience in the game, and we needed those connections with (Drew Adams') departure. Hillsdale College Athletics The first game Friday (at the MVC tournament) is always the hardest. He was hired in March 2015 [2] to replace Geno Ford, who was fired after the 2014-15 season. "So they hit the ball. 'Big plays at big moments': How Bradley broke through for road win at "It's crazy how it all worked out. No Braves player had won it outright. They are guys who have helped build this program to sustained success and been a huge part of it. Your support truly makes a difference. 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. "Young players are such visual learners. [2], He was director of basketball operations at Marquette from 20032005 and an assistant coach at UW-Green Bay from 20052010. Whitnall High School (Greenfield, WI) Varsity Basketball But a loss would just burn in me forever. Arch Madness: What to watch for Bradley at the MVC tournament. 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. (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. Arkansas, Eric Musselman (4th season). "But defense wins, and you got to have balance on offense this time of year. "We've known Brian Jones for a while," Wardle said. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. . 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. Staff Directory - TCU Athletics Northern Iowa vs. Bradley - Men's College Basketball Game Videos 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. They are turning heads in H-TOWN. Bradley 52. "What's in my head right now?," Wardle said. Bravescoach Brian Wardle wanted them, and knew just who to get them from: His father, Jim Wardle. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson), Bradley head coach Brian Wardle talks to his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. I love having Murphy in my name.". Because he saw it that way while putting away the typesetter blocks. 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. Fact by fact, story by story. Everything the Bradley basketball coach said after big win over Drake Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. We played around hotels, arenas and churches, places like that.". It can't be all (3-pointers). 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. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve. Talk about that crowd today? We weren't really in sync. Usually guys with that experience are not available in September. Spartanburg, SC . Wardle said Jones will be Bradley's defensive coordinator, but will certainly scout and also offer input on the Braves' offense. Yes, we did. Bill Murphy was tall, a very direct man with an endlesswork ethic. Over and out: Moline punches through Bradley-Bourbonnais 71-39 List of Bradley Braves men's basketball head coaches Full Release (PDF) I'm practice swinging, taking too long to hit my ball, and my grandfather was a very blunt guy, very direct guy. 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. Brian and his sister, Amy, both played collegiately. "He picked up the guitar a little bit. "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 Braves have added the 2019 MVC Sixth Man of the Year and one All-Defensive Team recipient in Wardles seven seasons on campus. 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. "We're happy for him. And winning wasn't like this gratifying feeling at all. Bradley Women's Basketball (3-10) heads on the road to face Southern Illinois (5-6) and Missouri State (7-4). Bradley's Brian Wardle Named 2023 MVC Men's Basketball Coach of the If we were healthy, I think we would have. How Bradley remembered a coach, welcomed a baseball hall of famer and "When we learned more about social distancing, and the Kinexon system came in, we wanted to bring that into our practices," Wardle said. "We wanted it to carry on," Wardle said. The Braves added their second regular-season tournament crown under his watch (and just the sixth in school history) with the 2021 Sun Bowl Invitational title. Do you have any difference in opinion now about an at-large bid for this conference? Brian Wardle - Men's Basketball Coach - Bradley University Athletics I love music, though. The Assistant AD for Marketing and Fan Experience serves to increase the awareness of the athletics department on-campus and within the greater Upstate region through various marketing initiatives, branding efforts, game day promotions, and corporate . Bradley Braves Athletics. Channel: Basketball Fan Talk & Other Sports. When you have that as a coach, you know, you have a chance and I just believe that we were going to win this thing and win three in a row to end it and they did, too. 2023 Hoops in the Heartland Reservations Form. ", 'I love this fricken team! We did a good job of taking good shots all game.". Conference regular season champion "Yeah, you know, I think they went up 41-40. 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. In 2015, he left to take the coaching job at Bradley, which posted a 9-24 record the season before his arrival and a 5-27 record after the year in which he arrived. . 02 Mar 2023 01:46:19 Very handsy team, and we knew that. Chris Bradley joined Ensworth in 2009 as an Assistant Athletic Director and became the Head Wrestling Coach in 2011. "I know they are talented, but I'm even more impressed with the character of the kids here. 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. Missouri Valley Conference:Path is set: Bradley men's basketball gets schedule.