"I'm watching film right now. It's really hard to score and I love competing in it, because it's a challenge every day. The team's schedule is listed below with date, day of week, location, opponent and time, according to bradleybraves.com. Bradley Braves Athletics. Dick Versace, one of the most successful men's basketball coaches at Bradley University, died Friday at the age of 81. I leave that up to the experts to tell me where we're at. The early-season crown wouldnt be the last trophy the Braves lifted that campaign as Wardle helped BU win its first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title in 31 years, overcoming an 18-point second-half deficit for the largest comeback in title game history as Bradley reach the top of the podium for the first time since 1988. 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. 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. Sycamores ake 4 free throws to cut to 70-64. Bradley is the No. (AP Photo/Michael Woods). "I don't know how they'll do with a basketball when they reach 66.". Better than you dreamed of? "I've done this a long time, and expanding to doing other things is great, the more I can learn the better for me. 0. Jim played bass guitar. I've always said there are two types of coaches, those who are humbled and those who are about to be.". 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. 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. "He was a big swimmer. 2022-23 Klein Oak Basketball. 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. His parents never had to tell him to go practice. Wardle is the first Bradley coach win league honors since Jim Molinari in 1996. "When we learned more about social distancing, and the Kinexon system came in, we wanted to bring that into our practices," Wardle said. It was a passion. "Standup, high-character guy. "Yeah, believe me. I got a lot of respect for (Drake coach) Darren (DeVries) and his program. Pickup at the park, you lose, you sit. I mean, our league's really good. Wardle, claiming he wasn't superstitious, "everyone else is," wore his red shoes. 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. High Point University has fired men's basketball coach G.G. I don't take long. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Three drives by the Atlanta star in the final 2 1/2 minutes were . We're gonna celebrate tonight and tomorrow we'll get back to work.". He is the seventh Bradley coach to win the honor. . "So they hit the ball. We need you next year.". Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. [2], He was director of basketball operations at Marquette from 20032005 and an assistant coach at UW-Green Bay from 20052010. Bradley will open play in the MVC Tournament against defending champion Loyola at 2:30 p.m. Friday. Jim Wardle was a professional musician at age 17, forming a band of fellow high schoolers, called Taxi. Smart basketball is huge this time of year. I love having Murphy in my name.". 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. Then they started to have kids, and it was time to settle down. It was just a big game for everybody.". (2000) Coach Bradley has worked as an gym clinician for the past 20 years in over 12 . "Brian was very, very competitive as a little kid," said Jim Wardle, 66. It's well-coached, preparation's tremendous, everyone guards you. Chris Bradley joined Ensworth in 2009 as an Assistant Athletic Director and became the Head Wrestling Coach in 2011. He sketched out this little sign when he was really young: "Born to compete." 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. Smith after . 'Part of history':Catching up with Bradley's last Missouri Valley basketball champion. And I never played sports, only a little bit in high school. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. It's an obsession of mine. I thought (the road record) was blown a little bit out of proportion to be quite honest, and I thought we proved that. He knew everything that was going on.". We'll think about these things some time in April. There was a problem saving your notification. Coffee. That included the program's first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2017. Overall, Bradley has featured 10 all-conference performers during the last five seasons leading the league with three selections during the 2019-20 campaign. Charles Warnell Bradley (born May 16, 1959) is an American former basketball player and coach. I love music, though. And I think this group has done that.". He was named the MVC Coach of the Year twice (80, 86), and his 156 coaching victories rank fifth in Bradley history. She has worked primarily with the post players, guiding Alicia Froling to 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, the first player . Jones is believed to be the first coach to move from Illinois State to rival Bradley without a stop somewhere else in between. He went on to play collegiately at Marquette, helping the Golden Eagles to a pair of NIT appearances in 1998 and 2000. 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. "It was awesome. Wardle is married to the former Lecia Schuetz, a soccer student-athlete during her collegiate career at Marquette. As Wardle searched for ways to help his team deal with the COVID era, the coach turned to what he knows. Dick Versace, one of the most successful mens basketball coaches at Bradley University, died Friday at the age of 81. You know, I usually drive in with about an hour 15, hour 20 ahead of time and to see all the fans already there, walking in and celebrating and screaming and yelling outside. "He looked at me and said, 'Listen, nobody in life is waiting for you. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve. Mike Bargen and Jimmie Foster have anchored Wardle's coaching staff, and both are deserving of the promotions they received Wednesday. Underwood is the 18th head coach in Illinois history, hired in March 2017 as the Richmond Family Endowed Men's Head Basketball Coach. Smith after . The school's boys basketball program has 14 . I would just bike around each day to wherever the pickup games were going. Kenny Strawbridge, UE Sr. G 6-6 Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Lutheran)/Alabama St. Garrett Sturtz, Drake Gr. The city I think will remember, people at the game. Here is a look at Brian Wardle, the Bradley University Braves men's basketball head coach. Last chance! If we were healthy, I think we would have. Bradley lost the game But I don't know. He was head coach at North Dakota from 2006-19, and after the program's transition to NCAA Div.-I, led the team to three Big Sky Conference tournament titles and six postseason appearances in his last eight years. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. Basketball did not come easy to Brian Wardle. He'd show up with an old, big camera, watch us play park games.". Everything coach Brian Wardle said after Bradley's big win over Drake Feb. 27, 2023. Anderson was named captain. Arkansas, Eric Musselman (4th season). "I went over and got a glass of water. Indeed, the coach has it framed. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We did a good job of taking good shots all game.". He also saw all the signs, early on, that pointed to the man and the coach Brian Wardle is today. All the way up the sidelines and then two rows behind the baselines.". Men's Basketball Head Coach. A 6-foot guard from Chicago Marshall High School, Keifer Sykes was the two-time Horizon League Player of the Year and can be found all over the Green Bay record books, finishing second on the schools all-time scoring list with 2,096 career points and third with 526 assists. 2023 www.pjstar.com. Dick Versace recruited . To qualify for the Hall of Fame a coach must have coached Varsity/College Head Basketball for 20 years or more and/or accumulated 300 or more victories. The official Men's Basketball Coach List for the Bradley University Braves Skip To Main Content . They compete as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.The Braves are currently coached by Brian Wardle and play their home games at Carver Arena.. Bradley has appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments, including two Final Fours and national championship . We'd go out to lunch, my dad would take me to get Italian beef. Bradley High School | 2800 Walker Road | Hilliard, OH 43026. (Photo by Matt Riley, UVA Athletics) September 15, 2019. Two years later, he guided the Braves to wins over Oklahoma and Purdue to win the NIT. . Women's Basketball Hitting the Road for SIU and Missouri State - Bradley University Athletics. "My dad gets things done fast, great quality and price, so we had to use him. Biography. 1:14. The Redbirds cleared out the coaching staff after the season ended. Additionally, the Braves have led the league in academic honorees in each of the last four seasons with their 15 total selections four more than any other team in the conference. There are now over 150 coaches in the BCAM Hall of Fame. "I know they are talented, but I'm even more impressed with the character of the kids here. Wardle led the Braves to a 23-8 overall record and a 16-4 mark in . Is your case there if you need it? Tony Bennett, Dean and Markel Families Men's Basketball Head Coach, said he was "blessed beyond what I deserve," declined a raise and made a gift to a career development program for his players. "We would have pickup games going," Wardle said. Full Release (PDF) STA00221PO23 . Bradley University Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle about the team's Missouri Valley Conference title victory against Drake yesterday at Carver Arena. Jeff White, jwhite@virginia.edu. Having reestablished Bradley mens basketball as a championship-level program, Brian Wardle is in his eighth year as head coach of the Braves. "I don't get Coach of the Year, Rienk first team All-Conference, Malevy Defensive Player of the Year, Zek Most Improved team, Ja'Shon Sixth Man, all the guys, all the honors, none of that happens if we don't all work together," Wardle said. But all we can do is win games.". Brian Wardle (born October 9, 1979) is an American college basketball coach and the current men's basketball coach at Bradley University. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. His wife, Lecia, was born in Wisconsin but grew up in Sarasota, Fla. 2023 www.pjstar.com. Twitter. 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 felt confident. 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. Brian Barone played two seasons at Marquette . (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. That was kind of our claim to fame. 1 in the U.S. and won a Grammy). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 2023 Hoops in the Heartland Reservations Form. "I believe in this team, and I like this team against anybody. I love the size and physicality on the roster, too.". 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. Still, Jones says he won't carry any grudge into those rivalry games in 2022-23. "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. "I think we can compete with anyone. Does Bradley deserve to go? "Box 1 I wanted to check while being the coach at Bradley, no doubt. 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. 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. Colleges came calling the summer after his sophomore year, and Wardle's goal of becoming a Division I basketball player seemedlikely. Bradley University Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. "I had three brothers and we all played in my dad's band. "He picked up the guitar a little bit. Visit ESPN for the team statistics of the Northern Iowa Panthers vs. Bradley Braves NCAAM basketball game on March 3, 2023 . That's what we're built on, and it's helped us have a lot of success in February, March. Top-seeded Bradley meets No. "Drew is an excellent recruiter, and he deserved a chance to go to Cincinnati," Wardle said. Login No cause of death was given. Phone. All rights reserved. 03-01-2023 . "Hasn't been done in a long time here. List of Bradley Braves men's basketball head coaches. Feb 1, 2023 @ 7:07pm. "We've been connected a long time, and he let me know there might be an opportunity for me at Bradley," Jones said. 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. We had a conversation, then I came over for lunch, then a couple days later he chose me. 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. 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. "You know, I wish we could have won one or two more nonconference (games). 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. (AP Photo/L.G. * Brian Wardle, Bradley $708,920; Dan Muller, Illinois State $564,000 . I don't know if they factor in health I wish they would. "Being there, helping out and watching them, I think that's maybe why I am the way I am. You together with donors across the NPR Network create a more informed public. Every Italian beef place in Chicago you can think of, I've been there. "Then we'd go to Prospect Park, I was always the youngest kid at the court in seventh, eighth grade. "I had stopped playing baseball, stopped playing football, was really focused on basketball. Highlighted by a 68-55 win at then No. 309-677-2668. Division regular season and conference tournament champion [3] In 2014, Wardle was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year. "We did that for about seven years," Wardle said. 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. But hey, I can still play. If you watched us, I thought we were locked into DeVries and (D.J.) ", Valley champions: Bradley beats Drake to win the MVC men's basketball championship, Tucker DeVries, Drake So. 1 seed and outright regular-season champion for the first time since 1996. (AP Photo/Michael Woods), Bradley coach Brian Wardle on the sidelines against Arkansas during an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in North Little Rock, Ark. We were able to overcome it, but our defense our rebounding and I thought we had good shot selection, too. Bradley is the No. As for recruiting overseas, Drew's connections and relationships are my connections and relationships too. I'm a very competitive person. FIGHTERS: Klein Oak in Regional Semis. I've sat in that banquet and seen a lot of great coaches get it. (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. Wardle still remembers his time toiling in the familyshop. They have children Davin, 8, Emery, 11 and Mya, 14. 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. 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. Jones was associate head coach at ISU the last three seasons . {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. He was always in the driveway. As you know with typesetting, all the symbols on the blocks are backwards. 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. Joe Stowell is an American former college basketball coach and broadcaster. We traveled with one of the guys who sang that, and we backed him when he sang it. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve. Bradley beat Valpo 80-66 to take the MVC championship. I know it means a lot to the city, to the university, to the community. Wardle was asked to keep wearing a red pair of shoes his wife had bought him. 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). 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. Conference tournament champion. 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'll reflect on this award in April some time.". As expected, he was named MVC Sixth Man of the Year on Wednesday night. When (Henry) hit that dunk and Malevy hit that corner 3, I mean felt good that that crowd was energizing us and energizing us defensively, too. 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. While building for success on the floor, Wardle has also made academic success and community involvement pillars of the Bradley program. (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. Bradley is the No. I had to pick up my ball and just keep up, keep up. Having reestablished Bradley men's basketball as a championship-level program, Brian Wardle is in his eighth year as head coach of the Braves. You're playing a really, really good team. "He was the only one on the team who knew all the plays, he'd tell players where to be and what to do. Barone grew up on Bradley basketball as his father, the late Tony Barone Sr., was an assistant coach with the Braves from 1978-85. "I was kind of uncoordinated, couldn't really dribble the ball real well. I did try to play," Brian Wardle said, laughing. 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. We weren't really in sync. [1], Bradley's current head coach is Brian Wardle. Is that the biggest thing you guys have going for you down there? 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. "Guitar? F 6-6 Saskatoon (Athol Murray College of Notre Dame), Sardaar Calhoun, Drake Sr. G/F 6-6 Tappahannock, Va. (Blue Ridge)/Texas Tech/, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Belmont Fr. Bradley University Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Wardle has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. Visit ESPN for the game videos of the Northern Iowa Panthers vs. Bradley Braves NCAAM basketball game on March 3, 2023 . Wardle is building his own family now. "I grew up in Las Vegas, a musical family, my parents all my siblings," Jimsaid. [3] Tenure. I thought Ja'Shon (Henry's) defense on (Roman) Penn and Malevy (Leons') defense on (Tucker) DeVries. Probably the best sleep I've had in a long, long time and I kind of knew that might be an omen. When I work out, when I'm in the car, all the time. Latest Topics. Jones took over as interim head coach last season at ISU after Dan Muller resigned. Lede AI Sports Desk. 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. We got to get better at some things still this week. 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 . (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. "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. [3] Upon his hiring, Wardle became the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I basketball. "By the time he won a national championship as a 16-year-old, I knew he was going to be a coach," Jim Wardle said. After college, Wardle played in the NBA Developmental League and the Continental Basketball Association. Matthew Ogle. We're all driven to bring a championship to Peoria, and we were able to get that regular-season (one) here now. You might not play for another 30 minutes.". Was there any fight to get back because of the COVID year, where you guys made the tournament?