Bradley's new coach is Brian Wardle

[lefty]

What I like best about this was the process??¦??¦..now I understand every hire is somewhat of a crapshoot and there are no guarantees ??¦??¦but the last two hiring processes were disasters??¦not who we hired necessarily but how we went about it??¦..

I'm glad BU hired CR and glad CR hired the coach??¦..good job BU

[Vent]

Coming into a program that is a bottom feeder, he should be able to turn it around quickly.

Although it is late in the recruiting process for signing people this spring, he may be able to lure somebody he was recruiting to Green Bay, to play on the hilltop next season. He currently has one scholarship available.

He can hit the jackpot during next fall's and spring's signing period with at least seven scholarships available. He is going to have an opportunity to get his own players here very quickly.

It seems like a long time since we've signed anyone in the fall. That is generally when you get your better players.

[Braves2006]

Shocker fan here. I think this could be a great hire for you. I've always liked Bradley. I'd love to see this work out for you.

Thanks GarH. We were rooting for you guys in the postseason (as always it seems). . Just looking forward to being competitive with you guys again.

[basketball nut]

What I like best about this was the process??¦??¦..now I understand every hire is somewhat of a crapshoot and there are no guarantees ??¦??¦but the last two hiring processes were disasters??¦not who we hired necessarily but how we went about it??¦..

I'm glad BU hired CR and glad CR hired the coach??¦..good job BU

Agree completely Lefty, and the #1 thing I like is CR got his first choice. No being turned down by several candidates because of the situation @ BU.
Talking to a friend that was an ass't coach in the area and he said he's excited about BU basketball again as they hit a homerun. Also heard a former UWGB BB player from this area thinks that BU got a winner.
Good times might be closer then we think

[bradleyfan124]

I would like to give kudos to the Board of Trustees. Everyone including myself were afraid they would screw it up again but they didn't. They hired Chris and let him do his job and take care of the coaching position. I would like to give them credit where is due. Thank you

[tornado]

Thus ends a really sad and truly tragic & unnecessary span of four years or so that started with a decision driven by petty jealousy followed by a horribly bungled attempt at a coaching search, then followed by innumerable further bad moves, recruiting mistakes and failures, and poor coaching.

I know most Bradley fans wish all those people well but we're glad a thorough housecleaning got done - just sad that it had to happen.

When season ticket applications go out I hope thousands of fans re-up their commitment - and I'd love to see a giant surge in attendance next year!
I know I will be there -
Welcome Brian Wardle - Welcome Chris Reynolds - Go Bradley!!


btw - let's hope Brian Wardle goes undefeated here at home this coming season - remember he is already 0-1 here - LINK

[daPAWW1]

Looking for that Letter from BU

As an alumnus of BU (71) and a season ticket holder from 1972 - 2010 and continuous doner from 1972 I'm looking forward to receiving a personal invitation from my University to rejoin the ranks of the season ticket holders. When we decided not to renew in 2011 obviously no one at Bradley gave a **** that we left. I'm not overly excited about the new hires but at least there are new faces and maybe a new era. We would very much like to return to the ranks of season ticket holders but they are going to have to make an effort to get us back!

We live in Florida and Wisconson about 2/3 rds of the time and we regularly receive letters from Florida State and Wisconsin Green Bay inviting us to games and opportunities to become doners and season ticket opportunities. We always laugh and remark how these Universities make an effort to find our names and addresses and try to reach out to us for our sports entertainment $. I only hope the new regime at BU makes half the effort!

Anyway good luck to Bradley Athletics going forward!

[tornado]

daPAWW1 - your story is a good story - signaling the possibility to quickly rebuild Bradley's fan base...

[Da Coach]

Nice article about Bradley and Brian Wardle from IllinoisPrepBullseye.com-

http://ilprepbullseye.com/Wardle_Bradley.html

[Canton BU fan]

Nice article about Bradley and Brian Wardle from IllinoisPrepBullseye.com-
http://ilprepbullseye.com/Wardle_Bradley.html

That's interesting seeing him write how this is an exciting time for Bradley fans considering we have probably just been through some of the toughest times. Hope he's right.

[undertherabbit]

I like your attitude ... ... ...

Shocker fan here. I think this could be a great hire for you. I've always liked Bradley. I'd love to see this work out for you.

The very first thing I thought learning Wardle coming in as our new coach here was how closely he resembled the karma of your coach. Hope it proves out well in the positive in this manner! I have yet to make it to a game against your team yet though I finally made it to Tulsa a few years ago. Had the time of my life. Is the atmosphere there as friendly to basketball foreigners like myself as what I found there in Oklahoma? GOD Bless and have a great summer!!!

[garbonie]

Lets hope we keep Chin Coleman on the staff to provide some transition with current players and for his ability to recruit Chicago. Coleman and Brian Barone would be two great assistants!
Wiz

Agree with you wiz. would like to see Coach Wardle bring with him Chrys Cornelius also. He is a Western alumni and graduated fron Joliet Catholic (we can overlook that i guess). He is a great recruiter in Illinois and with him teaming up with Chin Coleman we would have two GREAT recruiters. He also developes players. Dont know if you can have two main recruiters on your coaching staff but id like to see that happen. Went to the press conference today and like CR said , i want to lace up my shoes!!!

[Tommy]

Excited for change, and ready to get excited about Wardle. Let's hope we see some real motion to our offense and some solid crisp passing (and maybe a made layup or two) soon!

[lefty]

As an alumnus of BU (71) and a season ticket holder from 1972 - 2010 and continuous doner from 1972 I'm looking forward to receiving a personal invitation from my University to rejoin the ranks of the season ticket holders. When we decided not to renew in 2011 obviously no one at Bradley gave a **** that we left. I'm not overly excited about the new hires but at least there are new faces and maybe a new era. We would very much like to return to the ranks of season ticket holders but they are going to have to make an effort to get us back!

We live in Florida and Wisconson about 2/3 rds of the time and we regularly receive letters from Florida State and Wisconsin Green Bay inviting us to games and opportunities to become doners and season ticket opportunities. We always laugh and remark how these Universities make an effort to find our names and addresses and try to reach out to us for our sports entertainment $. I only hope the new regime at BU makes half the effort!



Anyway good luck to Bradley Athletics going forward!

People can get involved if they want to regardless if someone asks them or not.

We'll see if CR personally invites everyone in the community through direct mail,email, or phone calls to buy season tickets or donate??¦..my guess is he might miss a few??¦??¦??¦??¦but I think I would give CR a break on that really and not hold flaws in the previous administration against him??¦??¦


I think Brett Burchette is doing a great job by the way in connecting with people involved with BU and is genuinely appreciative

[tornado]

Lets hope we keep Chin Coleman on the staff to provide some transition with current players and for his ability to recruit Chicago. Coleman and Brian Barone would be two great assistants!
Wiz

This decision as to who to bring in as assistants is critical to whether Bradley can restock quickly or will it take years...
He has to get staff that can get the Chicago & Illinois kid interested in Bradley.


Sadly when Geno first filled his staff he didn't choose anyone with any Chicago connections - and not even any Illinois connections -
Willie Scott stayed a year but wasn't that strongly tied to the Chicago high schoolers..

The initial guys Geno brought in (Graham & Uken then Pittis) are nice guys but not one of them had any Illinois or Chicago connections - and the failure to get kids there killed Bradley for Geno's first few years.
In the end - Geno hung his hat on landing juco kids and a couple "highly touted" and "difference-maker" transfers who weren't difference-makers-

Green Bay press lists the reasons Wardle left UW-GB for Bradley...
Here they are in the exact order they list them...
-money
-better resources
-strong fan backing
-larger fans base/attendance
-play in MVC - a stronger conference
-better chance to get to the NCAA Tourney
-better chance for at-large bids
-play tougher opponents, build better RPI
-the presumption is that Bradley will pay Wardle's Green Bay contract buyout, which is $125,000

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/sports/college/uwgb/2015/03/28/bradley-offers-wardle-new-opportunities/70614000/

also - their assistant Brian Barone wants the job and the players seem to favor hiring him