Done deal: How Bradley Braves basketball coach Brian Wardle won a contract extension
PEORIA — The Bradley Braves won their first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season men's basketball championship in 27 years during the 2022-23 season.
And now the team's architect and leader has won a new deal.
Braves coach Brian Wardle has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with the university, believed to keep him at Bradley's helm nearly the rest of the decade, possibly as far out as 2029. Wardle declined to discuss contract terms.
The MVC coach of the year led BU to a 25-10 record in a season that saw his team reach the conference tournament championship game and go on to an NIT duel against Wisconsin.
"It's been a fun ride, but we have more work to do," said Wardle on Tuesday, as he participated in an OSF Children's Hospital charity golf outing at Metamora Fields Golf Club. "I have wonderful players, a terrific staff and administration behind me and a great loyal fan base. I'm grateful to have that opportunity to show what we can do, and that I've been able to do enough to earn the right to stay here.
"Bradley and the Peoria community are a great place to grow a family and coach basketball, and I just love it."
More: How Bradley's Brian Wardle became the husband, father and coach he is today
The 43-year-old head coach has a 135-126 record in eight seasons at BU, with Valley tournament championships and NCAA automatic tournament berths in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Bradley never got the chance to play in the latter postseason as the pandemic caused the cancellation of the March Madness tourney in 2020.
The coach inherited a Bradley basketball program that was at rock bottom when he arrived from Green Bay in 2015.
The Braves finished ninth in the Valley in 2010-11 under Jim Les in his final season, then saw Geno Ford take over for two seventh-place and two 10th-place finishes in a four-year run that produced seven or fewer wins in three campaigns.
"It was a big challenge," said Wardle, who won five games as he started the rebuild in 2015-16, and now is looking back at 20-plus victories in four of the last six seasons. "There was nothing there, a lot of work to do. But I tell my players all the time, you earn it, you put your faith in it and you get what you deserve.
"I've had the good fortune of having (Bradley vice-president for intercollegiate athletics) Dr. Chris Reynolds as a friend and mentor throughout this process, and I am humbled and grateful to remain here."
More: Former Bradley Braves star returns as part of the basketball staff
Reynolds, under whom Bradley's athletic programs have thrived, came into the hilltop in 2015 and has risen to national prominence, chairing the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee during the 2022-23 season.
"We are proud of the culture Brian has created in his eight years leading the Bradley University men's basketball program on the court, in the classroom, and in the community," Reynolds said. "Bradley Athletics continues to trend in the right direction and all of Brian's efforts in helping us move forward are greatly appreciated."
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley Braves basketball coach Brian Wardle receives contract extension
