History Shaping Week

(St. Louis, MO) – This is one of the most significant weeks in Missouri Valley basketball recent history. From coaching changes to postseason basketball tournaments the future of the MVC is being shaped while we’re watching Elite 8 games and preparing for the Final Four.

Coaching Changes # 1

Bradley introduced their new coach and Wichita State fans nervously await Gregg Marshall’s decision about outside offers.

Brian Wardle seems to be a good fit for Bradley, and yet the Braves program has a long way to go to become relevant in the Valley once again. Wardle, an Illinois native had significant success at Green Bay (Horizon League), where he won 95 games in five years as the head coach. He won 48 of those games the past two years. His final coaching appearance for the Phoenix was in a National Invitation Tournament loss to the MVC’s Illinois State.

Green Bay is sad to lose Wardle who spent 10 years in the program with five as an assistant, and five as the head coach. Director of Athletics Mary Ellen Gillespie says Bradley made a good hire.

“Bradley is getting an excellent coach and an outstanding person in Brian Wardle,” Gillespie said. “He has been a dedicated member of the Phoenix family for ten years and he has built a very competitive program and mentored a great group of young men. We will miss him and his family and wish them all the very best at Bradley.”

Wardle is an Illinois native, with a highly successful high school playing career (Hinsdale Central), was team captain and played in two NITs with Marquette and played professionally in Europe and the Continental Basketball Association.

After his playing career, he was an assistant coach briefly at Marquette and then began his stint with the Phoenix in Green Bay. In his final three seasons, Green Bay went to three postseason tournaments (2 NITs and the CIT).

Wardle said the Bradley job is his ‘dream job’.

“Bradley is a dream job for me,” Wardle said at the press conference. “Why Bradley? It’s very simple. I knew all about Bradley growing up. I played at Carver Arena a couple of times.”

“I’m very excited to get this program steamrolling in the right direction,” he said. “I’m excited about the process and will get the players to embrace the process and build an identity. I’m eager.”

Coaching Changes #2

More importantly to Wichita State and probably to the entire Missouri Valley Conference, is the decision before Gregg Marshall. The Shocker’s head man is being courted by Alabama, Texas and who knows who else.

I’ve been told by those close to the program, and now is widely reported by many others,  that Marshall has no interest in Alabama job, but would entertain a move to Texas. One insider put Marshall’s likelihood of heading to Texas at 75 percent.

Wichita State has already lost assistant coach Steve Forbes to East Tennessee State after losing Chris Jans to Bowling Green last year. There may not be a ‘coach in waiting’ on the Shocker staff.

Greg Heiar has been with the team the past four seasons. It is unclear how he is viewed within the WSU athletic department.

Wichita State is the Valley’s flagship program, and two years after losing Creighton to the Big East Conference the tremors of nervousness can be felt throughout the league.

MVC officials and the Shocker faithful have great confidence in Director of Athletics Dr. Eric Sexton and his ability to work through this situation, but replacing the man that put Wichita State and the MVC on the map nationally would not be easy.

While several Valley teams have been nationally ranked and reached the Sweet 16 in the past decade, only WSU has been to a Final Four, and has a national reputation.

While league officials have nothing to do with this decision, but these next few days may affect the MVC as deeply as any in recent history.

A resurgent Bradley program and a Wichita State program that survives and thrives is what is at stake this week.

Do Good