Things are starting to fall into place.
Last weekend, Brian Wardle was hired as the head coach of the men’s basketball team, which begins not only a new era of Bradley basketball but also a new era of Bradley athletics.
Along with being the 14th coach of the men’s basketball team, Wardle is the first hire for new Athletic Director Chris Reynolds, and it’s something to be excited about.
Reynolds already made his mark on the Hilltop when he brought the Geno Ford era to an end two weekends ago.
In the coming week, we found just how invested in change Reynolds is.
Firing Ford was one thing, but hiring his replacement in less than a week says that Reynolds has his own agenda.
And it’s one that he’s following with to a T.
In the press conference introducing Wardle, Reynolds said that Wardle was his first and second choice when it came to hiring the new men’s basketball coach.
You can view this as Reynolds taking an immense liking to Wardle and how he coaches, sure.
However, I see it more as he knows what Wardle can do, and he’s confident that Wardle can be the change Bradley needs to turn the athletic department around.
Reynolds brings a pedigree that understands what it’s like to win; his head coach at Indiana University was the legendary Bob Knight.
That pedigree is what makes him the best hire in Bradley athletics since I can remember.
Although Reynolds is the best hire, understand that without a doubt, Wardle is the most important hire in a long time.
Basketball is the premier attraction for Bradley athletics, and it’s one that is in need of a major overhaul, which is exactly what Wardle is tasked with fixing.
One of the major differences between Wardle and Ford’s tenure is that Wardle will be bringing his personnel in to start, both coaches and players.
Wednesday, after the first couple days of enduring Wardle’s new practice, six Bradley players, including heralded recruit Josh Cunningham, will transfer out of Bradley to seek what they called a “fresh start.”
Whether or not you question their work ethic, it now leaves six scholarships that Wardle has to fill, but they will be of his own choosing and will translate his style of play and mentality onto the floor.
The mentality Wardle will bring to Bradley’s sideline is one that has edge and intensity and it’s just what this basketball program needs.
However, if he fails to brings the program back like Ford failed to do, then there’s no telling where Bradley basketball, or Bradley athletics, will be.
I may not be able to foresee the future, but I don’t think Wardle’s tenure will end the same as Ford’s.
Wardle’s press conference talked about finding an identity for Bradley, while also making it clear that success will not come instantly.
The change may not be instant under the leadership that he and Reynolds will provide from here on out, but it will not take long to see.
Things are starting to fall into place.
And you better believe that these things are going to make Bradley athletics and Bradley basketball worthwhile again.
