Brownell Named Men's Basketball Coach
3/31/2006 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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TRANSACTION NOTE: Wright State hires Brad Brownell as head men's basketball coach.
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Brad Brownell, head men's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, has agreed to become the head coach at Wright State University, WSU Athletics Director Dr. Michael Cusack announced today.
During Brownell's tenure as head coach, the UNCW men's basketball program has enjoyed an unprecedented era of success. The Evansville, Indiana native brings a four-year head coaching record of 83-40 to the Raiders along with two NCAA Tournament appearances. UNCW posted a 25-8 mark this past season and won the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, beating out Final Four participant George Mason University. The Seahawks advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they lost in overtime to George Washington University 88-83. His four-year Colonial conference record was 61-22 which was the best overall winning program in the league during that time. Two different groups (the league's coaches and media; and Collegeinsider.com) have twice named Brownell the Colonial Conference Coach of the Year (2003 and 2006) and Foxsports.com cited him as this season's National mid-major coach of the year.
"While Brad's record is outstanding, it is his character and values that excited us most in making a final decision. We believe he is the right person to lead our program on and off the court and we are delighted that he, his wife Paula and his two daughters are joining the Raider family," said Mike Cusack.
Averaging just short of 21 wins a season, Brownell has compiled five All-CAA performers, one CAA Player of the Year, four CAA All-Defensive Team selections, one Defensive Player of the Year and seven CAA All-Academic honorees besides two CAA regular-season titles, two CAA Tournament Championships, two Coach of the Year awards and two NCAA Tournaments.
Before accepting the helm, Brownell was the assistant or associate head coach at UNCW under current DePaul University head coach Jerry Wainwright. The Seahawks posted a 136-103 mark during that eight-year period, including two NCAA and two NIT appearances. During his 12 years in Wilmington, UNCW was one of the best defensive teams in the nation, leading the CAA in defense in all but two of those campaigns.
Prior to his time in Wilmington, Brownell served as an assistant coach at the University of Indianapolis for two seasons after serving as a graduate assistant at the University of Evansville during the 1992 slate.
Brownell will be officially introduced at a press conference next week.
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Brownell At A Glance
Personal
Full Name: Bradley Robert Brownell
Date of Birth: Nov. 15, 1968
Birthplace: Evansville, Ind.
Education
Diploma, Harrison High School, 1987
B.A., DePauw University, 1991
M.A., University of Indianapolis, 1994
The Brownell Record
Graduate Assistant Coach: University of Evansville
Assistant Coach for Jim Crews
Helped Purple Aces win MCC title and earn NCAA berth
Season Overall Pct. MCC Pct.
1991-92 24-6 .800 8-2 .800
1 Yr. 24-6 .800 8-2 .800
Assistant Coach: University of Indianapolis
Assistant Coach for Royce Waltman
Led Indianapolis to fifth place conference finish in 1993-94
Season Overall Pct. GLVC Pct.
1992-93 13-14 .481 8-10 .444
1993-94 17-10 .629 10-8 .555
2 Yrs. 30-24 .555 18-18 .500
Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach: UNC Wilmington
Assistant/Associate Head Coach for Jerry Wainwright
Helped lead Seahawks to four post-season appearances
Piloted UNCW to two NCAA Tourney berths (2000, 2002)
Directed UNCW to two NIT bids (1998, 2001)
Guided UNCW to two CAA championships (2000, 2002)
Developed UNCW's nationally-ranked defense
Season Overall Pct. CAA Pct.
1994-95 16-11 .593 10-5 .667
1995-96 13-16 .448 11-8 .578
1996-97 16-14 .533 11-7 .611
1997-98 20-11 .645 15-4 .789
1998-99 11-17 .393 10-8 .556
1999-00 18-13 .580 11-8 .579
2000-01 19-11 .633 12-6 .667
2001-02 23-10 .697 17-4 .809
8 Yrs. 136-103 .569 97-50 .659
Head Coach: UNC Wilmington
Led Seahawks to NCAA Tournaments in 2002-03 and 2005-06
Named CAA Coach-of-the-Year in 2002-03 and 2005-06.
Guided UNCW to school-record 25 victories in 2005-06.
Coached Seahawks to BCA Invitational Championship in 2005-06.
Season Overall Pct. CAA Pct.
2002-03 24-7 .774 18-3 .857
2003-04 15-15 .500 11-10 .524
2004-05 19-10 .655 14-6 .700
2005-06 25-8 .758 18-3 .857
4 Yrs. 83-40 .675 61-22 .735
