Wright State names Brad Brownell as new men's basketball coach

April 1, 2006

Dayton, Ohio - 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 Friday (March 31).

During Brownell's tenure as head coach, 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 NCAA 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 Athletic Association 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 Athletic Association 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 season 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
Season -- Overall, Pct. / MCC, Pct.
1991-92 -- 24-6, .800 / 8-2, .800
-- Assistant Coach for Jim Crews.
-- Helped Purple Aces win MCC title and earn NCAA berth.

Assistant Coach: University of Indianapolis
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 for Royce Waltman.
-- Led Indianapolis to fifth place conference finish in 1993-94.

Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach: UNC Wilmington
Season -- Overall, Pct. / CAA, Pct.
1994-95 -- 16-11, .593 / 10-4, .714
1995-96 -- 13-16, .448 / 9-7, .563
1996-97 -- 16-14, .533 / 10-6, .625
1997-98 -- 20-11, .645 / 13-3, .813
1998-99 -- 11-17, .393 / 9-7, .563
1999-00 -- 18-13, .580 / 8-8, .500
2000-01 -- 19-11, .633 / 11-5, .688
2001-02 -- 23-10, .697 / 14-4, .778
8 Yrs. -- 136-103, .569 / 84-44, .657
-- 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.

Head Coach: UNC Wilmington
Season -- Overall, Pct. / CAA, Pct.
2002-03 -- 24-7, .774 / 15-3, .833
2003-04 -- 15-15, .500 / 9-9, .500
2004-05 -- 19-10, .655 / 13-5, .722
2005-06 -- 25-8, .758 / 15-3, .833
4 Yrs. -- 83-40, .675 / 52-20, .722
-- 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.


Story provided by Wright State University Office of Sports Information