Post by Pantherholic on Jun 2, 2005 0:43:05 GMT -6
Marquette University director of men's basketball operations Brian Wardle is leaving his alma mater to become an assistant at UW-Green Bay in a move that is expected to be announced today by Phoenix coach Tod Kowalczyk.
Wardle, MU's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,690 points, was named to coach Tom Crean's staff in the summer of 2003 after a pair of short stints in the National Developmental Basketball League and the Continental Basketball Association and performed a number of roles in the program. But the coaching bug bit him hard during his stay at MU and when he was presented with the opportunity for a full-time spot at UWGB, Wardle jumped at the chance.
"It's always hard to leave your school and a place that's been so great to you," Wardle said Wednesday night. "The school and program have helped me in so many ways but it's a move up the ladder in coaching and I'm excited about the opportunity."
Wardle, who will begin his new duties Monday, is plenty familiar with Kowalczyk and another member of the Phoenix's staff. Kowalczyk coached Wardle as an assistant under Crean at MU, and Wardle was also a teammate of Jon Harris', who is entering his third year as an assistant under Kowalczyk.
"It's exciting to go up there and work under a guy that I know and who is a heck of a coach," Wardle said. "And Jon Harris, I played with him for three years and I'm comfortable with him."
Wardle, MU's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,690 points, was named to coach Tom Crean's staff in the summer of 2003 after a pair of short stints in the National Developmental Basketball League and the Continental Basketball Association and performed a number of roles in the program. But the coaching bug bit him hard during his stay at MU and when he was presented with the opportunity for a full-time spot at UWGB, Wardle jumped at the chance.
"It's always hard to leave your school and a place that's been so great to you," Wardle said Wednesday night. "The school and program have helped me in so many ways but it's a move up the ladder in coaching and I'm excited about the opportunity."
Wardle, who will begin his new duties Monday, is plenty familiar with Kowalczyk and another member of the Phoenix's staff. Kowalczyk coached Wardle as an assistant under Crean at MU, and Wardle was also a teammate of Jon Harris', who is entering his third year as an assistant under Kowalczyk.
"It's exciting to go up there and work under a guy that I know and who is a heck of a coach," Wardle said. "And Jon Harris, I played with him for three years and I'm comfortable with him."
