The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has made it’s decision. They’ve hired 30-year old Brian Wardle to become the 6th head coach in men’s basketball history at the school, making him the youngest active coach in division 1 college basketball.
Wardle has been an assistant with the Phoenix for the past five seasons and played college basketball at Marquette prior to that. He takes over in Green Bay after Tod Kowalczyk left to take the head job at Toledo after 8 seasons as head coach of the Phoenix.
Wardle was picked over 3 other finalists: Wisconsin associated head coach Greg Gard, Missouri State assistant coach Jon Harris and St. Norbert head coach Gary Grzesk.
Wardle’s goal will be to get the Phoenix back into the NCAA Tournament. The last time the Phoenix played in the NCAA Tournament was 1996. They finished this season at 22-13 and lost to Saint Louis in the second round of the College Basketball Invitational.
Wardle said he’s going to emphasize effort on the defensive end and on the backboards every single day. He said Green Bay will be a better defensive and rebounding team.
[Bill Scott takes a look at Green Bay’s 6th head coach 1:33]
AUDIO: Bill Scott on Brian Wardle’s hiring in Green Bay 1:30
