For Greene County News
FAIRBORN — Mike Bradbury, Wright State head women’s basketball coach the past six seasons, has accepted a similar position at New Mexico.
During his six-year tenure at WSU, the Raiders became one of the top teams in the Horizon League, averaging over 21 wins a season and making the first five postseason appearances in school history.
“First, I want to thank Mike for all his hard work the last six years and I want to thank his wife, Christie, and their children, Alex and Sena, for being part of the Raider family,” said Wright State Director of Athletics Bob Grant. “They will be missed, but I’m very happy for them and for the opportunity at New Mexico.”
“When we hired Mike six years ago, I really felt like we were catching a rising star and that has certainly been true,” added Grant. “What he has done with our women’s program is nothing short of miraculous. This move once again validates how we do business — how we hire and how our culture and environment are conducive to being successful.”
In 2015-16, Wright State went 24-11 overall, 12-6 in league play, and appeared for the second consecutive season in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), falling to current semifinalist Michigan in Ann Arbor. Included in those 24 wins was a 77-71 win over #24/23 George Washington at the Lone Star Showcase on November 28, just the second win over a ranked team in the history of the program.
Bradbury was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2014-15 despite losing Kim Demmings to an injury seconds into the season opener. WSU finished 25-9 overall, 12-4 in the Horizon League, and came up just short of winning its second straight league tournament title, falling in overtime at Green Bay. The Raiders then made their first-ever appearance in the WNIT at Toledo.
The 2013-14 campaign was a banner one for the Raiders as they set a new mark for wins in a season (26) and won their first-ever Horizon League Tournament title, posting their first-ever win over Green Bay on the Phoenix’s home court.
Wright State then made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a Division I member, facing the no. 10-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in the opening round in Lexington, Ky.
Bradbury, who led Morehead State to a 50-44 record over three seasons, posted a 22-11 slate in 2009-10, including a bid to the WBI. He also spent time as an assistant coach at Xavier and Cincinnati.
Prior to his time at Xavier, Bradbury was a top assistant coach and the primary recruiter for crosstown school Cincinnati for six years, where he helped the Bearcats to two NCAA Tournament berths and a 127-57 record (.690 winning percentage). His UC career culminated in the 2001-02 squad, going 27-5 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament second round. He also helped guide the 1998-99 team to a 22-9 record and a first-round NCAA game. Bradbury’s time at UC resulted in three WNIT appearances as well.
Bradbury went to Cincinnati after one season at Virginia Commonwealth and one at East Tennessee State. At ETSU, his 1995 team took sixth place in the WNIT and compiled a 21-9 record. His coaching career began at Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he graduated in 1993 with a degree in recreation. He spent the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons as a student assistant coach before his first full-time assistant coaching assignment came in 1993-94. The 1991-92 UTC team also advanced to the NCAA Tournament first round.
