Wardle Earns New Five-Year Contract

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and head men’s basketball coach Brian Wardle have agreed to terms for a new five-year contract, Director of Athletics Mary Ellen Gillespie announced on Thursday.

"We are very excited about the direction of our men’s basketball program,” Gillespie stated. “Brian and his staff have done an outstanding job the past four years, and we want to make sure we are continuing to move forward. A Horizon League Championship, a 24-win season, Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and postseason play certainly elevated Phoenix men’s basketball this year, and I am thrilled Brian and his staff will continue to lead our men as we strive to get to the next level. We believe in Brian, we want him at Green Bay, and we look forward to continued Phoenix success on the court and in the classroom."

“I am grateful and humbled to lead the Green Bay men’s basketball program moving forward,” Wardle said. “Green Bay has been home to my family for the past nine years, and we have a great deal of loyalty to this University and community. The support demonstrated by Mary Ellen and Chancellor Harden affirms the commitment they have to sustaining our program into the future, and it is my hope that we can continue to move the program forward and build off the foundation that has been set and this year's success. We compete in a challenging league and are now in a better position to sustain success.”

After five seasons as an assistant coach, Wardle was hired as Green Bay’s head coach in April of 2010. In his four seasons at the helm of the program, the Phoenix has compiled a 71-56 record. Green Bay has improved its overall and Horizon League record in each of the past four seasons.

In 2013-14, Green Bay had one of the best seasons in school history, posting a 24-7 overall record. With a 14-2 mark in Horizon League play, the Phoenix claimed the program’s first conference title since 1995-96. The season included a 12-game winning streak and the Phoenix also received votes in both national top-25 polls for the first time in 18 seasons.

Wardle was recognized for the program’s rise with multiple postseason honors as he was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year, NABC District 12 Coach of the Year and the Skip Prosser Man of the Year.

In addition, Wardle also announced on Thursday that Brian Barone has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. Barone joined the program as an assistant coach prior to the 2010-11 season and has worked on Wardle’s staff for the past four seasons.

“I have been very fortunate in the past four years to have consistency on our coaching staff and a group that is loyal to this program and the development of our players on and off the court,” Wardle said. “Elevating Brian to associate head coach is a well-deserved recognition for him. He has provided a lot of value to our staff over the past four years and is someone that I can lean on to make decisions for the best interest of our program.”

“I’m thankful to Coach Wardle and Director of Athletics Mary Ellen Gillespie for the continued opportunity to be a part of this rising program,” Barone said. “My family and I thoroughly enjoy our time associated with Green Bay Basketball and the University community. It’s great to be part of such a cohesive basketball staff. We’re proud of our accomplishments and look forward to working with the fine young men in our program to build upon our championship season.”