Mike Bradbury on Keeping it Simple (EP332)

Aug 7, 2024

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Guest: Mike Bradbury, Head Coach New Mexico Women's Basketball

In this week’s basketball coaching conversation, New Mexico head coach Mike Bradbury joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights on efficient language, keeping it simple, and his “so what” philosophy.

Mike Bradbury enters his ninth season as head coach for The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team. In his previous eight seasons at the helm, Bradbury has guided the Lobos to a 162-89 (.645) and 89-51 (.636) in conference and became just the second coach in UNM history to win 100 games. Overall as a head coach he has won over 340 games.

Five times in his tenure (2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24) the Lobos eclipsed the 20-win mark, with the Lobos tying the program record for most wins in a single season with 26 in 2021-22. Further, the 25 wins in 2017-18 were tied for the second-most wins in program history. The consecutive 20-plus win seasons under Bradbury in 2017-18 and 2018-19 were the first for the program since the 2007-08 – 2008-09 seasons

From 2007 to 2010, Bradbury led Morehead State to a 50–44 record over the course of three seasons, including a 22–11 record and a bid to the WBI in his final season as head coach. The 22-win mark set the school's NCAA-era record for victories in a season, and the 14–4 conference mark in the same year set the school's single season conference wins record and was also the highest conference winning percentage in a season in school history

At Wright State from 2010 to 2016, Bradbury had five seasons with 20 or more wins and led the school to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014, in addition to WBI appearances in 2011 and 2012 and WNIT appearances in 2015 and 2016.

Breakdown:

01:10 Longevity in Coaching

02:02 Building a Winning Team Culture

03:03 Efficient Communication in Coaching

04:39 Non-Negotiables in Player Development

10:27 Adapting Offensive Strategies

15:14 Defensive Principles and Adaptability

21:14 Coaching Philosophy and Staff Development

26:05 Overcoming Adversity: No Excuses

26:42 Staff Organization and Responsibilities

27:56 Efficient Practice Communication

30:03 Post-Practice and Game Review