Evan Bradds, the Duke basketball assistant coach, has been named the next head coach of the Belmont Bruins men’s basketball program. The 31-year-old will begin his head coaching career at his alma mater, where he played a standout four-year college career. Bradds, who previously served as an assistant with the Blue Devils during the 2025-26 season, brings an NBA coaching background focused on player development, making him a key figure in shaping Duke’s young talent, including key freshmen like Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, Nik Khamenia, and Dame Sarr. Bradds’ coaching journey began after his college career, during which he played 129 games for Belmont, averaging 14.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. He shot 66.7% from the field, 32.4% from three-point range, and 70.1% from the free-throw line. Over his four seasons at Belmont, the 6’7” forward was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, a three-time All-OVC selection, and a two-time All-OVC Tournament Team member. He also earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America honors in both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. Before joining Duke, Bradds spent time in the NBA, working under head coaches Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka with the Boston Celtics and later joining the Utah Jazz in 2022 as part of their player development department. His experience in professional basketball has equipped him to mentor college players, a role he has already played at Duke, where he helped the Blue Devils secure the No. 1 overall 2025 recruiting class. Bradds’ hiring comes after Duke lost associate head coach Jai Lucas to the Miami coaching staff following the 2024-25 season. Lucas, known for his elite recruiting and player development skills, was replaced by Bradds, who has since filled the void.#evan_bradds #casey_alexander #duke_basketball #belmont_bruins #miami_coaching_staff
Belmont Finalizing Hire of Duke's Evan Bradds as Head Coach Belmont is nearing a formal agreement to hire Evan Bradds, a former Duke assistant coach, as its next head basketball coach, according to sources who spoke to ESPN on Wednesday. Bradds, a former standout player for the Bruins, is set to replace Casey Alexander, who was recently appointed as the head coach at Kansas State. Bradds had a successful college career at Belmont, earning two Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year honors and becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer in Division I. After graduating in 2017, he transitioned directly into coaching, starting as an assistant with the Maine Red Claws, the Boston Celtics’ G League affiliate. He advanced to the Celtics’ staff in 2018 under head coach Brad Stevens and remained with the team through the tenure of Ime Udoka. In 2022, he joined the Utah Jazz’s coaching staff under Will Hardy. Duke hired Bradds in May 2023, highlighting his expertise in player development and basketball strategy. At the time of his appointment, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer praised Bradds’ “unbelievable basketball mind” and “unique ability to build meaningful relationships with players,” emphasizing his role in maintaining Duke’s dominance in college basketball. Bradds is expected to remain with Duke for the remainder of the NCAA tournament, where the Blue Devils, seeded No. 1, will face Siena in their opening game on Thursday. His hiring marks a significant move for Belmont, combining his playing legacy with his growing coaching reputation. The transition underscores the program’s focus on blending experienced leadership with a strong developmental foundation.#duke #kansas_state #evan_bradds #belmont #casey_alexander
