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
