PEORIA, Ill. -- One of the nation's top young coaches, the reigning national coach of the year, the Missouri Valley Conference coordinator of officials and the annual Hall of Fame induction class all will be featured speakers during the 2014-15 Bradley Braves Club Game Day Luncheon schedule, which was announced Thursday morning.
The slate of Braves Club Game Day Luncheons, presented by Herget Bank, will tip off Nov. 19 when Robert Morris head coach Andrew Toole joins fourth-year Bradley head coach Geno Ford at the podium to preview that night's game between the Braves and defending Northeast Conference champion Colonials. The luncheon schedule will continue Dec. 2 when Valley Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officials Eddie Jackson entertains the crowd and Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall will be the featured guest Feb. 4. The final luncheon will be held Friday, Feb. 27, the day before the regular-season finale against Indiana State, and will feature the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2015, which will be enshrined during halftime of the Feb. 28 game against the Sycamores.
All four Braves Club Game Day Luncheons will be held on Mitchell "J.J." Anderson Court in the Renaissance Coliseum Basketball Performance Center. Doors will open at 11:15 a.m. with the speaking programs, emceed by Voice of the Braves Dave Snell, are to begin at noon. Advance reservations are required, $20 for Braves Club members and $25 for the general public, and may be made by contacting the Braves Club Office at (309) 677-2667.
The Dec. 2 Game Day Luncheon will feature an added element as the Bradley Department of Athletics will host a "garage sale" in Renaissance Coliseum Burklund Family Heritage Hall with equipment and apparel from all 15 teams available for purchase. A garage sale sneak preview will be open for Bradley University employees Dec. 1 from 4-6 p.m. and the general public starting at 11 a.m. Dec. 2.
2014-15 Braves Club Luncheon Schedule, presented by Herget Bank
Wednesday, Nov. 19: Bradley head coach Geno Ford and Robert Morris head coach Andrew Toole
Tuesday, Dec. 2: Bradley head coach Geno Ford and MVC Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officials Eddie Jackson
Wednesday, Feb. 4: Bradley head coach Geno Ford and Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall
Friday, Feb. 27: 2015 Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame Class
The Guest Speakers
Robert Morris head coach Andrew Toole (Nov. 19): Toole, 34, begins his fifth season at the helm of the Robert Morris program, having led the Colonials to a 90-50 (.643) overall record in his first four years and back-to-back Northeast Conference regular-season championships in 2013 and 2014. Earning automatic berths to the last two National Invitation Tournaments, Robert Morris beat Kentucky in the first round of the 2013 NIT and St. John's in the first round of the 2014 tourney. In Toole's second year at Robert Morris, his Colonials tied the school record wtih 26 wins and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Poole played collegiately at Elon (1998-2000) and Pennsylvania (2000-03), totalling 1,341 points during his 109-game collegiate career. He was a first-team All-Ivy League selection in 2002 and a second-team honoree in 2003, while also being named to the All-Big 5 Team in both 2002 and 2003. | Complete Andrew Toole Biography
MVC Coordinator of Officials Eddie Jackson (Dec. 2): Jackson is in his sixth year serving as The Valley's Men's Basketball Coordinator of Officials since retiring from a distinguished career as a college basketball official. During his career, he worked nine NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship tournaments and advanced to the regional final round. In addition to his work for the MVC, Jackson has served as the Commissioner and Supervisor of Men's Officials for the Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference for the past 18 years. He also is in his ninth year as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance at Rogers State University. | More information about Eddie Jackson
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall (Feb. 4): Now in his eighth year as the head coach at Wichita State, Marshall was the consensus national coach of the year in 2013-14 after leading the Shockers to an undefeated regular season, a sweep of the MVC regular-season and tournament championships and the No. 2 national ranking. During the last four years, Wichita State boasts the nation's best winning percentage (.834, 121-24) while claiming a NIT championship (2011) and NCAA Tournament Final Four run (2013) prior to last year's record-breaking season. Marshall previously was the head coach at Winthrop for nine seasons and he now boasts 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in his first 16 seasons as a NCAA Division I head coach. He enters the season with a 368-154 career record, eight regular-season conference championships and seven conference coach-of-the-year awards. | Complete Gregg Marshall Biography
2015 Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame Class (Feb. 27): Each year, the newest class into the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame is invited to speak at a Braves Club Game Day Luncheon the day before its formal induction into the Hall of Fame at halftime of a men's basketball game. This year's class will be inducted during halftime of the Feb. 28 game versus Indiana State. | Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame
Bradley Braves Club
Established in 1969, the Braves Club is the fundraising organization for Bradley University Athletics. The Club supplements the operating budgets of all 15 teams and sponsors numerous social functions surrounding Braves athletic events. Along with this task comes the opportunity to promote the image of Bradley Athletics.
Braves Club fundraising activities have given the Department of Athletics flexibility to expand and improve the academic services offered to student-athletes. This body also plays a major role in supporting the Student-Athlete Affairs program, which is designed to enhance the overall development of each student-athlete from orientation to graduation.
Sound recruiting budgets, improved facilities and top-notch academic services to student-athletes are the primary focus of the Braves Club. Through their support of the Braves Club, Bradley fans are assisting in the growth of a competitive athletics program built on a solid academic foundation.
For any questions, concerns or up-to-date information, visit the Braves Club website or contact the Braves Club Office at 309-677-2667 or via email at BravesClub@bradley.edu.
Bradley Athletics Mission
Provide every student-athlete the opportunity for both a distinctive education and a championship experience
Accountability | Courage | Diligence | Integrity | Respect
