Bradley Basketball coach Jim Les, who makes over $400k per year, has now led his team to 0-6 in the Valley. He got a big raise a few years ago after leading Bradley to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. But what has he done for Bradley lately? How bad does the team have to get before Bradley looks for a new coach?
If Jim Les has brought in so much money, why are there two new athletic facilities that haven’t had naming rights purchased yet? Also, anyone who knows anything about the university know that those plans were in place well before Jim got there, and the money from his ‘friends’ is in the Braves Scholarship Society much more than the Bradley Renaissance Campaign, which is what primarily funded the new facilities. It’s also never mentioned the donors that left the program when he was hired, nor the BSS members who have wanted him gone for over a year.
People who say BU ‘can’t do better’ than a guy with zero coaching credentials either aren’t Bradley fans to begin with (most likely scenario), or are severely misinformed on what kind of a league Bradley plays in and what kind of a job it is.
Over 9 years, Jim has brought in some nice players, and has had 2 good seasons. But he’s been overmatched on the bench more times than not, and now is severely overmatched talent-wise too. Talent that HE brought in. A change is long overdue. Thankfully for Bradley fans, I am confident that in a month or so the program will be heading in a new direction.
And for those who predict ‘years of rebuilding’ and a ‘mass exodus’ of players from the program dooming us to years of failure if the benevolent Jim Les is replaced, I would ask what exactly you would term Bradley’s first ever solo last place finish in the MVC?
After losing his two top scorers to injuries? One before the season started, and the other right after it did? Without those injuries, BU would be over .500 at this time in the Valley, and no one would be calling for anyone’s head on a stick.
Mellow out, Brad. You’re not bleeding Bradley red… you’re just bleeding.
Maybe Russo and Associates can buy the naming rights:
Tea Party Express Arena!
The Bradleys would roll over in their graves and just die!
Any post season tournament you have to pay to enter means NOTHING and the NIT isn’t what it was. charlies lack of understanding about basketball seems to only be surpassed by his input on most everything else – more like bathroom graffiti – fun to read as you reflect on who probably wrote it.