Northwest Nazarene University Athletic Director Bill Rapp is pleased to announce that Ryan Bragdon has been named the new women’s head basketball coach for the Crusaders.
“We warmly welcome Ryan to the NNU Crusader family,” Rapp commented. “Ryan arrives with a solid core group of players in place that will help him hit the ground running. Ryan has tasted success in his basketball career, and we are confident that he will continue a strong and successful women’s basketball program at NNU. We look forward to welcoming Ryan, his wife Sarra and their two children, Luke and Brenna to the Treasure Valley.”
As an assistant coach at Illinois State University for the past two seasons, Bragdon helped lead the team to two second round appearances at the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). In 2012, Bragdon was named one of CollegeInsider.com’s “Top 25 Mid-Major Women’s College Basketball Assistants”.
"I’d like to thank Dr. David Alexander and Bill Rapp for the opportunity to lead the NNU women’s basketball program,” commented Bragdon. “It’s an honor and privilege to be called to lead such a tradition-rich program where the standard of on-court success has been set high by the coaches who have preceded me. Kelli (Lindley) has left an amazing group of young women, and I can’t wait to start mentoring them both on and off the court. The thing that really attracted me to this position is the commitment each employee on campus has to the development of each student’s whole being. After being on campus, I see that it’s not just a vision, but a way of life here at NNU and I’m thankful for the opportunity for my family and me to join in the journey to send positive agents of change into our world."
Prior to Illinois State, Bragdon spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio University and seven years at Western Michigan University. During his time at Ohio, he helped coach four All-Mid-American Conference selections and a Girls Basketball Report Top-60 recruiting class, including a 2011 Parade All-American. As an assistant at WMU, he helped lead the team to a Mid-American Conference Tournament championship, an NCAA Tournament appearance and a WNIT quarterfinal appearance.
A native of Spokane, Washington and graduate of the University of Washington, Bragdon worked with the Huskies women’s basketball program during his time as an undergraduate. In 2000, he also spent a year working with the WNBA Seattle Storm under head coach Lin Dunn.
Bragdon will begin his duties at NNU the week of May 20, 2013.
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