Bellarmine University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Scott Davenport announced changes in his coaching staff for the upcoming 2018-19 season today.
Davenport, who is entering his 14th season at the helm of the Bellarmine basketball program, revealed that Beau Braden would return as an assistant coach to replace Jake Thelen, who accepted the director of basketball operations position on the staff at the University of Georgia.
Bellarmine fans will remember Braden as a member of the Knights staff during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. Last year, he served as an assistant at Morehead State.
“I know for a fact Beau is a tremendous coach/person on and off the floor,” Davenport said. “His contribution to Bellarmine Basketball has been incredible, and I have as much confidence in his abilities as any coach I have had the pleasure to coach with at any level. He is extremely knowledgeable, passionate and giving, all attributes every great coach possesses. Our program is very fortunate to have a coach of his caliber. Needless to say I am ecstatic.”
Braden said he is happy to get back to his home city with a familiar and successful basketball program. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to return as a member of the Bellarmine Basketball program,” Braden said. “It is a true privilege to serve an outstanding group of young men, continue to learn from a hall-of-fame coach, and represent an esteemed institution right here in my home city. I am truly excited to get right to work to build upon the sustained success achieved by so many past Bellarmine players and coaches.”
A native of Louisville, Braden played basketball at DeSales High School before going on to Centre College where he was a four-year player and two-time team captain. The Colonels were 92-21 during his playing career, and they posted a 25-3 record and ascended as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during his junior season. He was part of three Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship teams and played in three NCAA Division III national tournaments.
After his college playing days, Braden embarked on a collegiate coaching career provided experience at virtually every level. He served as a graduate assistant at Georgetown College then served on the coaching staffs at St. Catharine College, Morehead State University, and the University of Tennessee before returning to his hometown to serve on Scott Davenport‘s staff at Bellarmine in 2015.
Braden received his bachelor’s degree in government and economics from Centre in 2009 and his master’s degree in sports management from Morehead State.
