Following-up on something that I mentioned back on 6/8 (DAILY DIRT). Kranthi “Krunch” Senadhi has officially been hired as the head basketball coach at Bridgeport. Here’s the official statement from UB:
University of Bridgeport (UB) today announced that Kranthi “Krunch” Senadhi has been selected as the new head coach for the Purple Knights’ men’s basketball team. Senadhi returns to UB after serving as an assistant coach at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, for the past two season. Prior to his stint at CBU, he served nine seasons on the basketball staff at Bridgeport, including six as associate head coach under head coach Mike Ruane. During his time on the UB bench with coach Ruane, the Purple Knights compiled an impressive overall record of 184-87, and throughout his coaching career, his teams have posted a 265-140 record.
“We are ecstatic to welcome coach Senadhi back to the UB Athletics family,” said Jay Moran, vice president of Athletics. “His knowledge and enthusiasm about the program and our institution will help keep the Purple Knights moving in the right direction both on the court and in the classroom.”
Stated Senadhi, “I’d like to thank Jay Moran, the entire search committee, and the UB administration led by President Danielle Wilken for showing the confidence in me to become the next head men’s basketball coach at UB, a place that means a great deal to me. I am humbled to help lead a storied program that has had so many standout student-athletes wear its uniform, and to carry on the tradition of coaching excellence that includes names like Bruce Webster and Mike Ruane. I’m excited to get back to campus and get to work.”
During his time as an assistant, Senadhi has helped guide teams to eight NCAA tournament appearances, four conference championships, five regular season titles, one regional title, and an appearance in the 2010 national championship game.
Following the 2019-20 season at Bridgeport, Senadhi was named a “Top 50 Impactful Division II Assistant” by Silver Waves Media and was listed among the “Top Division II Assistant Coaches in the Country” by the Minority Coaches Association.
In 2019-2020, Senadhi helped guide UB to one of its most successful seasons, as the team finished 24-4 overall and was ranked #13 in the NABC Poll and #1 in the East region. The Purple Knights won 17 straight games and got off to the best start in program’s history (21-2). Bridgeport finished as the East Coast Conference regular season champs and was set to host the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament, which was canceled due to COVID-19.
Prior to arriving in the Park City, Senadhi worked from 2010-2011 as a basketball-specific trainer, getting the opportunity to train professional players in Los Angeles, Houston, and Philadelphia. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Lock Haven University for the second half of the Bald Eagles’ 2010-2011 season, where he assisted his former head coach, John Wilson, Jr.
From 2007-2010, Senadhi served as an assistant coach under Joe Lombardi at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where the team was 68-26. He was part of a three-year rebuilding process, where IUP went from a record 13-15 to 33-3, winning the PSAC West regular season title, PSAC Conference Championship, Atlantic Regional Championship before falling in the NCAA Division II national championship game.
Kranthi received his master’s degree in Sports Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2009.
From 2003-2007, Senadhi was a standout member of the Lock Haven University men’s basketball team, where he was a three-year varsity letter recipient and a two-year captain, helping lead the team to its best record in the last 20 years. Senadhi was fifth in the conference in assists, and led the league in assist to turnover ratio. Off the court, he was a two-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Scholar Award. He graduated with cum laude honors from Lock Haven University with a double major in International Business and Management.
Senadhi grew up outside of Philadelphia, attending North Penn High School. He was a three-year varsity letter winner, and helped lead the program to its best start in school history (14-0), a Top 25 ranking in the state, and a top-three ranking in southern Pennsylvania.
