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By the time Evan Bradds ended up on the Utah Jazz staff in 2022, the former Belmont basketball standout had decided he would be an NBA coach for the rest of his career.
Then something changed.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer reached out, offering Bradds a position on the Blue Devils staff, which Bradds accepted in May of 2025. Then, nearly a year later, something changed again. Casey Alexander left Belmont for Kansas State. Bradds was at the top of Bruins' athletic director Scott Corley's wish list for a new coach.
Fast forward to April 1 when Bradds, 31, was introduced on campus Belmont's new men's basketball coach.
WHO IS NEW BELMONT COACH EVAN BRADDS? Who is Evan Bradds? New Belmont basketball coach on Duke staff in March Madness
"I never thought I would be a college basketball coach," Bradds said. "The last time I was in college athletics was when I was playing. I had never thought about it. After eight years in the NBA I thought I was going to be an NBA coach for my life and I was happy with that."
By his own admission, Bradds was nothing more than a practice dummy when he ended up on the Boston Celtics staff after having his playing career cut short due to an ACL injury during a 2017 pre-draft workout with the Indiana Pacers.
Bradds was thankful to be there, but uncertain what the future might hold. At some point, Bradds was given more coaching responsibilities, which led Bradds to realize he had a knack for helping players improve.
In 2022 Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy hired Bradds as an assistant, and the trajectory of Bradds' NBA coaching career seemed headed in the right direction.
Bradd's plans were redirected when a mutual friend of his and Scheyer contacted him about a year ago.
"Jon and I have people that know each other, and friends, and Jon and I sat down a couple of times over Zoom and shared our thoughts and talked hoops for a long time, and it was the perfect situation," Bradds said. "It was a deal that was really hard to turn down."
That changed when Belmont became available. Bradds played for legendary Belmont coach Rick Byrd and is Belmont's all-time NCAA Division I leading scorer with 1,921 points.
Belmont President Greg Jones and Corley identified Bradds as the coach they wanted to replace former Alexander as soon as he accepted the Kansas State job on March 13.
Still, Corley knew he had to take the necessary steps in vetting Bradds before offering him the position.
Considering Bradds' references, it was a process Corley enjoyed.
"It was crazy," Corley said. "To get a phone call from Brad Stevens and to hear Evan's a rising star and all of that. And then Will Hardy's calling me and Jon Scheyer was great. They were all just great people to talk to, obviously, because of their perspective and what they've seen in Evan, and how they've watched him grow. It was pretty outstanding and I told myself, 'I'd be an idiot if I don't listen to these three.' "
Bradds did not grow up wanting to be a basketball coach.
"After college, my journey took an unexpected turn," Bradds said. "I really thought I was going to play forever, just like every other young kid. I kind of fell into coaching quickly because of an injury."
It was after Stevens and other Celtics coaches, Ime Udoka and Joe Mazzulla, allowed Bradds to play a role in the development of players such as Grant Williams, Robert Williams, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward that Bradds realized he had a knack for coaching.
"Something I'm really passionate about is helping players get better," Bradds said. "That is where I cut my teeth when I was a young coach. At Boston, I was basically a glorified practice dummy getting beat up by the NBA guys. But that's where I fell in love helping guys get better and that extends off the court as well. Joe Mazzulla once told me, better people make better players and I truly believe that and that's going to be a staple of our program."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Evan Bradds left the NBA to return to coach Belmont basketball
Continue reading...
Then something changed.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer reached out, offering Bradds a position on the Blue Devils staff, which Bradds accepted in May of 2025. Then, nearly a year later, something changed again. Casey Alexander left Belmont for Kansas State. Bradds was at the top of Bruins' athletic director Scott Corley's wish list for a new coach.
Fast forward to April 1 when Bradds, 31, was introduced on campus Belmont's new men's basketball coach.
WHO IS NEW BELMONT COACH EVAN BRADDS? Who is Evan Bradds? New Belmont basketball coach on Duke staff in March Madness
"I never thought I would be a college basketball coach," Bradds said. "The last time I was in college athletics was when I was playing. I had never thought about it. After eight years in the NBA I thought I was going to be an NBA coach for my life and I was happy with that."
By his own admission, Bradds was nothing more than a practice dummy when he ended up on the Boston Celtics staff after having his playing career cut short due to an ACL injury during a 2017 pre-draft workout with the Indiana Pacers.
Bradds was thankful to be there, but uncertain what the future might hold. At some point, Bradds was given more coaching responsibilities, which led Bradds to realize he had a knack for helping players improve.
In 2022 Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy hired Bradds as an assistant, and the trajectory of Bradds' NBA coaching career seemed headed in the right direction.
How Evan Bradds got to Duke, Jon Scheyer's staff
Bradd's plans were redirected when a mutual friend of his and Scheyer contacted him about a year ago.
"Jon and I have people that know each other, and friends, and Jon and I sat down a couple of times over Zoom and shared our thoughts and talked hoops for a long time, and it was the perfect situation," Bradds said. "It was a deal that was really hard to turn down."
That changed when Belmont became available. Bradds played for legendary Belmont coach Rick Byrd and is Belmont's all-time NCAA Division I leading scorer with 1,921 points.
Belmont President Greg Jones and Corley identified Bradds as the coach they wanted to replace former Alexander as soon as he accepted the Kansas State job on March 13.
Still, Corley knew he had to take the necessary steps in vetting Bradds before offering him the position.
Considering Bradds' references, it was a process Corley enjoyed.
"It was crazy," Corley said. "To get a phone call from Brad Stevens and to hear Evan's a rising star and all of that. And then Will Hardy's calling me and Jon Scheyer was great. They were all just great people to talk to, obviously, because of their perspective and what they've seen in Evan, and how they've watched him grow. It was pretty outstanding and I told myself, 'I'd be an idiot if I don't listen to these three.' "
Why Evan Bradds decided he wanted to coach with the Boston Celtics
Bradds did not grow up wanting to be a basketball coach.
"After college, my journey took an unexpected turn," Bradds said. "I really thought I was going to play forever, just like every other young kid. I kind of fell into coaching quickly because of an injury."
It was after Stevens and other Celtics coaches, Ime Udoka and Joe Mazzulla, allowed Bradds to play a role in the development of players such as Grant Williams, Robert Williams, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward that Bradds realized he had a knack for coaching.
"Something I'm really passionate about is helping players get better," Bradds said. "That is where I cut my teeth when I was a young coach. At Boston, I was basically a glorified practice dummy getting beat up by the NBA guys. But that's where I fell in love helping guys get better and that extends off the court as well. Joe Mazzulla once told me, better people make better players and I truly believe that and that's going to be a staple of our program."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Evan Bradds left the NBA to return to coach Belmont basketball
Continue reading...
