Detailed view of the Duke Blue Devils logo on a uniform. Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Duke assistant Evan Bradds to be new head coach of Belmont Bruins

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Mar 18, 2026 11:12 PM ET

The Belmont Bruins have found their next head coach, and they're bringing back one of their greats in the process.

Evan Bradds was a two-time Ohio Valley Player of the Year for Belmont from 2013 to 2017. He's been an assistant coach under Jon Scheyer with the Duke Blue Devils for the 2025 season, but he's now getting his first chance in the big chair.

Belmont is bringing him back to Nashville, Tennessee, to be the program's 12th head coach since 1953.

He'll be replacing Casey Alexander, who is now the head coach of the Kansas State Wildcats.

Alexander went 166-60 over the past seven seasons for Belmont with two Ohio Valley Conference titles, one OVC tournament title and one Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship.

As such, Bradds will have some big shoes to fill.

NEWS: Belmont is finalizing a deal with Duke assistant Evan Bradds to be the program's next head coach, sources told ESPN. Former Belmont star was a two-time Ohio Valley Player of the Year during his time with the Bruins.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 19, 2026

From Jamestown, Ohio, Bradds got into coaching straight away after his college career was finished.

Evan Bradds has a reputation for player development

He was an assistant in the G-League for two seasons before getting an assistant coaching job with the Boston Celtics. He started in Boston as a video assistant and was promoted to assistant coach/player enhancement staff in 2021.

After four seasons with the Celtics, Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz hired Bradds to be an assistant coach for player development.

He went back to the college ranks this past season to work under Scheyer at Duke.

"Evan brings an unbelievable basketball mind, NBA player development experience and a unique ability to build meaningful relationships with players -- something that's core to our culture," Scheyer said when Bradds was hired. "His experience, vision and forward-thinking approach will help keep Duke at the forefront of college basketball. We're excited for what's ahead."

According to Jeff Borzello of ESPN, Bradds will stick with No. 1 seed Duke through the remainder of the NCAA Tournament before officially joining Belmont.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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