MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama Men's Basketball head coach Richie Riley announced the hiring of Will Braden as an assistant coach Wednesday morning.

Braden arrives in Mobile after spending last season as an assistant coach at Central Arkansas, where he helped guide the Bears to a 22-12 record, an ASUN regular-season championship — the program's first as an NCAA Division I member — and an appearance in the ASUN Championship Tournament title game.

"Will brings a great blend of energy and creativity to our program," said Riley. "He is a great recruiter who works relentlessly at it and builds meaningful relationships. His skill development and detailed approach to coaching our guys will be really impactful. We're thrilled to add him to our staff."

Before his time at Central Arkansas, Braden spent five seasons at Fordham University, most recently serving as the Rams' director of player development. During his tenure, he also held roles as assistant video coordinator, player development coordinator, and video coordinator.

At Fordham, Braden helped guide the Rams through one of the most successful stretches in program history. In 2022-23, Fordham posted a 25-8 overall record and went 12-6 in Atlantic 10 play after being picked 11th in the league's preseason poll. The Rams tied for second in the final conference standings, their highest finish in program history, and advanced to the semifinals of the A-10 Tournament. 

Braden also played a key role in the program's turnaround during the 2021-22 campaign. After winning just two games the previous season, the Rams improved to 16-16 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time since 2007.

Before joining the Fordham staff, Braden served as an assistant coach at Sarah Lawrence College, helping the program earn its first conference tournament victory in school history.

A 2019 graduate of The University of the South, Braden earned a degree in environment and sustainability while spending four seasons as a member of the Tigers' men's basketball program. During his collegiate career, Sewanee compiled a 71-38 overall record. As a senior, Braden helped lead the Tigers to a 22-7 record, the Southern Athletic Association championship and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. The team's 22 wins were the second-most in school history.

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