Brian Ayers to Remain on Men's Basketball Coaching Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball associate head coach Brian Ayers will remain on the Bruin coaching staff, it was announced Monday.
 
Ayers, the longest-standing assistant coach at one institution in NCAA Division I men's basketball, will begin his 29^th season in 2026-27.
 
He will be reunited with newly-named Belmont head coach and Duke assistant coach Evan Bradds. Ayers coached Bradds from 2013-17 as he developed into a two-time Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American.
 
"I am thrilled to announce Brian Ayers will continue his role within the Belmont men's basketball program," Bradds said. "Brian's extensive experience, attention to detail, and dedication to Belmont student-athletes is something I have always valued and respected. He will be a huge asset to our new coaching staff, as well as players present and future."

During Ayers' 28 seasons, Belmont has amassed nearly 600 wins, averaging 24 wins per season - and nearly 26 wins per season over the last decade.

He has been part of Belmont's transition from NCAA Division I independent, to membership in the Atlantic Sun Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, and Missouri Valley Conference.

Ayers has been a constant figure in Belmont's 21 conference championships and nine NCAA Tournament appearances.

Ayers specializes in post-play instruction - offensive moves, footwork, positioning, and team defense. His instruction is one of the main reasons why Belmont is annually among the nation's leaders in field goal percentage shooting and offensive efficiency. In fact, Belmont has led the nation in two-point field goal percentage seven times, including five times from 2013-18.

Belmont ranks fifth nationally in two-point field goal percentage this season.

Belmont has ranked Top 50 nationally in effective field goal percentage 21 consecutive seasons, including Top 10 nationally 12 times. The Bruins currently lead the nation in effective field goal percentage (.610).
 
Aside from his work with Bradds, Ayers helped developed numerous all-conference post players, including Adam Mark, Adam Sonn, Boomer Herndon, Mick Hedgepeth, Scott Saunders, Amanze Egekeze, Nick Muszynski, Malik Dia, Sam Orme, and Drew Scharnowski.
 
This season, Scharnowski, Orme, and Brigham Rogers each shot over 69 percent from two-point field goal distance.

Ayers has also coached dozens of professional players, including Belmont NBA players Ian Clark, Dylan Windler, Ben Sheppard, and Will Richard.
Besides his work with the Bruins in the paint, he also handles opponent scouting, recruiting, and works in concert with the strength and conditioning staff on the individual workout programs for Belmont student-athletes.

Ayers, a native of Clarksville, Tennessee, began his coaching career and Vanderbilt and Austin Peay.

Ayers played his college basketball at Lipscomb University for hall of fame coach Don Meyer. He served as team captain his junior and senior years and earned NAIA Academic All-America honors. During Ayers' four-year career, the Bisons compiled a record of 141-18 and advanced to one NAIA Final Four, two Elite Eights, and one Sweet Sixteen.

Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture for the last two decades, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 21 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (behind Gonzaga and Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 16 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga and Kansas) and 19 or more games in 21 consecutive seasons (alongside Gonzaga, Kansas, and San Diego State). Belmont is among select programs with two or more first-round selections in the NBA Draft over the last six years (Ben Sheppard, Dylan Windler). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of its existence. Belmont is the only NCAA Division I institution in America whose men's and women's basketball programs have won 20 or more games in 11 consecutive seasons.
 
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