Louisville Women's Basketball Adds Two Veteran Coaches to Coaching Staff

Jeff Walz brings on former head coaches Mike Bradbury and Joanna Bernabei-McNamee as new assistants.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:55pm

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Louisville women's basketball head coach Jeff Walz has announced the hiring of two new assistant coaches with extensive head coaching experience - Mike Bradbury, former head coach at New Mexico, and Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, former head coach at Boston College. The two new hires replace Shay Robinson and Amanda Butler, who left the program for jobs elsewhere.

Why it matters

The additions of Bradbury and Bernabei-McNamee bring a wealth of head coaching experience to Walz's staff as Louisville looks to build on a successful 29-8 season that saw them reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Their expertise and fresh perspectives could help the Cardinals take the next step and compete for an ACC title and deep NCAA Tournament run.

The details

Bradbury spent the last 10 years as the head coach at New Mexico, compiling a 202-112 overall record and 114-64 mark in Mountain West play. He guided the Lobos to six 20-win seasons, including a program-best 26 wins in 2021-22, and was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2024. Bernabei-McNamee was the head coach at Boston College for the past eight seasons, leading the Eagles to a pair of 20-win campaigns and being named ACC Coach of the Year in 2020.

  • Walz announced the new hires on April 14, 2026.
  • Bradbury and Bernabei-McNamee replace Shay Robinson and Amanda Butler, who left Louisville for jobs at Charleston and Florida, respectively.

The players

Jeff Walz

The head coach of the Louisville women's basketball program.

Mike Bradbury

Former head coach of the New Mexico Lobos for the past 10 seasons, compiling a 202-112 overall record and 114-64 mark in Mountain West play.

Joanna Bernabei-McNamee

Former head coach of the Boston College Eagles for the past eight seasons, leading the program to a pair of 20-win campaigns and being named ACC Coach of the Year in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“Adding Mike Bradbury to our staff is about bringing in a coach with a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the game. He's been a head coach, he's navigated the challenges of building programs, and he understands what it takes to compete at a high level. That perspective is invaluable for our players and for our staff as we continue to push forward.”

— Jeff Walz, Head Coach, Louisville Women's Basketball

“I'm excited to welcome Joanna McNamee to our staff here at the University of Louisville. Joanna and I go way back to our time together at the University of Maryland, where we were part of the 2006 national championship staff. Having shared that experience, I've seen firsthand the level of preparation, passion, and basketball IQ she brings every single day. There's a trust and familiarity there that you can't manufacture, and I know she'll make an immediate impact on our program.”

— Jeff Walz, Head Coach, Louisville Women's Basketball

What’s next

The new coaching staff will look to build on Louisville's successful 29-8 season and Sweet 16 appearance as they prepare for the 2026-27 campaign.

The takeaway

The additions of veteran head coaches Mike Bradbury and Joanna Bernabei-McNamee to Jeff Walz's staff at Louisville signal the program's continued commitment to competing at the highest level in women's college basketball. Their wealth of experience should provide an immediate boost as the Cardinals aim to win an ACC title and make a deep NCAA Tournament run.