Jean Willi, Head Coach
 In 13 years at the helm of the Bridgewater's women's basketball program, Jean Willi has directed the Eagles to the 1999-00 and 2000-01 regular season ODAC titles, five NCAA Division III appearances, and the 1998-99 and 2007-08 Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship. Willi has compiled an impressive 240-91 mark for an impressive winning percentage of 72.5.
Willi spent 11 seasons as a Bridgewater assistant, before taking over as head coach prior to the 1996-97 season. Her first Eagles' squad went 22-6 and gained the school's first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III tournament, and Willi was named the Old Dominion Athletic Coach of the Year. The Eagles followed with an even greater campaign in 1997-98, finishing with a 24-5 season mark (a school record for season victories) and reaching the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA tournament. For her accomplishments, Willi was named the 1998 College Division Coach of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID).
The Eagles again reached the 20-win plateau in 1998-99, and captured the program's first ODAC tournament title since 1990 with a 75-71 overtime victory over Randolph Macon in the championship game. For the fourth time in as many years as head coach, Willi again directed the Eagles' to another 20-win season in 1999-2000. The team finished with an overall record of 20-6 and lost in the ODAC semifinals to Emory & Henry. The 2000-01 season marked another 20-win effort and another ODAC Coach of the Year honor for Willi as the Eagles won the ODAC regular-season title, finishing with a 21-5 record. In 2001-02 the Eagles finished 23-5 and lost to Guilford in the ODAC title game.
In 2003-04, the Eagles reached the 20-win mark again and tied for the ODAC regular season title with Coach Willi once again named conference Coach of the Year.
In 2005-06, the Eagles finished with a 24-7 record (tying the most wins in a season record) and received one of the at-large bids to the NCAA Division III tournaments. The Eagles advanced to the Sweet 16 with wins over Bates and Baruch, before falling to Southern Maine - the nation's top-ranked team- on USM's homecourt.
Last year, the Eagles became the first sixth-seed to ever win the ODAC tournament title. Bridgewater upset the #3, #2, and #1 seeds to capture Willi's second title.
Willi has been actively involved in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and has served as the conference captain on the Division III basketball committee and has been chair of the South Region.. In addition, Willi also serves as the College's Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Women's Administrator.
A 1980 graduate of Bridgewater, Willi was an All-State selection in basketball as she helped lead the Eagles to the 1980 Virginia Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women's (VAIAW) Division III championship. She still ranks among Bridgewater's top 10 rebounders, and her 264 rebounds during the 1979-80 season stands as the second-best total in school history. Willi also was a member of the Eagles' 1980 lacrosse squad that finished fourth nationally.
In the summer months, Willi organizes and instructs the Bridgewater girls' FUN-damentals basketball camp.
Cyndi Justice, Assistant Coach
 Now in her 13th season with the Bridgewater women's basketball team, Cyndi Justice has helped guide the Eagles to two ODAC regular season titles, two Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament titles, and five NCAA tournament berths since her arrival in 1996.
Justice assists in all aspects of the program including player development, devising scouting reports, game strategy, personnel decisions, and aiding in day-to-day administration of the program. In addition, she is the director of the Eagles' Kid Force, an interactive fan club for children 13-and-under. Justice also serves as assistant sports information director.
A native of North Carolina, Justice is a 1992 graduate of Virginia Tech, where she earned four letters as a member of the Hokies women's basketball squad from 1987-91. Upon graduation, Justice coached for three years at Radford High School She then returned to her hometown of Forest City, N.C. as a teacher and coach. She served as head coach of the volleyball and girls' basketball teams and led the school to its first County championship in 17 years during the 1995-96 season. For her efforts, she was chosen as the head coach for the West squad in the 1995 Western North Carolina Girl's All-Star game.
Justice has been an active member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for 13 years.
During the summer months, Justice is involved with instructional basketball camps. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her Golden Retriever - Shooter.
David Wade, Assistant Coach
 Assistant coach David Wade begins his sixth season as an assistant with the women's basketball program.
Coach Wade brings many years of coaching experience from various levels to the BC program. Prior to coming to Bridgewater, he was the head girls' coach at Stuarts Draft High School where his teams compiled an overall record of 88-32.
A graduate of James Madison University, Coach Wade earned his B.S. degree in health & exercise science and received endorsements in general science and Earth science. He teaches Earth science at Stuarts Draft High School.
Wade and his wife, Ann, reside in Fairfield, VA. |
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