SMSU Athletics

> Bigler vs. Opponents

Brad Bigler is in his 17th season as head coach in 2025-26 and has seen Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball from almost every angle. As a player, graduate assistant coach, assistant coach, associate head coach and now head coach, Bigler, a two-time NSIC Coach of the Year (2012-13 & 2016-17), has been a part of the most successful period of Mustang men’s basketball in school history the past 27 seasons.

He has compiled a record of 261-199 during his tenure, including 180-153 in NSIC play. During his time as head coach, SMSU has made five NCAA tournament appearances, won one NSIC regular season championship, a pair of NSIC South Division championships, two NSIC tournament championships and has played in five NSIC tournament championship games. The Mustangs have won 19 or more games six times and 20 or more three times, including recording a combined 71 victories during a three-year stretch from 2016-19.
 
Named interim head coach on Sept. 30, 2009, Bigler was named the permanent head coach on April 8, 2010.
 
The 11th head coach in program history, Bigler has played a major part of SMSU’s success—both as a player and coach—the past 27 years. Since joining the program as a student-athlete in 1997-98, SMSU has won two NCAA region championships, two regular season conference championships, two conference tournament championships, two conference division championships while making six NCAA tournament appearances.

SMSU won a share of the NSIC regular season championship in 2024-25, recording just the third league championship in program history. The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second straight season earning the No. 6 seed. SMSU spent eight weeks ranked in the NABC Top 25, including as high as No. 13 on Jan. 28. SMSU closed NSIC play ranking first in the league in scoring defense (66.0) and field goal pct. defense (41.5).

SMSU returned to the NCAA tournament in 2023-24, winning 19 games and finishing fifth in the NSIC regular season. SMSU closed the season ranking first in the NSIC in scoring defense (68.0), first in field goal pct. defense (39.7), while also ranking first in field goal pct. (48.6). SMSU entered the NCAA tournament with the second toughest schedule in Division II, while playing 10 teams ranked among the Top 25, including three No. 1 teams. SMSU defeated No. 1 Northwest Missouri State, earning the program's first-ever win over a top-ranked squad.

The 2022-23 season saw SMSU record another winning season finishing with a 16-12 overall record, including a fourth place finish in the NSIC South Division with a mark of 12-10. SMSU also hosted an NSIC Tournament game for the first time since 2018. In 2021-22, SMSU recorded another winning season, with a 15-12 record, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NSIC tournament following a road victory in the opening round versus Minot State.

The 2020-21 season had the team face several pauses due to COVID-19 and playing only 11 games. The team closed the season on a high note with an overtime win versus Sioux Falls, knocking the Cougars out of NSIC tournament contention. SMSU went through a transition during the 2019-20 season, featuring a roster with no seniors and finishing with an 8-21 record.

During the 2018-19 season, SMSU racked up 18 victories which included three straight victories in the NSIC tournament to advance to the championship game for the third straight season. The season included SMSU All-American Ryan Bruggeman setting numerous program single-game, single-season and career records including becoming the program's all-time leading scorer. 
 
In 2017-18, SMSU recorded 25 victories, won its second straight NSIC South Division championship, played in the NSIC tournament championship game and also advanced to the NCAA region semifinals.   
 
The 2016-17 season saw SMSU put together one of the best seasons in program history. The squad tied a school record with 28 victories, captured the program’s first NSIC South Division title and also won the NSIC tournament championship for just the second time in team history. SMSU earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Central Region Tournament and advanced to the region championship game before losing to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State.
 
During the 2011-12 season, Bigler helped lead SMSU to one of its most successful seasons in program history, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament. SMSU won 19 games and finished second in the NSIC regular season before reeling off three straight victories in the NSIC Tournament to capture the program’s first-ever conference tournament championship. SMSU qualified for its third-ever NCAA tournament appearance, earning the region’s No. 4 seed. SMSU was strong on both ends of the floor, leading the conference in field goal percentage, steals and turnover margin, while ranking 15th in the country in free throw percentage and 17th in field goal percentage. 
 
During his first season as head coach in 2009-10, Bigler helped lead the Mustangs to a 17-12 overall record, the program’s fifth straight winning season. The team won eight of its last 12 games to end the season, including winning two games in the NSIC tournament and advancing to the championship game. The team spent four weeks ranked in the NABC Top 25 poll and moved as high as No. 11 during the season.
 
In 2010-11, SMSU suffered numerous close losses and finished 12-14 overall and tied for eighth in the conference. SMSU played in four overtime games, including two double overtime games and won just one of the four games. The squad finished the season losing five games by two or less points and lost two other games in overtime.
 
In 2012-13, SMSU recorded 16 victories and finished tied for seventh in the expanded 16-team conference and garnered preseason top 25 rankings by two national publications. The squad also appeared in the top 10 in the first two NCAA region rankings released in late February.
 
SMSU put together another successful season in 2013-14, winning 19 games, finishing sixth in the NSIC regular season standings and advancing to the semifinals of the 16-team NSIC Tournament. It was just the sixth time in program history the team has won 19 games in one season.
 
Despite a young squad in 2014-15, featuring just three upperclassmen, SMSU opened the season with a 9-4 record, before finishing with a 12-17 mark. In 2015-16, SMSU recorded a 13-15 overall mark, including 9-13 in conference play.
 
Bigler began his coaching tenure at the University in 2003, spending two seasons as a graduate assistant before being elevated to full-time assistant coach prior to the 2005-06 season. He was named associate head coach in the summer of 2006.
 
During his four-year tenure as a full-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, SMSU racked up 80 wins, had four winning seasons, captured an NSIC championship and won an NCAA region championship. As an assistant coach, Bigler recruited and coached one All-America, seven all-conference selections and two academic all-district honorees.
 
A native of Fort Madison, Iowa, Bigler, 43, spent five seasons in the Mustang men’s basketball program (1997-2002) and left as one of the winningest players in school history. A point guard, Bigler played on the 2001 NSIC and North Central Region championship team that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif. He ended his career playing in 118 games and dishign out 286 assists. During his four-year playing career SMSU finished with a record of 83-36.
 
Bigler began his coaching career in 2002-03, spending one season as the head girls’ basketball coach at Lakeview High School in Cottonwood, Minn.
 
A 2003 graduate of SMSU with a bachelor’s degree in health/physical education, Bigler earned his master’s degree in education leadership from SMSU in 2010.
 
Brad and his wife, Heather, live in Marshall with their daughters, Taleigha and Tatum and son, Nash.
 
Bigler Timeline

Coaching Experience
2009-25    SMSU, Head Coach
2006-09    SMSU, Associate Head Coach
2005-06    SMSU, Assistant Coach
2003-05    SMSU, Graduate Assistant Coach
2002-03    Lakeview High School, Girls’ Basketball Head Coach

•Ranks first for victories in school history
•Has led SMSU to five NCAA tournament appearances as a head coach
•2012-13 and 2016-17 NSIC Coach of the Year
•SMSU has played in five NSIC tournament championship games
•SMSU won a share of the 2024-25 NSIC regular season championship
•Won the NSIC South Division championship in 2017 and 2018 and advanced to the 2018 NSIC tournament championship game
•SMSU advanced to the NCAA Central Region Tournament semifinals in 2018
•NSIC tournament championship, NSIC South Division championship and advanced to the NCAA region championship game in 2016-17
•SMSU tied school record with 28 victories in 2016-17
•NSIC tournament championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 2011-12
•Associate head coach for 2009 NSIC and NCAA Central Region championship team
•Four-year letter winner at SMSU (1997-2002)
•Member of 2001 NSIC and NCAA North Central Region championship team

 

Year	School	Overall	Conference	NSIC Finish • NCAA
2009-10	SMSU	17-12	10-10	6th
2010-11	SMSU	12-14	9-13	8th
2011-12	SMSU	19-11	15-7	2nd • NCAA tournament first round
2012-13	SMSU	16-14	13-9	5thS/7th
2013-14	SMSU	19-12	14-8	3rdS/6th
2014-15	SMSU	12-17	8-14	6thS/11th
2015-16	SMSU	13-15	9-13	7thS/13th
2016-17	SMSU	28-6	17-5	1stS/2nd • NCAA tournament third round
2017-18	SMSU	25-9	17-5	1stS/2nd • NCAA tournament second round
2018-19	SMSU	18-14	10-12	5thS/9th
2019-20	SMSU	8-21	5-17	8thS/15th
2020-21	SMSU	3-8	1-6	7thS
2021-22	SMSU	15-12	10-10	5thS/9th
2022-23	SMSU	16-12	12-10	4thS/8th
2023-24	SMSU	19-13	14-8	5th • NCAA tournament first round
2024-25	SMSU	21-9	16-6	1st • NCAA tournament first round
Overall	16 years	261-199	180-153