Eric Bridgeland is a Two-Time National Coach of the Year and has taken three different programs to the Elite 8 or better at the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Bridgeland graduated the ‘winningest class’ in the history of NCAA Division III at his previous institution, Whitman College. While at Whitman, Bridgeland led the Blues to the Final Four, the only west coast team to participate in the prestigious event in the last 43 years.
The 2024-25 season, Bridgeland’s fourth at Redlands, was historic. A SCIAC Regular Season Championship Title, the first in thirteen years 25-wins, the second most in program history. The Bulldogs won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since joining NCAA Division III in ’85 and advanced all the way to the Elite 8. The deep tournament run was only the second time in SCIAC history a school has advanced to that point and its first in over 20-years. This performance earned Redlands a final ranking of No. 7 in the country (a program high) and Bridgeland the D3hoops.com Region X Coach of the Year. His 71 wins through four seasons are the most in the first four seasons of a coaches' tenure at Redlands. Chozen Amadi, Omari Ferguson, and Lucas Gordon made 1st Team All-SCIAC and Kendrick Currey landed on the 2nd Team. The four selections tied the program record from three prior seasons, most recently the 1975-76 season. Amadi and Ferguson made the D3hoops.com All-Region X 2nd Team and Ferguson made the NABC All-District X 1st Team. Gordon grabbed the third most single game rebounds with 20 against CMS. He also had 36 blocks, 11th most. Jhace Boston tied Gordon with the 36 blocks, Ferguson recorded the 10th most single-season steals with 69 and Currey had 129 assists, the 10th most.
In 2023-24 the Bulldogs posted a 16-9 record. They began the season with upset wins over No. 20 East Texas Baptist, No. 24 Middlebury, No. 25 Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and No. 18 Williams. They just missed a Top-10 win against New York University. Neil Owens and Kendrick Curry both made the All-SCIAC 2nd Team.
In 2022-23 went 19-8 and made it to the SCIAC Tournament Final after beating Claremont-M-S in the Semi-Final. Opened the season with a narrow loss to No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor before upsetting No. 28 St. Thomas (Texas) 80-72. Khyree Armstead was named 2nd Team All-SCIAC.
In his first full season in 2021-22, the Bulldogs went 11-12, 7-8 SCIAC. The Bulldogs qualified for the SCIAC Tournament after beating Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) on Senior Night, 74-70. Their first-round matchup was on the road two days later at CMS. The Bulldogs held a lead in the second half before losing 73-69. Forward Romeo Mays was named to the All-SCIAC 2nd Team.
Bridgeland's first season in 2020-21, due to COVID-19, the Bulldogs only played two official games, both against La Sierra dropping 109-102 and 102-91.
As mentioned, prior to Redlands Bridgeland led the Whitman College (WA) Blues to three Northwest Conference (NWC) titles and six runners-up finishes. During the last five years, Whitman has qualified for the NCAA tournament each season and advanced to the Sweet-16, Elite-8, and Final Four. His 2019 seniors graduated as the winningest class in NCAA Division III history, as they contributed to three undefeated titles in NWC action and a 67-conference game win streak.
In 12 seasons at Whitman, Bridgeland earned an impressive record of 245-87 (.738) and an NWC mark of 132-44 (.750%). In addition, he owns multiple national, regional, and conference coach of the year awards. His teams consistently land among the national rankings, as highlighted by the No. 1 spot on the D3hoops.com poll late in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons.
Prior to coaching at Whitman, he served as the head coach at the University of Puget Sound (WA) for five seasons. After taking over a program that had one winning season in the previous nine, Bridgeland and the Loggers put together a stretch of three consecutive NWC titles, three NCAA appearances, and a No. 8 ranking.
Overall, Bridgeland has coached one national player of the year, 12 All-Americans, six conference MVPs, and 40 all-conference selections. He also sent another student-athlete to the NBA combine as one of only five Division III players to be invited in the history of the league.
Before becoming a head coach, he grew professionally as an assistant coach at all levels of the NCAA, including Division I Pepperdine University, Division III Cal State Bakersfield, and Division III Lewis & Clark College (OR).
Outside of coaching, Bridgeland has gained experience with various NCAA basketball committees and organizations. Furthermore, he makes it a priority to serve his community through local non-profits like Friends of Children Walla Walla, Christian Aide Center, YMCA, and more.
His outreach also has resulted in impressive fundraising success through leadership camps, basketball clinics, golf tournaments, and general campaigning.
Originally hailing from Rockford, Illinois, Bridgeland attended the University of Manitoba in Canada. As a member of the men’s basketball team, he completed his Bachelor of Arts in History and Psychology while becoming Manitoba’s all-time leading scorer in four seasons. He was named the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union (CIAU) Rookie of the Year and earned three All-Canadian nods.
Bridgeland went on to play internationally with the Canadian National Program for three seasons and then gained professional experience with the Winnipeg Thunder for 2 seasons.
He later completed his Master of Science in Psychology through the University of Phoenix. Bridgeland and his wife Brianne have two children, Sydney and Ethan.
