By: Will Case

I think it's safe to say, the Green Bay Phoenix have reached the pinnacle of success for a mid-major team. While their run is by no means complete, their regular season success would be hard to top. Much of that success should be attributed to their talent on the court and Coach Wardle who uses each player correctly. But the start of their success goes further back than opening night against Northern Michigan. Just 10 months ago, Green Bay could have replaced its coaching staff and had a much different 2013.

Coming off an 18-16 season in 2012 and a 4th place Horizon League finish I, like many people did not expect much more than that. The offseason followed. One that saw their Athletic Director, of over a decade, take the same job at Northern Kentucky University. Three months earlier, an independent investigation of Brian Wardle was issued by UW-Green Bay Chancellor Tom Harden after several former players accused Wardle of physical and verbal abuse. Green Bay got national attention- but for all the wrong reasons. Regardless of what the investigation revealed, Harden could have wiped the slate clean and not many people would have disagreed with it. But he didn't. Harden let Wardle keep his job and continue to be the face of the Green Bay Phoenix.

So what did he see in Wardle? Did he see Wardle's focus in the midst of scandal? Did he see a team that backed up their coach when asked about the alleged abuse? Did he see a team that may be on the edge of doing something special?

After the investigation failed to support the accusations, the team set out to make everyone forget about the scandal, and so far, they haven't looked back.

But the process all started with the U-W Green Bay front office. We'll never know all the reasons why Wardle wasn't released. But in hindsight, some of those reasons are becoming evident.

Now, here we are in early March. Green Bay is about to host the Horizon League tournament. They finished the regular season with the best overall record.  Green Bay was the first team in the country to secure a conference title. Wardle and Sykes won Horizon League Coach and Player of the Year awards. And for the first time in nearly two decades, Green Bay has a chance to not only enter the NCAA tournament, but do some serious damage.

Following Coach Wardle's investigation, an advisor was assigned to oversee his coaching and teaching skills during the 2013 season. I hope the guy took notes because a lot could have been learned from Coach Wardle this season.  Now, Green Bay is back in the national spotlight- but for all the right reasons. 

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