Men's Basketball
Thornton, Brian
Brian Thornton
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- bwthornton@bsu.edu
- Alma Mater:
- Xavier, 2005
- Phone:
- 765-285-2892
- Years at Ball State:
- 5th season in 2018-19
Brian Thornton, a former Academic All-American at Xavier, completed his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Ball State men’s basketball program in 2017-18.
He has assisted in rebuilding a Cardinals program that has averaged more than 20 wins over the past three seasons, twice sharing the MAC West Division championship and competing in the postseason during that stretch.
In 2017-18, Ball State went 19-13 and earned a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament for the second straight year after finishing 10-8 in MAC play. The Cardinals won nine straight games at one point, including the program’s first-ever true road win over a top-10 opponent – an 80-77 victory at No. 8/9 Notre Dame.
Thornton has helped to rejuvenate the BSU program. The Cardinals registered the fourth-largest turnaround in the nation in 2015-16, culminating with a quarterfinal appearance in the CIT in the program’s return to the postseason for the first time in 14 years. Ball State finished 21-14 and claimed a share of the MAC West Division championship at 10-8 in league play.
The Cardinals built on that in 2016-17, going 21-13 overall and again sharing the division crown with an 11-7 league mark. BSU earned a top four seed in the MAC Tournament and reached the semifinals for the first time since 2011 on the way to a second straight CIT berth.
Thornton joined the Ball State men's basketball staff as an assistant coach in May 2014. He works directly with the Cardinals’ post players.
He has coached All-MAC players Franko House and Trey Moses, also helping Moses to All-MAC Defensive Team honors in 2017. House is now playing professionally in Holland. Thornton was also instrumental in the development of 2016 senior Bo Calhoun, who ranked as the second-most improved offensive player in the MAC in his final year (based on league scoring average from one year to the next).
Before coming to Ball State, Thornton coached with Winthrop for two years under head coach Pat Kelsey. He helped the Eagles to a 20-13 record in 2013-14, marking the program's first 20-win campaign in six years. Winthrop tied for second in the South Division of the Big South Conference and advanced to the championship game of the league tournament before falling to Coastal Carolina.
Before arriving at Winthrop, Thornton spent two years as the director of basketball operations at Xavier under head coach Chris Mack and one year as an assistant coach at Furman. He was on the staff for Xavier's run to the Sweet 16 of the 2010 NCAA tournament.
"I am thrilled to be adding Brian Thornton to our staff," Ball State head coach James Whitford said upon his hiring. "I had the great privilege of coaching Brian at Xavier, where he was a terrific player and a great student. He brings experience a college player, a professional player and someone who has had success in the business world. He has worked under two coaches I greatly respect in Chris Mack and Pat Kelsey, both of whom really raved about Brian's time with them. His experience as a post player will provide our big guys with a unique advantage."
Thornton played his first two years of college basketball for coach Kevin Stallings at Vanderbilt (2001-03) and his final two for coach Sean Miller at Xavier (2004-06). Whitford was an assistant on the Musketeers' staff for his final college season.
Thornton was a Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team selection in his rookie year at Vanderbilt. He went on to score 1,175 points for his career, surpassing the 500-point mark at both Vanderbilt and Xavier. By his senior year with the Musketeers, he was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection and an all-district pick by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
"I am excited about working with Coach Whitford," Thornton said upon joining the staff. "I know the way he runs things and the 'do what we do' philosophy that exists at places like Arizona, Xavier and Ball State. Ball State is obviously a place that has had a history of success, and that is intriguing. The school is in a state that has maybe the best basketball in the country, so there are plenty of kids who are available and interested in being Ball State Cardinals."
Thornton ranked among the top 10 in the nation in shooting percentage (.640) as a senior in 2005-06 while leading the Musketeers with 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He became the first men's basketball player in Xavier history to earn Academic All-America honors.
The Louisville, Ky., native went on to play professionally in Germany before returning to Xavier as a volunteer coach while completing work on his MBA. He graduated cum laude from Xavier with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts in 2005 and also earned his MBA from Xavier in 2007.
Thornton and his wife Kelsey have one daughter, Makayla, and one son, Brian Jr. (Deuce).
He has assisted in rebuilding a Cardinals program that has averaged more than 20 wins over the past three seasons, twice sharing the MAC West Division championship and competing in the postseason during that stretch.
In 2017-18, Ball State went 19-13 and earned a first-round bye in the MAC Tournament for the second straight year after finishing 10-8 in MAC play. The Cardinals won nine straight games at one point, including the program’s first-ever true road win over a top-10 opponent – an 80-77 victory at No. 8/9 Notre Dame.
Thornton has helped to rejuvenate the BSU program. The Cardinals registered the fourth-largest turnaround in the nation in 2015-16, culminating with a quarterfinal appearance in the CIT in the program’s return to the postseason for the first time in 14 years. Ball State finished 21-14 and claimed a share of the MAC West Division championship at 10-8 in league play.
The Cardinals built on that in 2016-17, going 21-13 overall and again sharing the division crown with an 11-7 league mark. BSU earned a top four seed in the MAC Tournament and reached the semifinals for the first time since 2011 on the way to a second straight CIT berth.
Thornton joined the Ball State men's basketball staff as an assistant coach in May 2014. He works directly with the Cardinals’ post players.
He has coached All-MAC players Franko House and Trey Moses, also helping Moses to All-MAC Defensive Team honors in 2017. House is now playing professionally in Holland. Thornton was also instrumental in the development of 2016 senior Bo Calhoun, who ranked as the second-most improved offensive player in the MAC in his final year (based on league scoring average from one year to the next).
Before coming to Ball State, Thornton coached with Winthrop for two years under head coach Pat Kelsey. He helped the Eagles to a 20-13 record in 2013-14, marking the program's first 20-win campaign in six years. Winthrop tied for second in the South Division of the Big South Conference and advanced to the championship game of the league tournament before falling to Coastal Carolina.
Before arriving at Winthrop, Thornton spent two years as the director of basketball operations at Xavier under head coach Chris Mack and one year as an assistant coach at Furman. He was on the staff for Xavier's run to the Sweet 16 of the 2010 NCAA tournament.
"I am thrilled to be adding Brian Thornton to our staff," Ball State head coach James Whitford said upon his hiring. "I had the great privilege of coaching Brian at Xavier, where he was a terrific player and a great student. He brings experience a college player, a professional player and someone who has had success in the business world. He has worked under two coaches I greatly respect in Chris Mack and Pat Kelsey, both of whom really raved about Brian's time with them. His experience as a post player will provide our big guys with a unique advantage."
Thornton played his first two years of college basketball for coach Kevin Stallings at Vanderbilt (2001-03) and his final two for coach Sean Miller at Xavier (2004-06). Whitford was an assistant on the Musketeers' staff for his final college season.
Thornton was a Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team selection in his rookie year at Vanderbilt. He went on to score 1,175 points for his career, surpassing the 500-point mark at both Vanderbilt and Xavier. By his senior year with the Musketeers, he was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection and an all-district pick by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
"I am excited about working with Coach Whitford," Thornton said upon joining the staff. "I know the way he runs things and the 'do what we do' philosophy that exists at places like Arizona, Xavier and Ball State. Ball State is obviously a place that has had a history of success, and that is intriguing. The school is in a state that has maybe the best basketball in the country, so there are plenty of kids who are available and interested in being Ball State Cardinals."
Thornton ranked among the top 10 in the nation in shooting percentage (.640) as a senior in 2005-06 while leading the Musketeers with 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He became the first men's basketball player in Xavier history to earn Academic All-America honors.
The Louisville, Ky., native went on to play professionally in Germany before returning to Xavier as a volunteer coach while completing work on his MBA. He graduated cum laude from Xavier with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts in 2005 and also earned his MBA from Xavier in 2007.
Thornton and his wife Kelsey have one daughter, Makayla, and one son, Brian Jr. (Deuce).
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