NORMAL — Kate Popovec-Goss returned to coach the Bradley women’s basketball team on Saturday after serving a 10-game suspension.

Bradley furiously rallied late in its Missouri Valley Conference opener but lost 78-74 to rival Illinois State at CEFCU Arena.

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The second-year coach was back on the sidelines for the first time since a season-opening loss on Nov. 6. On Nov. 11, the school announced she was “suspended from her duties as head coach” through the nonconference season.

Background:Bradley suspends women’s basketball coach for rest of nonconference season

“This decision has been made in accordance with the university’s commitment to upholding the values and standards expected of its staff,” the Nov. 11 release read. “Further details will not be disclosed at this time, as the university respects the confidentiality of personnel matters.”

Popovec-Goss did not specify the reason for her suspension. When asked about it Saturday, the coach said she was happy to be back and humbled by the support she has received from her team, the Bradley community and the administration.

“I’m happy to be back. I’m grateful for the support. I’m grateful that our girls are happy to have me back,” Popovec-Goss said. “I just enjoy this group a lot. You don’t take that for granted as a coach. This job is really hard, and you walk in the gym and you look at your team and you can have fun with them, that’s such a win.

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“That was the hardest part of being away from them: I just genuinely enjoy being with them every day, watching them grow and evolve.”

Popovec-Goss kept tabs on Bradley throughout her suspension, reposting multiple X.com posts from the school and sharing the team’s accomplishments.

Bradley went 4-6 under interim coach Armelia Horton, an assistant hired by Popovec-Goss at the start of her time at BU. That stretch included a win over Central Michigan on Nov. 12, one day after the announcement of Popovec-Goss’ suspension. That win was accompanied online by a video of Horton entering the Bradley locker room and celebrating with the team, along with assistant Ollie Goss, husband of the head coach.

“Love this team! Emotional last 48 hours and came together to accomplish a TEAM victory,” Ollie Goss posted on X.com after the win. “I’ve never been more proud to coach these PASSIONATE young women.”

On Saturday, Bradley led ISU nearly the entire game until the Redbirds’ experience took over in the final minutes. Bradley made 14 3-pointers overall, including a 7-for-11 effort from freshman Halli Poock — including three 3s in a frantic final 30 seconds that helped nearly erase a seven-point deficit. She finished with 34 points.

Poock said it’s been a challenge to be without Popovec-Goss, especially the coach’s “fire” and “spark.” What’s more, Bradley in that stretch also lost starters Kaylen Nelson and Daija Powell to season-ending injuries.

“It’s definitely been hard,” said Poock, who was recruited by Popovec-Goss. “There’s been a lot of adversity on our team, but we’ve done a tremendous job of staying together as a team and knowing it’s about us at the end of the day.”

Bradley athletics director Chris Reynolds was in attendance for Popovec’s return to the sidelines and released a statement via email to the Journal Star.

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“We look forward to the start of conference play with Coach Popovec-Goss at the helm,” Reynolds wrote. “Our focus remains on supporting the program as we begin a tough MVC schedule. We are incredibly proud of our team’s effort and execution today versus an experienced Illinois State team.”

Popovec-Goss entered the arena from the locker room about 15 minutes before game time and stood with her coaching staff near one of the baselines. Her team came off the floor, greeted her and she and the team returned to the locker room for a quick pregame meeting.

“To be welcomed back with open arms was awesome,” Popovec-Goss said, “but I think I’m also proud of them and my staff because we so easily could have shut down during that period, and I think we found a lot of juice toward the end of it. … We have a team, have a staff, have a program that weathered the adversity with a lot of maturity.”

Popovec-Goss said she tries not to “get too caught up in the future. I think it’s day to day” and is just working to develop the program’s identity. BU is now 4-8 this season, already equalling its victory total from the first season under Popovec-Goss (4-28, including 1-19 in the MVC.)

“I just love my team,” she said. “As a second-year head coach, this first year and a half has been really challenging. I have been hit with a tremendous amount of adversity personally: Ruptured an Achilles, coached on a scooter. Obviously my suspension, but I think what I’ve learned is to just trust myself. Trust who I am. And you want to be able to coach a team that reflects your energy and reflects who you are.”

Popovec-Goss was hired in April 2022 after time as associate head coach and recruiting director at Northwestern. She took over for Andrea Gorski, who retired after 25 years of coaching.

Popovec played at Pittsburgh and Northwestern, then returned to her alma mater as an assistant in 2017. In the spring of 2018, she was named Northwestern’s recruiting and defensive coordinator. The up-and-coming coach was named associate head coach under Joe McKeown at Northwestern in August of 2021 before landing with Bradley for the 2022-23 season.

“More than anything I’ve learned I have a great group of kids that believe in what we are trying to build at Bradley, and I want to be with them,” Popovec-Goss said. “They’re a joy to be around, and I think being in Year 2, enjoying it and removing some of that pressure for the results. That’s what I talk to my team about all the time. I need to be that same example for them. We’re gonna keep pushing and keep getting better and I’m excited to grow with this group.”

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