What you should know about former Louisville basketball standout Junior Bridgeman

Junior Bridgeman, a former University of Louisville basketball player and wealthy entrepreneur, died on Tuesday during a fundraising event at the Galt House Hotel due to a medical emergency.

Bridgeman, 71, told a reporter he feared he was suffering a heart attack (WLKY-TV story).

A spokeswoman from the Al J. Schneider Company, which owns the Galt House, confirmed Bridgeman’s death, calling him “an integral part of our community.”

Here’s everything you should know about the former University of Louisville basketball player, NBA star, and billionaire:

Who is Junior Bridgeman?

Bridgeman was draughted to the NBA and played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers after playing for Louisville under famed coach Denny Crum in the 1970s. His business ventures included restaurant franchising, Coca-Cola bottling, and owning Ebony and Jet magazines.

How old is Junior Bridgeman?

Bridgeman died in March 2025, aged 71.

What is Junior Bridgeman’s net worth?

Bridgeman was one of the world’s richest retiring athletes. ESPN put his net worth at $600 million.

Who’s Junior Bridgeman’s wife?

Bridgeman married Doris Bridgeman, a philanthropist and business associate of her husband.

Who are Junior Bridgeman’s children?

Bridgeman has three children: Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, Ryan Bridgeman, and Justin Bridgeman.

Junior Bridgeman and the Coca-Cola Company

Bridgeman has had a commercial partnership with Coca-Cola since the end of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, as reported by heartlandcocacola.com (April 16, 2016). Bridgeman volunteered at Coke-sponsored basketball clinics.

After his NBA career ended, he purchased three Wendy’s restaurants, according to heartlandcocacola.com, and went on to become one of the top restaurant franchise owners in the United States, creating a commercial partnership with Coca Cola. Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company serves the Kansas, Missouri, and Southern Illinois areas.

Junior Bridgeman’s Wendy’s Restaurants

According to ESPN, Bridgeman founded a Wendy’s franchise after retiring from the NBA in 1987. According to a 2024 article, they lost their investment and utilised the remaining cash to purchase five businesses in Milwaukee the next year. Eventually, he purchased additional in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida.

This story has been updated to provide further information.

This item first published on the Louisville Courier Journal: “Junior Bridgeman: What to know about Louisville basketball, NBA star.”

Pat Kelsey drops a serious truth bomb on never thinking Louisville would reach heights of first season

Pat Kelsey, head coach of the Louisville Cardinals, anticipated a significant rebuilding process upon arrival. Now that his first regular season is behind him, things have gone better than he could have imagined.

While Kelsey expects the worst as a coach, he recognises that this season has been outstanding. He just doesn’t want his success to end after the regular season.

“I told somebody the other day,” Pat Kelsey stated. “I am confident we will lose every game. It’s simply how I prepare. I believe that the fear of not preparing and not putting our team in the best possible situation drives me to accomplish what I do. Sometimes your greatest strength is also your biggest vulnerability. You need to be able to balance that a little bit. I’m not sure if that’s good or terrible. It’s probably not very healthy. “I’d always see all the ways that number 42 [Maxime Raynaud] for Stanford could have 90 on us because he can never get 90, but he’s a problem.”

Louisville struggled under former head coach Kenny Payne. In two seasons, he went 12-52, including an 8-24 record the year before Pat Kelsey took over. The Cardinals are now 25-6 and 18-2 in ACC play, having finished second in the conference during the regular season.

“So, no. Kelsey remarked, “I never thought we’d win a certain number of games or something like that.” “I have a tremendous deal of confidence and believe in who we are, what we do as a team, and what we do to grow our program. So it typically works out for us. I didn’t expect to be in this situation right now, but it has been a lot of fun.”

Upcoming tournaments include the ACC and NCAA. Kelsey feels his squad has been working towards both of these circumstances, and he hopes to succeed in demonstrating he was the proper hire at Louisville.

“I was just a Joe Bag of Doughnuts mid-major guy, and Josh Heird took a chance on me. The fear of letting your guys down in preparation is one of those things I think about, but we were just working your butt off every day to make Josh look good, and that he made a good hire that motivates me every single day.” He’s a wonderful leader who has become a great confidant and friend to me. He is doing an outstanding job heading this sports department. So, when I sit here today and don’t know who the next game is, it’s a little piece of that because — even though he could have hired a million other people who are probably more qualified than me, he took a risk on me,” Kelsey explained.

“Now on to the next item. Let’s go to the ACC tournament and grind our tails off to get up the ladder and chop down nets. We just need to win the first game against whoever it is.”

The ACC Tournament is scheduled to begin on March 11th. Louisville holds the second seed and a double bye before their first game on March 13th.

Louisville’s head coach Pat Kelsey examines the influence the squad has had on the program and the community

Pat Kelsey on Louisville Basketball’s Impact on the Program and Community

When Pat Kelsey took over as the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals, he understood that his mission extended beyond the basketball court. More than just wins and losses, Kelsey saw the program as a pillar of the community—a source of pride, inspiration, and unity. Now, as he reflects on his tenure, he acknowledges the profound impact his squad has had on both the team’s culture and the city of Louisville.

Revitalizing the Program

Louisville basketball has always carried a rich tradition, but Kelsey’s arrival marked a renewed sense of energy. His emphasis on discipline, relentless work ethic, and team chemistry has transformed the Cardinals into a force to be reckoned with.

“When you build a program, it’s about much more than Xs and Os,” Kelsey said. “It’s about people. The culture we’ve created is one where players understand they’re part of something bigger than themselves.”

Under his leadership, the team has embraced a style of play that is fast-paced, defensive-minded, and aggressive—qualities that have redefined Louisville’s identity on the court. More importantly, the players have embraced Kelsey’s philosophy of accountability and leadership, setting an example for future generations of Cardinals.

Impact Beyond Basketball

Beyond their performance on the hardwood, Kelsey has ensured that Louisville basketball serves as a beacon of hope for the community. The team has actively participated in charity events, youth mentorship programs, and local outreach initiatives.

“One of the most rewarding things has been seeing our guys give back,” Kelsey said. “We’ve visited schools, worked with kids in underprivileged communities, and engaged with fans who have supported this program through thick and thin.”

These efforts have helped solidify the bond between the team and the city. Louisville fans have always been passionate, and Kelsey’s squad has only strengthened that connection by making themselves accessible and involved. Whether through hosting basketball clinics or visiting hospitals, the Cardinals are leaving an indelible mark beyond the court.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Another key focus for Kelsey has been instilling a sense of responsibility in his players. He wants them to understand that their roles extend far beyond game day.

“Our players are role models,” he said. “Every time they step on the floor, they represent not just themselves but their families, their teammates, and the entire city of Louisville.”

This mindset has paid off, as several players have embraced leadership roles within the community. Whether mentoring younger athletes or leading by example in their academic and personal lives, the Cardinals are demonstrating what it means to be true ambassadors of the program.

A Bright Future

As Kelsey looks ahead, he remains committed to strengthening the impact Louisville basketball has on the program and the community. He believes that success is measured not only in championships but in the lives the team touches.

“This is a special place,” Kelsey said. “It’s an honor to coach here, and I take that responsibility seriously. We’re building something that will last—a legacy of hard work, service, and excellence.”

With his leadership, the Cardinals continue to embody the heart and soul of Louisville, proving that their influence reaches far beyond the court.

Why did Sananda Fru choose Louisville Basketball and Pat Kelsey? His agent tells us more

On Feb. 11, Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey secured a commitment from big man Sananda Fru, who now plays in Germany’s top-tier Basketball Bundesliga.

Milan Nikolic, Fru’s agent, discussed the recruitment process during a radio visit on ESPN Louisville’s The Drew Deener Show.

According to his agent, Sananda Fru did not make a commitment to Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey to “eventually become one of the guys.”

The 6-foot-11, 245-pound German forward, a member of the Cardinals’ 2025 recruiting class, aspires to be the guy right away.

“He’s coming in to have a big role with Louisville,” Fru’s agent, Milan Nikolic, told Drew Deener and Mark Blankenbaker on ESPN Louisville on February 12. “That’s, I think, what everybody expects and what he brings to the table.”

Fru, 21, is presently in his fourth season in Germany’s top-tier Basketball Bundesliga and has previously represented his country’s U20 national team in the European Championships in 2022 and 2023. This season, Löwen Braunschweig has averaged 11.3 points on 65.8% shooting, five rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 24.1 minutes per game (17 games, 16 starts). .

“Depending on when their season finishes, or how deep they go in the playoff run, we will decide with staff when it’s best for him to come over,” Nikolic told the crowd. “But his approach is: ‘The sooner the better.'”

A person with firsthand knowledge of the recruiting process told The Courier Journal that Fru “should” have two years of college eligibility. He is Kelsey’s second pledge of the cycle, joining five-star point guard Michael Brown Jr., a McDonald’s All-American whom he battled against two years ago at an Adidas camp in Italy.

How did the Cards arrive on Fru? Nikolic shared his views with Deener and Blankenbaker before accompanying 502 Circle founder Marc Spiegel and president Dan Furman to see him perform in person.

Why Louisville?

Jan 14, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Louisville Cardinals assistant coaches Brian Kloman (standing) and Mike Cassidy give instructions to forward Khani Rooths (9) and guard Reyne Smith (6) and forward James Scott (0) before entering the game in the second half against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Kelsey always lectures about “The Power of the Unit,” which Nikolic claimed was on show during Fru’s recruiting.

“The whole (process) — with the guys from the collective, with the coaching staff, with the support staff, with the managers — everything was top notch,” stated the man. “It wasn’t only what I like to term ‘American friendly.’ It was authentic, honest, and sincere; everything they said made sense.”

Nikolic reported that assistant coach Brian Kloman initiated contact “around summertime.” A series of virtual encounters followed. In early December, he visited Louisville and saw the Cards lose to Duke at the KFC Yum! Centre. The enthusiasm around the program during Kelsey’s dramatic Year 1 turnaround was contagious, even if Fru only got a taste from afar.

“I was sending Sananda pictures and videos throughout the game; and he was super, super excited about it,” Nikolic told me. “The closer the date comes for him to come over, the more excited he gets.”

The ReviVille. 🔁📈 pic.twitter.com/yLjWXkRWsG

— Dan Furman (@Dan_Furman) February 13, 2025

Nikolic informed Deener and Blankenbaker that Tre Mitchell, a former Kentucky forward, sparked Fru’s interest in entering Division I when he joined at Löwen Braunschweig in August. He then pointed out two former European players who are having quick collegiate success this season: Egor Demin at BYU and Kasparas Jakucionis at Illinois His client, he feels, may pave his own route at U of L for a variety of reasons. .

No. 1: Eli Foy, a strength and conditioning coach who helped Deandre Ayton become the top selection in the 2018 NBA Draft while working with Sean Miller at Arizona.

“This is the biggest field of improvement for Sananda,” Nikolic told the audience. “Body-wise, he’s somewhat of a late bloomer.”

“If you go back a year or two and look at him, he still hasn’t filled out his frame, I think,” Nikolic told the reporter. “When it comes to strength and muscles, I believe there is a lot of potential. I’m hopeful that this is a significant factor in his development, particularly when he considers joining the NBA or returning to Europe.

No. 2: Kelsey’s offensive and defensive systems, which reward players who can attack the basket while also posing a 3-point threat, setting a dizzying number of screens, and making the extra pass when necessary — players who can guard multiple positions without sacrificing their physicality in the post.

Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey watches his team during their game against the Bellarmine Knights on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

“How they want to play, and how they want to use Sananda, was something that was very, very intriguing for us,” Nikolic told the crowd. “… It was crucial, with who he is and where he’s at in his young career, that simply the basketball fit is right.”

They’re especially keen on Kelsey allowing Fru to fire more regularly from deep. The big man is 4 for 14 from beyond the arc this season with Löwen Braunschweig. In 2023-24, he made a career-high seven of twenty-one attempts. .

“I think it’s an undervalued factor of his game,” Nikolic added. “Working with coach Kelsey and the rest of the staff, I truly hope that this will evolve further.”