Drew Gardner enters his second season on Gage Bradshaw's coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant. Gardner will help work with the team's defense and strategy throughout the season.
With Gardner's defensive coaching under Coach Bradshaw, the Cardinals were able to secure their first home playoff game since the 2011 season and make their first semi-finals appearance since 2018. Gardner rallied the defense and ensured the team was aware of their assignments while on the field. With Gardner in charge of the back end, opponents scored 10 or more goals in only seven of the team's 15 games. Gardner worked a lot with Austin Hall, who finished second in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) with a .600 save percentage, which helped the Cardinals throughout the season. Additionally, the Cardinals had the best penalty kill in the GMAC, surrendering just 10 goals with a .895 PK percentage.
Gardner comes to Wheeling University after serving as the starting goalie for Alfred University from 2014-2018. During his four seasons with the Saxsons, Gardner put together a career save percentage of 52% and finished 32-20 (.615) across his four seasons. He helped lead the team to the ECAC Division III Championships, where they finished as runners up after falling to Western New England University 14-13. During his senior year, the team was back in the playoff race, as he led his team to the Empire 8 Championships.
Gardner graduated from Alfred University in 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in Crimial Justice and Sociology with a minor in Public Law. He is also a certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist.
