Staff Directory
Cardinal, Brian
Brian Cardinal
- Title:
- External Relations
- Phone:
- 494.2582
Former Purdue men's basketball player Brian Cardinal assists the athletics department and the John Purdue Club in a variety of external relations enterprises and initiatives.
Over the course of his playing career, Cardinal averaged 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He left Purdue as the career steals leader and now ranks second with 259. He also boasts the second-most steals in a game (seven) and season (78).
Cardinal, who served as a three-year team captain, was selected third team All-Big Ten in 1999 and second team in 2000. He was the Boilermakers’ Most Valuable Player as a senior.
Cardinal earned the Ray Eddy “Mr. Hustle” Award all four seasons he played for the Boilermakers. He also was a four-year recipient of the Courage Award (for taking the most charges) and was the Doc Combs “Play Hard” Award winner his junior and senior seasons.
If there was a loose ball, Cardinal, who played with elbow pads and knee pads, constantly was diving on the court in pursuit, leading to him being given the nickname “The Custodian.” He played with dogged tenacity and unbridled enthusiasm.
Purdue advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in both Cardinal’s sophomore and junior seasons and the Elite Eight his senior year. He was a member of the gold-medal winning USA Basketball Goodwill Games team in 1998.
A native of Tolono, Illinois, Cardinal was selected in the second round (No. 44 overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He played 12 seasons in the NBA with six teams, highlighted by a world championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
Cardinal’s wife, Danielle Bird, played for the 1999 Purdue women’s basketball national championship team. Cardinal Court, the Boilermakers’ practice gymnasium, is so named in recognition of their generous donation.
Over the course of his playing career, Cardinal averaged 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He left Purdue as the career steals leader and now ranks second with 259. He also boasts the second-most steals in a game (seven) and season (78).
Cardinal, who served as a three-year team captain, was selected third team All-Big Ten in 1999 and second team in 2000. He was the Boilermakers’ Most Valuable Player as a senior.
Cardinal earned the Ray Eddy “Mr. Hustle” Award all four seasons he played for the Boilermakers. He also was a four-year recipient of the Courage Award (for taking the most charges) and was the Doc Combs “Play Hard” Award winner his junior and senior seasons.
If there was a loose ball, Cardinal, who played with elbow pads and knee pads, constantly was diving on the court in pursuit, leading to him being given the nickname “The Custodian.” He played with dogged tenacity and unbridled enthusiasm.
Purdue advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in both Cardinal’s sophomore and junior seasons and the Elite Eight his senior year. He was a member of the gold-medal winning USA Basketball Goodwill Games team in 1998.
A native of Tolono, Illinois, Cardinal was selected in the second round (No. 44 overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He played 12 seasons in the NBA with six teams, highlighted by a world championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
Cardinal’s wife, Danielle Bird, played for the 1999 Purdue women’s basketball national championship team. Cardinal Court, the Boilermakers’ practice gymnasium, is so named in recognition of their generous donation.
