CHICAGO – Head men's basketball coach Drew Valentine announced Will Bailey will return to his coaching staff for the 2026-27 season. Bailey previously served as an assistant coach in 2023-24 where he helped the Ramblers to a share of the Atlantic 10 regular season title.
 
"It's great to welcome Will back home to Chicago. Having him back with our program is something I'm so excited for," said Valentine. "Will does everything with a level of selflessness that makes him an unbelievable person for our student-athletes, staff members, and campus community to be around. We've won an A-10 championship together, and we're both looking forward to reuniting and doing more winning in the future!"
 
In 2023-24, Bailey helped the Ramblers post one of the best NCAA turnarounds and fourth highest win improvement from the 2022-23 season. Loyola increased its win total by 12 wins, going from 10-21 to 22-10 against Division I opponents.
 
Bailey assisted in the development of three A-10 all-conference honorees, the program's first A-10 regular season title, and a NIT berth.
 
"It's great to be back home in Chicago and with the Ramblers once again," said Bailey. "I'm excited to get back to work alongside Coach Valentine as we pursue championships and continue developing our young men on and off the court. Let's get to work."
 
Over the last two seasons, Bailey served as an assistant coach at South Carolina. He helped the Gamecocks land a top-25 signing class in 2025 and had a hand in guiding Collin Murray-Boyles to a second team All-SEC nod. Murray-Boyles was later drafted ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2025 NBA Draft.
 
Before his first stop in Rogers Park, Bailey spent seven seasons as an assistant at Saint Louis. For the six seasons prior, he had a six-year tenure at La Salle. Bailey also served assistant coaching stints at East Tennessee State, Maine, Chicago State and UAB. In all, Bailey has been a part of five NCAA Tournament teams, including the 2012-13 Explorers team that reached the Sweet 16.
 
While at SLU, Bailey was part of a staff that helped the Billikens to the 2019 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship title and bid to the NCAA Tournament.  He was instrumental in the emergence of All-Conference guard Javon Bess, the 2019 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Bailey helped Bess improve his offensive game as well, and as a senior, Bess led the team with 15.3 ppg and 66 3-pointers.
 
During his time at La Salle, Bailey worked with All-Conference guards Earl Pettis, Ramon Galloway and Tyreek Duren. The Explorers' backcourt helped them to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2012-13. Additionally, La Salle was fourth in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage thanks in part to Bailey's instruction.
 
Prior to his arrival at La Salle, Bailey served seven seasons as an assistant coach at ETSU, helping the Buccaneers to six conference titles, three NCAA Tournament berths and an NIT appearance.
 
Bailey also served one-year stints at Maine (2002-03) and Chicago State (2001-02).
 
Bailey played at UAB for two years. As a senior in 1996-97, he led the team in assists and helped the Blazers to the NIT. Bailey was also tabbed UAB's top defensive player that season.
 
It was also at UAB that Bailey began his coaching career. After completing his eligibility, he served as a student assistant coach and later as a graduate assistant. Bailey was part of the staff in 1999 when UAB appeared in the NCAA Tournament.