Pirates name new head coach

BRADEN RIVER — Curt Bradley admits he has always been a better baseball player than football player.

But playing sports isn’t what Bradley was called to do. Instead, the former Minor League baseball player felt compelled to teach others how to be the best players they could be both on and off the field.

Now, the Missouri native is hoping to not only help the Braden River High football team discover a newfound passion for the sport but also teach them the many life lessons that go along with being a part of a team.

On May 11, Bradley was named the Pirates’ new head football coach. Bradley, who turns 27 in June, replaces former coach Don Purvis, who resigned last month after two seasons at the helm.

“To say the least, I was more than excited,” Bradley said. “This is a great area and a great school with a great athletic director and administration. I’m looking forward to (the opportunity), and I’m just so excited.”

“He’s a very intelligent young man,” Braden River Athletic Director Bob Bowling said. “He obviously was a good athlete, and he brings a lot to the table. He’s extremely organized and very disciplined. That’s what sold us on him. He’s very disciplined and hardworking.”

A two-sport athlete in high school, Bradley earned a football scholarship to Northern Iowa University, where he also played baseball. Bradley played on two conference championship football teams and a national runner-up team. He was named the Peacocks’ captain in 2006 and was an honorable mention All-Gateway Conference and All-Academic team selection twice.

“I just enjoy the game itself and the lessons the game teaches you,” Bradley said. “It’s the ultimate team sport. You can learn a lot about yourself, and the lessons it teaches you are life lessons. That’s what I really enjoy the most.”

At the end of his junior year of college, the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Bradley in the 33rd round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft. Bradley went back to finish his psychology degree and spent a season playing Minor League baseball for the Dodgers.

Following his season with the Dodgers, the shortstop and center fielder decided to forgo his baseball career and turn his attention to a career coaching football.

“I was a better baseball player than I was a football player, but my calling wasn’t to play a sport,” Bradley said. “It was to encourage and build up other individuals as a coach rather than me playing myself.”

A former wide receiver, Bradley volunteered for a year at Rock Bridge Senior High School in Colombia, Mo., before being offered a graduate assistant coaching position at Syracuse University. Bradley spent two-and-one-half years serving as a linebacker coach for Syracuse, where he got his first glimpse at coaching defense.

“The only position (Syracuse) had open was on defensive side of the ball,” Bradley said. “I just tried to learn as much as I could as fast as I could.”

In July 2010, Bradley was named Leesburg High’s defensive coordinator, where he has spent the past two years. Bradley learned about the open position at Braden River from a family friend and decided to apply. Bradley, who was one of 40 applicants, interviewed May 8 and was invited back for a second interview May 11.

“Coach Bradley was very honest, and from an X and O standpoint, was by far the best we spoke with,” Bowling said. “He is very big on doing things the right way on and off the field.  He is full of positive energy, and I believe will get the most out of our players.”

Bradley will assume his new position following spring practice after completing his remaining responsibilities with Leesburg.

“I’m just looking forward to getting around the other coaches and, first and foremost, around the kids,” Bradley said. “Football is the ultimate team game in which to do so.”

Greg Williford, an assistant coach under Purvis, will continue to run spring practices and coach the Pirates in their spring game May 25, at Naples.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].