A Conversation With TA Defensive Coordinator Todd Bradford

West Alabama high school football is officially underway. We will be spotlighting a coach every week for their contributions to their teams win.

After their big win in their first game at the ASHAA level beating Holy Spirit 45-12, Townsquare Media begins the series with Tuscaloosa Academy defensive coordinator Todd Bradford.

Q: Where are you from Coach?

CB: “I was born in Selma, Alabama. Played high school at Morgan Academy as a multiple sport athlete. I had the opportunity to win four state championships in football from 9th to 12th grade."

Q: Where’d you attend college?

CB: “I attended Auburn from 2001-02 as a preferred walk-on WR. Before leaving, working awhile and decided to return to college in 2009 and 2010, where I played for Delta State. Our DC at the time was current Alabama DC Pete Golding.”

Q: When did you get into coaching?

CB: “I wish sooner, but 2014 I had the opportunity to become the head coach at Lowndes Academy. I was only there for a year, but it was a great experience. Then I went and coached at St. James School in Montgomery for coach Jimmy Perry and got to learn a lot. Then got an opportunity to go to Kingwood Christian School in Birmingham for three years as the head coach and athletic director before coming Tuscaloosa Academy under the head coach John Copeland in 2019. Spent 2020 as the head coach then serving as the defensive coordinator under head coach Josh Wright these since 2021.”

Q: Now that you’re at Tuscaloosa Academy and the team is transitioning from AISA to ASHAA what’s the biggest adjustment?

CB: It’s a very exciting challenge, but not that you don’t know what to expect every week like an ACA. It’s exciting to be able to build potential rivalries here in town. We’ve got a lot of experience and think we can compete. We feel like we’re ready to face it.”

Q: When you look at this team. Who are the guys you expect to led this team in this transition season?

CB: “Senior safety Sherabiah Jones. It started this summer who transferred from Hillcrest before his 10th grade year. He never misses a workout or practice. He leads vocally and by example. He’s a guy everyone looks to in crunch time. Also junior lineman Sam Garner, who transferred in this summer from Morgan Academy. He’s a guy who caught your attention from day one. Loud and energetic, love to have a kid like that.”

Q: As we come to a close; What are the expectations for the rest of the 2022 season?

CB: “The group we have can help us compete in week in and week out. We’ve got a lot of young talent and a lot of experienced talent and with our coaching staff we can compete with anyone. I’m a glass half full kind of guy.”

As a Tuscaloosa Academy graduate, it’s exciting to hear good things about your alma mater's football team. This was a great conversation to have with Todd Bradford as they prepare for ACA, Friday at 7 p.m., at American Christian Academy. Be on the lookout for big games out of sophomore QB Preston Lancaster and senior Safety Sherabiah Jones.