TRINITY — Bear Bradley is done after two seasons as Trinity’s football coach, sensing a different type of opportunity as an assistant coach at a larger school.
Bradley resigned to take a position at Greensboro Grimsley, which is the reigning Class 4A state champion.
“It was basically for me,” Bradley said Friday. “Better for more career, going into one of the highest levels (of high school). For me, to be a part of that group is pretty special. … It’s a good time for me to reflect and learn.”
The Bulldogs went 8-13 under Bradley, including a 3-7 record during the past season and sharing last place in the six-team Piedmont Athletic Conference.
Bradley has spent the last 12 years as a head coach – four years at Wheatmore, six seasons at Southern Guilford and then Trinity. His career record is 46-82.
He’s also a past assistant coach at Randleman.
“Do I still have a desire to be a head coach? Absolutely,” Bradley said. “It wasn’t that I was tired of being a head coach.”
Bradley, 45, said much of his coaching career has been focused on player development with teams trying to gain some success. With Grimsley, he’ll join an established program on the staff of coach Darryl Brown (brother of Asheboro coach Calvin Brown).
A specific role on the staff hasn’t been determined, Bradley said.
“An opportunity to get a difference experience,” he said. “A chance to compete at a high level. I think we’re after the same goals.”
Bradley said this isn’t a sign of him backing off pursuits as a football coach.
“I’m not done,” he said.
Bradley is familiar with Grimsley athletics director Evan Fancourt, a former boys’ basketball coach at Southern Guilford.
The coach’s son, now-senior Noah Bradley, was Trinity’s quarterback the past two seasons.
Trinity hasn’t had a winning football season since a 6-5 record in 2017 under Brett Andrews, who’s in his first season as boys’ basketball coach at the school.
