Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
Tom Bradley was named Defensive Coordinator at UCLA in February of 2015. Bradley came to Westwood with over 35 years of coaching experience and is widely regarded as one of the top defensive minds in college football.
“To bring a coach of Tom Bradley’s caliber to UCLA is very exciting,” said Head Coach Jim Mora at the time of Bradley's hire. “His knowledge of the game, extensive experience, level of intensity and attention to detail all make him one of the best defensive teachers in college football. Combine that with the fact that he has strong national recruiting ties and is one of the most well respected coaches in the game - it all adds up to Tom being a tremendous addition to our staff.”
In year two at UCLA in 2016, Coach Bradley's defensive unit gave up 4.9 yards per play to rank tied for second in the Pac-12. The Bruins secondary yielded just 12 touchdown passes, lowest mark in the Pac-12 conference, and ranked tied for first in the conference in yards allowed per pass attempt (5.7). It was seventh in the nation in passing efficiency defense (105.8). The Bruins were tied for third in the Pac-12 (22nd in the nation) with 15 interceptions and ranked 38th in the nation in turnovers gained (23). The opponent third down conversion rate of 34.7% ranked 20th in the nation.
Linebacker Jayon Brown, a fifth-round selection by the Tennessee Titans in the 2017 NFL Draft, led the conference in tackles (9th in the nation) and defensive end Takkarist McKinley, the first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, was 11th in the nation in sacks (0.91) and 10th nationally in tackles for loss (1.6). Both players earned first-team all-conference honors. It marked the fifth straight year a Bruin defensive lineman had been chosen in the draft and second straight with a first-round pick. It was the fourth straight draft in which at least one Bruin linebacker had been selected. Two other Bruin defenders also heard their names called in the 2017 draft - DB Fabian Moreau and DL Eddie Vanderdoes were third-rounders.
In his first season at UCLA in 2015, coach Bradley’s Bruin defense surrendered just 4.9 yards per play, the lowest mark in the Pac-12 conference. The Bruins secondary led the conference in fewest yards passing allowed per game and in team pass defense efficiency. It also topped the league in fewest yards allowed per passing atempt (5.6). UCLA also allowed just 13 rushing touchdowns to tie for second in the Pac-12 in that category. For the first time since the 1988 season, the UCLA defense kept as many as three opponents out of the end zone in a game and recorded a shutout at Oregon State, its first on the road since 1987.
Three Bruin defenders were selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. Defensive lineman Kenny Clark was a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Linebacker Myles Jack was a second-round choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Linebacker Aaron Wallace was tabbed by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round.
Bradley came to UCLA after spending the 2014 season as West Virginia’s senior associate head coach. Prior to his time in Morgantown, Bradley spent more than 30 years on the sidelines at Penn State, serving as the Nittany Lion’s defensive coordinator from 2000-2011 and as interim head coach in 2011.
Under Bradley, Penn State’s defenses were regularly atop the national rankings. In his time as defensive coordinator, Bradley guided the Nittany Lions to six consecutive top 15 finishes in both total and scoring defense (2004-09). From 2004-2011, Penn State held 53 of its 88 opponents to 17 points or fewer, including a run of 10 games during the 2009 season. During that same eight season span, Bradley’s defenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in points allowed seven times and in the top 20 nationally in total defense seven times. In particular, the 2008 unit was one of only four defenses nationally to rank in the top 10 in rushing, total and scoring defense and led the Big Ten in both rushing and total defense.
Over the course of his time at Penn State, Bradley helped the Nittany Lions to 13 double-figure win seasons, 20 seasons with at least nine wins, 27 bowl appearances and the 1982 and 1986 national championships.
Recognized as Rivals Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2008, Bradley was also named the Associated Press Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 2005 and selected as one of the nation’s top 10 recruiters by SportsIllustrated.com that same year.
In all, Bradley has coached 18 All-Americans, 44 All-Conference players and helped 51 student-athletes reach the National Football League. The All-Americans included: LaVar Arrington (LB/1998-99); Navarro Bowman (LB/2009); James Boyd (S/2000); Courtney Brown (DE/1999); Shane Conlon (LB/1985-86); Dan Connor (LB/2006-07); Tamba Hali (DE/2005); Kim Herring (S/1996); David Macklin (CB/1998); O.J. McDuffie (WR/1992); Paul Posluszny (LB/2005-06); Brandon Short (LB/1999); Alan Zemaitis (DB/2005); Michael Zordich (S/1985).
Bradley was a member of the Penn State football team from 1975-78, earning letters his final two seasons (helping the Nittany Lions to a 22-2 record), highlighted by a berth in the 1978 National Championship game vs. Alabama. He helped the Nittany Lions earn spots in the 1975 and '79 Sugar Bowls, the 1976 Gator Bowl and the 1977 Fiesta Bowl.
A native of Johnstown, Pa., Bradley earned his degree in business in 1979 and a Master's in sports administration from Penn State in 1986. He was a graduate assistant in 1979 and became a full-time staff member in 1980, initially serving as special teams coach. Bradley is a graduate of Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown and is an inductee in the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in football, basketball and track and field as a prep student-athlete. He was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in May of 2014.
