Bradbury takes reins of wrestling program

By Jacob Knabel on Aug. 17, 2021 in Wrestling

SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Wrestling program will transition leaders as former Head Coach Levi Calhoun has moved into an Assistant Athletic Director role with the Bulldogs. In his place, Concordia Athletics has tabbed former Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) Associate Head Wrestling Coach Myron Bradbury, as announced on Tuesday (Aug. 17). Bradbury becomes the fifth Bulldog Head Wrestling Coach during the GPAC era.

A rising star on the NAIA landscape, Bradbury also previously assisted the men’s and women’s wrestling programs at NAIA member Lyon College in Batesville, Ark. Bradbury’s staff at Concordia will include Assistant Coach Tyree Cox.

Said Bradbury, “First I want to thank God for his guidance through this process and during the last two months. I am excited to lean on him as we go forward. Next I want to thank my parents and family for the love and support they continue to provide. And finally I want to thank Concordia University for their belief in me to lead this wrestling program. The support from the administration is incredible and something I'm very excited about.”

Said Director of Athletics Devin Smith, “We’re ecstatic to welcome Coach Bradbury to Concordia. He knows exactly what it takes to run an elite wrestling program in the NAIA. Myron’s work at Lindsey Wilson was exceptional and the role prepared him for this next step as a head coach. Our leadership team is confident in Coach Bradbury’s ability to foster excellence within our wrestling program, on and off the mats.”

Bradbury comes to Concordia via one of the NAIA’s true powerhouse wrestling programs in Lindsey Wilson. In five seasons as a full-time staff member with the Blue Raiders, Bradbury worked under highly successful Head Coach Corey Ruff (now the head coach at the University of Cumberlands in Kentucky). Over the past five years, Bradbury aided in Lindsey Wilson placing in the top five of the NAIA Wrestling National Championships each season with national runner-up claims in 2017 and 2019. The Blue Raiders also won three Mid-South Conference Tournament titles during that run. Prior to his full-time role, Bradbury worked two years at Lindsey Wilson as a part-time and student assistant.

Additionally, Bradbury coached Lindsey Wilson wrestlers that achieved six NAIA national titles, four NAIA national runner-up finishes, 35 All-America plaques and 26 Mid-South Conference titles. As the assistant, Bradbury played an integral role in putting together recruiting classes that were among the best of all small college programs. Prior to returning to his alma mater Lindsey Wilson, Bradbury spent one season at Lyon.

Up until the present, Bradbury had been the Head Coach of Team Kentucky, associated with the USA Wrestling Team organization. Bradbury managed the coaching staff and led Team Kentucky into state and national tournaments. The native of Elizabethtown, Ky., has also coached in various other capacities, such as at the high school level, and founded the Blue Raider Wrestling Club and the Kentucky Regional Training Center.

Bradbury graduated from Lindsey Wilson with his Bachelor of Arts in Health Communication. As a wrestler at Lindsey Wilson, Bradbury compiled an overall record of 42-24 and twice qualified for the national tournament. As a high school grappler, Bradbury won two Kentucky state titles at Trinity High School.