Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Mayfield football stays in Bradley family, name Gary Bradley head coach

LAS CRUCES – The Mayfield football program will remain in the family of New Mexico coaching legend Jim Bradley.

The school announced on Thursday that Gary Bradley will replace his brother, Michael, as the Trojans head coach.

Michael Bradley announced his retirement in December after replacing Jim Bradley as the head coach in 2006.

“It’s a coaching family and we have been brought up in that atmosphere since day we were born,” Michael Bradley said. “It’s kind of a legacy that is living on at Mayfield and I’m really thankful that the administration got him to be the next head coach at Mayfield.

Mayfield coach Michael Bradley, along with Carlsbad coach Gary Bradley with their mother Phyllis Bradley.  Mayfield High School faced Carlsbad High School on September 21, 2019.

“As the season went along, I started looking at things and realizing that I’m ready for that next step. I thought Gary was an excellent fit for all of the experience that he has had.”

Michael Bradley won 139 games and three state titles at Mayfield, with Gary Bradley serving as offensive coordinator along with Jim Bradley coaching the quarterbacks in 2006. Jim Bradley won five state championships at Mayfield.

“I had been trying to get him back over here since he left,” Michael Bradley said. “I’m really excited about it. He did a great job last year and connects well with the team. … Just having him on a staff knowing that he knows how to run a football program.”

Gary Bradley rejoined the Trojans program last season as offensive coordinator returning to Las Cruces after seven seasons as the head coach at Carlsbad and seven seasons at Farmington.

Carlsbad Cavemen head football coach Gary Bradley contests a plays Sept. 15 at Ralph Bowyer Stadium.

Gary Bradley has 78 head coaching wins under his belt at Farmington and Carlsbad. He was 54-31 with six postseason appearances at Farmington and won the Class 4A state championship in 2013 to cap a 12-1 season.

Gary Bradley replaced Ron Arrington at Carlsbad in 2015. Bradley was 24-51-1 at Carlsbad, where he coached against his brother on multiple occasions as district rivals, as well as the 2019 playoffs, where Mayfield won 21-14.

The Trojans finished 5-7 last year and lost in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.

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