Former head coach Joe Paterno giving then DC Tom Bradley an earful. Bradly was named interim head coach last night.
With Joe Paterno’s abrupt firing, the board of trustees appointed defensive coordinator Tom Bradley as interim head coach for the Nittany Lions effective immediately. Bradley’s routes are embedded in Pennsylvania as he was both a graduate of Penn State and played defensive back for Paterno in the late 1970’s. Ever since he graduated, he remained by Paterno’s side. He was a graduate assistant (1979), then promoted to assistant (1980-1999), then in 2000 was named the defensive coordinator to replace the retiring Jerry Sandusky.
As the defensive coordinator, Bradley produced one of the nation’s top defenses. From 2004-2010, Penn State ranked 3rd in the nation in scoring defense (16.4 ppg), rushing defense (107.1 ypg) and total defense (298.7 ypg). In 2010, Bradley’s squad held 10 opponents to less than 17 points. This season, Bradley’s defense is an impressive 3rd in the nation holding opponents to a stingy 12.4 ppg.
Earlier this year, Bradley was rumored to have interviewed for the head coach position at Pitt, UConn, and Temple. However, his loyalty to Penn State and Joe Paterno was unequivocal so he remained a Nittany Lion. Bradley always dreamed of becoming head coach of this storied program, but he certainly did not want to earn the job under the present circumstances.
Looking ahead, Bradley inherited a team that is ranked 12th in the BCS and has a date with Nebraska this Saturday with huge conference implications. Bradley knows the program, knows the players, and is the right man for the job in this challenging environment.
