AMBRIDGE — Almost a month after Ambridge High School offered Dan Bradley the head football coach position, the Ambridge School board made the decision official on January 14, voting unanimously 9-0 to rehire the former coach of the Bridgers program.
Back in December, the Beaver County Times confirmed with Ambridge athletic director Tony Amadio a report from a source that Bradley would be returning to the Ambridge program after four seasons at Ellwood City, with Bradley citing a change in his professional career leading to interviewing and accepting the job at Ambridge.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I had an unforeseen change in my career that led me further away from home and the drive to Ellwood City was 90 minutes to get there every day," Bradley told the Beaver County Times. "I met with [Ellwood City] administrators in the middle of the season to figure out an exit plan and we couldn't figure out anything which leads us to now. I told them about the situation and what I was doing, but I had a lot of fond memories there."
Bradley has been known as a program resurrector, leading Sto-Rox to a pair of appearances in the WPIAL Class 1A championships, Ambridge to its first playoff berth since the 2005 season and led OLSH to the postseason each of his six seasons, posting a 49-19 overall mark, winning the WPIAL Class 1A title in 2018 and reached the championship again in 2021.
At Ellwood City, that track record remained the same as after helping the Wolverines to two wins in his first season in 2022, Bradley led the team to the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs for the first time since the 2013 season, winning five games.
Ellwood City head coach Dan Bradley shouts instructions to a player during Ellwood City and Western Beaver's Midwestern Conference game Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City, Pa.Required Reading: West Allegheny High School football head coach Dave Schoppe resigns
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In 2024, it was Bradley’s best season with the Wolverines, helping the program win their first conference title since 1997 and their first undefeated regular season since World War II before bowing out in the semifinals.
Last season at Ellwood City, Bradley had his team back in the postseason, capturing their third-straight postseason berth for the first time since the 1985-87 seasons.
"Everything there was so special. Going into that program, the kids were excited and we were able to turn that program around," Bradley said. "They were amazing kids and the support that we got from the community on Friday nights was incredible. I am really going to miss them."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe move to Ambridge gives Bradley a chance to rebuild yet another program during his career as a head coach. While the longtime coach led Ambridge to the postseason during his tenure, the team is in search of its first winning season in 21 years.
Ellwood City head coach Dan Bradley talks with an assistant coach during Ellwood City's heat acclimation practice Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at Helling Stadium in Ellwood City, Pa.He will be bringing along a majority of his staff that he has had on previous programs, including David Coleman, Richard Chambers, Nate Smith Kendall Coleman and Zac Reinheimer.
"I like to think that we are further along than where we were last time when I was the coach or other places that I have been," Bradley said. "We have some returning seniors and a lot of guys coming back. Hopefully, that will give us a step ahead of where I was at Ellwood or the last time I was here."
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Dan Bradley tabbed as next Ambridge High School football head coach
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