(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 13)—McKendree University head football coach Mike Babcock recently named Atiba Bradley as the Bearcats' new defensive coordinator. He will also coach the Bearcats' linebackers. Bradley replaces Michael Harrison, who has been named as the head coach at Belleville East High School.
 
Bradley comes to McKendree after spending the last three seasons on staff at the University of South Dakota. Bradley is also very familiar with the NCAA Division II ranks, having served on the coaching staffs at both Quincy University and Missouri Southern State University.
 
"Atiba is a great addition to our staff," said Babcock. "He is a fantastic coach who loves to teach and works well with his players. Atiba is also very detailed in his approach and finds ways to motivate his players and get them to perform at a high level. He has already made an impact on our staff during the recruiting season and we're excited for the attributes he brings to McKendree football."
 
For two seasons at South Dakota, Bradley served as the Coyotes' co-defensive coordinator. He also helped guide the linebacking corps. In 2017, Bradley was part of the South Dakota staff that guided the Coyotes to an eight-win season and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. South Dakota's defense ranked fifth in the nation in quarterback sacks.
 
Prior to his experience at South Dakota, Bradley spent three years on staff at Western Illinois University. There, he was the Leathernecks' linebackers coach in 2013-14 before being elevated to co-defensive coordinator in 2015. That season, he helped guide Western Illinois into the Division I FCS playoffs for the first time since 2010, where the Leathernecks reached the second round.  In Bradley's first season at Western Illinois in 2013, he tutored a linebacking corps that helped the defensive unit rank seventh nationally in total defense and third in passing defense.
 
"I'm excited that Coach Babcock has brought me into the McKendree family for this opportunity," said Bradley. "Being familiar with the league – having been at Quincy – helps a great deal. That, along being from Joplins and having spent a lot of time at Missouri Southern, has helped me become extremely familiar with the St. Louis area, which will help in recruiting. I just want to bring my experience and knowledge from working at different levels and help make us a better program at the end of the day."
 
Before making the move to the FBS coaching ranks, Bradley spent the 2012 season as the defensive and recruiting coordinator at Great Lakes Valley Conference member Quincy University. He came to Quincy after serving as the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater – Missouri Southern State University – for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Along with his assistant head coaching and recruiting responsibilities, Bradley was the Lions' linebackers coach and oversaw student-athlete academic progress.
 
Bradley was also a graduate assistant and offensive quality control coach at the University of Missouri, assisting in coaching the Tigers' defensive line and quarterbacks. Bradley began his coaching career on staff at Missouri Southern, serving as the Lions' assistant cornerbacks coach for the 2006 season before handling duties as the team's assistant offensive line and tight ends coach in 2007.
 
As a student-athlete, Bradley was a defense end and linebacker at Missouri Southern from 2002-05. He received his bachelor's degree from Missouri Southern before earning his master's degree from the Universit of Missouri.
 
Bradley and his wife Jacquelyn have three children: Briauna, Kiara and Marcus.