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Moffat County boys basketball coach resigns

David Bradshaw leaves post after a 2-20 first season

Joshua Gordon
David Bradshaw, who coached the 2010 Moffat County High School boys varsity basketball team, stands Tuesday outside the Holiday Inn in Craig. Bradshaw resigned Monday as MCHS head coach after accepting a management position in Pueblo.
Joshua Gordon

After one season, Moffat County High School boys varsity basketball coach David Bradshaw has resigned.

Bradshaw, who went 2-20 in his lone season, announced his resignation Monday. He said the major factor behind the move was an offer he received for a management job at Cambria Suites in Pueblo.

“More than anything, this is a career move,” he said. “I had an advancement opportunity in my career and I am very excited to see what it brings.”



The hotel, Bradshaw said, is a 102-unit, full-service development on the newly developed River Walk in Pueblo.

Bradshaw currently works at the Holiday Inn of Craig.



He said he went through the interview process and was informed July 15 he had the position, at which point he discussed the move with his family before ultimately deciding to accept the job.

Although he informed his players about his decision in mid-July, he said he had to wait until Monday to inform MCHS Athletic Director Jeff Simon.

Bradshaw’s last day coaching the players was July 29, when he hosted an open gym session.

“The kids have worked hard all summer and made a lot of progress,” he said. “The team is going to have strong depth and senior leadership inside, so there is a big future for this program. Whoever takes over is going to have kids who can continue building the program and are a motivated group of players.”

Bradshaw had coached at the freshmen and junior varsity levels before taking over for Steve Maneotis last spring as head coach of the Bulldogs.

As head coach, Bradshaw said the burden of winning ended with him.

“My first year as head coach was definitely a learning experience,” he said. “My six years of coaching prior to being a head coach didn’t have as much competition and it wasn’t as challenging. Every decision you make is yours and all the responsibility lies with you.

“The season wasn’t the best, but I had a good group of kids and great group of parents who supported us no matter what.”

While he concedes last season was tough for him and the team, Bradshaw said there were shining moments — an overtime victory over Grand Junction Central High School and a hard fought battle at Steamboat Springs High School.

Against the Sailors, the Bulldogs led by five with one minute left in the fourth quarter.

However, with the game tied, Steamboat’s Charles Wood made a free throw with three seconds left to beat MCHS, 51-50.

“The guys deserved to win,” Bradshaw said of the Steamboat game. “It was an exciting game and our players played hard the entire time.”

Simon said the search for a new head coach would begin immediately.

“We want to make sure the program continues to have stability,” the athletic director said. “We want a great coach, a great person and someone who can act as a role model for the kids and get them on the court, but also motivate them to grow.”

There are no current teaching positions available at MCHS, which Simon said could limit the search, but in the end, the school wants the best candidate.

“There are great coaches outside of the school who can make an impact,” he said. “We want someone who can come in and be a positive community member as well as an outstanding coach.”

Bradshaw said he will probably end up coaching basketball at some level in the near future, but will miss the bonds he made at MCHS.

“It is a tough and very difficult thing to not be able to continue coaching the players,” he said. “You build a relationship with the guys and you want them to succeed. You plant the seeds and you want to see how they grow.

“I love the game and I love coaching.”

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