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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Bradley part of Parkland coaching staff

Since his youth, Zack Bradley always has been infatuated with coaching.

It stemmed from his father Steve’s long career as well as former Liberty head football coach and longtime family friend Tim Moncman.

“Since I was little, I used to watch the Liberty team practice and their games,” said Bradley, the former Roughies quarterback who is the school’s all-time passing yards and touchdown leader. “I always wanted to coach and looked up to a coach Moncman.

“He and my father always have had a big influence over me.”

Now that connection is much closer.

Since May, Bradley has been a member of Moncman’s staff at Parkland, where he is the receivers coach and assists with the quarterbacks.

“I really wanted to try and do this and I spoke with coach Moncman in the spring,” said Bradley. “He offered me the job and it has been a lot of fun. It’s really different to be on the other side.

“I have a great group of kids and it has been awesome. Parkland is one of the better programs around. I am coaching against people I know and played against.”

At Catty, Bradley led the Roughies to a momentous two-year run in which they posted a 25-3 record and captured a District 11 championship in the process.

He went on to play in 29 games at Franklin and Marshall, throwing for 2,056 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Diplomats.

Bradley also interned at Coordinated Health in the Lehigh Valley for two years and a Philadelphia-based law firm for a year.

After he graduated in May, he received a full scholarship to Drexel’s law school.

Bradley is juggling his schedule and tries to attend as many practices as possible while commuting to Philadelphia.

He appreciates his time with the Trojans.

“It’s a great escape,” said Bradley. “For one or two hours, I’m not thinking about it. I’m just trying to do the best I can.”

Bradley hasn’t lost his hometown connections. He speaks to former head coach Tom Falzone on a weekly basis and has been in regular contact with former teammates Ra’Von Burton, Jacob Stopay, and Jared Nosal. In fact, Bradley has been a sitter for Nosal’s dog.

Burton is a coach on the current Catty staff, and Stopay has reunited on the sidelines with Falzone at Nazareth.

Bradley also believes the current Roughies’ regime can reach the heyday of his stay.

“They have good talent at the youth level” said Bradley about the program. “The Middle school team did well and they have a lot of talent.

“Coach McClarin has brought a lot of confidence, and I don’t see why they couldn’t get to that level.”

Bradley does plan to attend the annual Thanksgiving Day game, and he is glad it is home.

“I like it when it is at Catty,” he said. “It is more of a homey feeling. I hope they can pull it out.”

However, there is a good chance Bradley still will be on the sidelines with the Trojans after Thanksgiving.

“It’s is certainly going to be interesting,” he said. “It has been exciting the past couple of weeks with all of the parity.

“Whatever happens, I am having fun with this.”