Kellen Bradley has been eager for his opportunity. He waits no more.
Regarded as one of the top young assistants in the area, Bradley officially was named the new head wrestling coach at North Warren during Monday night's Board of Education meeting.
"I'm excited to take over at North Warren," said Bradley, a mathematics teacher at the Blairstown-based school. "When I took the assistant job, I viewed this as a diamond in the rough -- with great potential."
Bradley, a former Kittatinny standout, joined North Warren's staff this past season as the heir apparent to Scott Stoll, a former wrestler and graduate of Vernon Township High School. North Warren went 34-44 overall, including a 13-6 campaign this past season under Stoll, a former assistant coach who took over the program when Matt Parzero stepped down following the 2013-14 season.
"It felt good [going 13-6], it was a good season," Bradley said. "But I looked at it like we had one guy [senior heavyweight Joey Sprague] qualify for the Region 1 Tournament. That's not where I want us to be."
Bradley has wrestled for and coached with some of the top coaches in New Jersey. He previously served on John Gardner's staff at High Point -- on and off since the 2010-11 season. While wrestling for John Gill at Kittatinny, Bradley won district titles in 2003 and '04, and a Region 1 title at 103 pounds as a sophomore in '03. He was a region runner-up and a seventh-place finisher in the state tournament at 130 pounds as a senior in '05, finishing with a career mark of 93-18 despite seeing no varsity action as a freshman.
During Bradley's four seasons, the Cougars won four North 1, Group 2 sectional and Group 2 state championships, as well as four District 3 and Sussex County Interscholastic League titles. Those teams also were ranked No. 2 in the final New Jersey Coaches Association Polls in 2003 and '04, and third in '05. Bradley went on to wrestle for Scott Goodale and graduate from Rutgers University.
"Between the three of those guys [Gill, Gardner and Goodale], I will take pieces and things from each," said Bradley, who includes former SIR wrestling club owner Shawn Hall among his biggest influences. "Gill's teams are always competitive top to bottom, and he can turn guys into competitive wrestlers at the varsity level. Gardner taught me to be more relaxed than maybe I am some times, and if you hold high expectations, the kids will live up to them. They expect to win at High Point.
"Goodale is a good motivator and a great practice room guy. Shawn gave me my start. He taught me a lot."
Bradley is among several wrestlers under Gill to join the high school coaching ranks. Eric Bollette (Newton), Brian Bollette (Morris Hills), Tyler Branham (Hanover Park) and Dave Hughen (Boonton) are also head coaches, while Will Livingston (Pope John), Bryant Wanamaker and Dave Sylvester (Morris Hills) and Jerry McMickle (Parsippany) are assistants. In addition, Jared Roe, Mike Gummerson and Sean Lombardi all currently serve on Gill's staff.
Bradley has yet to put together his staff, but Eugene Fluri is expected to return in some capacity. Fluri has been a longtime assistant and also serves as North Warren's head football coach. Former wrestling coach and High Point great Chris Jones also is in the building. Jones, who guided the Patriots to their only sectional championships in 2006 and '07 (North 1, Group 1), is a special services teacher.
As for the schedule, Bradley said it's nearly complete. North Warren will open the season against Warren Hills on Friday, Dec. 14, while the Patriots will see Newton, North Hunterdon, Sparta and Voorhees along the way in dual meets. The tournament schedule includes annual dates in the Linn Crawn Memorial Classic at Kittatinny on Thursday, Dec. 27 and Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex on Saturday, Jan. 12.
"We've ramped it up. My philosophy is to not shy away from tough competition," he said.
With 11 starters returning next season, Bradley feels the program is in good shape moving forward.
"We had a young team [in 2017-18] with a lot of potential," he said. "They are starting to buy in and realize they need to put in a lot more time during the offseason. With the right mentality, I think they can get it done."
