Sam Bradley was named Radford’s cross country head coach/ track and field assistant coach in July 2018 and is now entering his fourth year at Radford.
Since the start of 2018 the men's program has seen six top-10 performances and 16 top-10 performances on the women's side.
During the modified 2021 spring season both the men's and women's cross country programs had impressive showings. The women's team placed second overall at the Big South Championships while the men's team placed third. Both team finishes were top placements for the programs in over a decade.
Radford has seen great growth and improvement under Bradley with both the men's and women's programs placing in the top five at the 2019 Big South Championships. The Highlanders also saw their first ever Freshman of the Year in Caitlin Apps as she placed third overall at the Big South Championships and set program records in the 4k, 5k, and 6k races. Bradley's recruiting also brought in another top runner Rachel Millirons who has placed herself in the record book for the 4k, 5k and 6k as well as multiple distance events in track competition. Between 2018 and 2019 the women's program jumped up two spots from sixth to fourth in the Big South.
On the men's side grad transfer Callum Wilson was an immediate contributor to the Highlanders while freshman such as Bus Baker, Zach Worthman, Benji Pinckney, Peyton Hurd and Jacob Hanner all set the stage for many years of success ahead. In one year's time the men's program jumped from sixth to fifth in the conference.
In December 2018 the program was named by the NCAA committee as the USTFCCCA Southeast regional representative.
Originally hailing from London, United Kingdom, Bradley oversees the Highlanders' cross country teams and work with the women's track distance crew.
Prior to coming to the New River Valley, Bradley coached at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., for five seasons. In addition to his coaching duties with the Braves, Bradley assisted with recruiting and the day-to-day operations with the programs.
During his time at The Hilltop, he contributed to the Braves claiming four Missouri Valley Cross Country Championships with the women winning the 2014, 2015 and 2017 titles and the men claiming their first three conference crowns in school history in 2015, 2016 and 2017. He also coached an individual champion on the men's side in 2017 and had three male representatives at the NCAA Cross Country Championships between 2016-2017. Between 2014-18, 24 athletes also qualified for the NCAA West Region Preliminary round Track & Field Championships.
In addition to the quadruple of titles during his stint at Bradley, the Braves won 16 individual MVC championships with three student-athletes advancing to their respective national championships. Bradley coached twins that excelled for him on the course. Together the duo accomplished back-to-back women’s cross country crowns in 2014 and 2015, twice qualified in 10,000m run at the NCAA Women’s Championships and advanced to the NCAA title meet in cross country in 2015.
On the men’s side, Bradley coached the first ever Brave to reach the NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championships, which happened in 2016. Bradley had another runner earn All-America honors in the 1,500m run in 2017 after qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
A 2011 graduate of St Mary's University in Twickenham, London, Bradley earned his bachelor’s degree in sports science and strength and conditioning science. He was co-captain of the cross country/track and field teams and was part of the 2011 squad that claimed the British Universities and College Sport title.
Bradley then competed two years at Lamar University, where he earned a master’s degree in kinesiology in 2013 and was part of a 2011 Southland Conference Men’s Cross Country Championship squad.
