Ireland to lead Bisons varsity team

The Brantford Bisons Varsity football team appears poised to make a run for the playoffs in just their second year of participating in the Ontario Football Conference when the team takes the field this spring.

Bisons Football has announced that one of the most respected coaches in the football community, Kelly Ireland, has been appointed head coach of the Varsity team while former CFL player Jykine Bradley will act as the team’s defensive coordinator. With these two key appointments, the team should have an excellent coaching staff heading into the 2014 season.

Kelly Ireland has found success not only as a player but as a coach as well. After a tremendous playing career at St. John’s College, Ireland headed to Saint Mary’s in Halifax from 1995 to 2000 to play university football. He was a captain of the team during his final two seasons and was named an Atlantic University Sport all-star at offensive guard in 2000. In 1999, Ireland was a member of the Saint Mary’s team that lost 14-10 to Laval in the Vanier Cup final at the Rogers Centre. The next year, he was the most valuable player for the Huskies. Drafted by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, Ireland attended their camp in 1998 before deciding to return to Saint Mary’s to finish his university football. In 2000, his final season, Ireland injured his knee, which ended his playing career.

With his playing days over, Ireland turned to coaching to allow him to keep close to football. He coached for the Hamilton Ironmen of the OVFL and St John’s Green Eagles before heading to the Assumption Lions as head coach where his team won numerous city championships and a trip to the Western Bowl in 2010. Ireland is currently an assistant coach for the St. Mary’s Huskies of the CIS where he coaches the offensive line. He is now returning to Brantford to take over the reins of the Bisons Varsity team

Kelly Ireland will not only be head coach for the Varsity team but his duties will also include working closely with Bisons Football Coach/Player Development Director, Mark Solomon, to fully develop the entire Bisons spring program which includes Bantam, Junior Varsity and Varsity teams.

Jykine Bradley had a very successful career as a professional football player; playing for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League before moving to the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League for six years. Bradley completed his CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos. Bradley is now a resident of Brantford and is the owner of Bradley Sports Performance, a facility dedicated to training young athletes in speed, strength, agility and technique. Over 15 Bisons players are currently being trained at the facility with additional players joining once the off season officially begins with the conclusion of the high school football season.

“Kelly Ireland and Jykine Bradley bring a wealth of football experience to the team and every player and parent I have talked to are very excited that they will be involved with the Brantford Bisons. Their coaching expertise will allow our Varsity players to reach the next level of their football development and be fully prepared for high school senior football, university football or play in the Canadian Junior Football League.” commented Brad Ward, president of Bisons Football.”

“It is a honour to accept the head coaching position with the Brantford Bisons Varsity football team. I am excited to be associated with the rich tradition of this organization. Brantford and surrounding high school football has got a lot of great talent and I will do my best to get all these players out and involved. The support so far  from the local high school coaches  has been great, and  the interest from the local players has been overwhelming. Our objective as a coaching staff will not only be to develop these players but to also put them in the position to compete in every game.” stated head coach Ireland. “I am excited that Jykine Bradley agreed to be part of my staff. His experience and knowledge of the game will definitely be an asset to this organization.” Ireland added.

“I have been involved with football almost all my life. This is an opportunity for me to teach the players things about football that I have learned over the years that should benefit them immensely as they continue with their development. It is my plan to run an aggressive defense which will make it very difficult for opposing teams to compete against. I am really looking forward to the upcoming season.” Jykine Bradley stated.

Bisons Football operates the minor football program in Brantford and the surrounding communities. The program participates in the Ontario Football Conference spring season with three teams in the Bantam, Junior Varsity and Varsity divisions; the Central Ontario Football League fall season with teams from Tyke, Atom, Peewee and Bantam divisions and a spring Timbits program for players age four to seven.