Brad Jefferson is the new Track and Field Coach at Bob Jones
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)

MADISON- Brad Jefferson was offering advice to athletes on the shot put and discus throw at a track meet last year. Bob Jones principal Robby Parker took notice that day. This summer, after a disappointing showing last year, Parker was looking for a new track coach.

On August 20, Jefferson, now an assistant football coach and teacher at Bob Jones, was named Head Track and Field Coach.

Jefferson won state championships in the shot put and discus throw at Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Va. He also played football and ultimately signed and played for Alabama A&M where he was a guard for four years.

Jefferson is well positioned to know who the top athletes are at Bob Jones, he just finished a 10 year run as Head Football and Basketball Coach at Discovery Middle School. His football teams won city and county championships last year and defeated Liberty Middle 46-6.

Jefferson said that Parker “wants more kids competing in track, and have them feel more comfortable in track and field. He wants me to reach more kids. We need to have a huge track and field team with everybody doing their events.”

Jefferson knows the kids and how to motivate them.

“I’m looking forward to being able to showcase the talent of the kids and increase the scholarships awarded to track athletes,” Jefferson said.

Last year was a down year for track at Bob Jones. The men’s 4×100 M relay team finished fifth at the 6A Sectional Meet, James Clemens won the marquee event. It was the second straight year the James Clemens team won.

Only 22 athletes from Bob Jones qualified for the State Track and Field Meet compared to 33 at James Clemens. Only one, Milan McGruder, signed a college scholarship.

Jefferson’s charge is to improve on that.

“We’ve got such great kids we can do more than that. There is a lot of scholarship money out there in the field events as well as running track and we can get more of these kids scholarships,” Jefferson said.

One of the top athletes for Bob Jones track this year will be Anna Gierow who won the 100 meter hurdle and 300 meter hurdle races at Sectional.

Bob Jones Athletic Director Luther Tiggs introduced Jefferson at a press conference.

“We’re excited to have Coach Jefferson as part of our family. He’s a great communicator and a great teacher. He will create an environment for our student-athletes that will allow them to be successful,” Tiggs said.