High school boys basketball: Ex-Prairie Ridge assistant Bryan Bradshaw named Harvest Christian head coach

Bryan Bradshaw grew up the son of a pastor and the grandson of a legendary coach, so it made perfect sense for him to take over the boys basketball program at Harvest Christian Academy in Elgin.

Bradshaw, a 2009 Prairie Ridge graduate, recently was hired when former coach Andre White Sr. was let go after one season. The Lions were 25-5 last season and won the Northeastern Athletic Conference championship and a Class 1A regional title.

Bradshaw was hired this spring as adult ministry pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel’s Elgin campus. Harvest Christian school is a part of that campus. His father, Greg, is the pastor at Harvest’s Crystal Lake campus and his grandfather Bob is an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach after a highly successful career at Woodstock and Johnsburg.

Bryan Bradshaw, 26, played football and basketball at Prairie Ridge, then played football at NCAA Division II Winona State. He coached on Prairie Ridge’s basketball staff for three seasons before taking last year to pursue his master’s degree at Liberty University in Virginia.

“My family’s been a part of Harvest Bible Chapel for 17 years, so growing up in the culture and environment of Harvest, the school has the same mission, to make disciples,” Bradshaw said. “To be able to be a part of that, not just for church, but from an athletic standpoint as well, I couldn’t think of a better fit.”

With White as coach, the Lions came under criticism from some after they brought in several players who transferred from other schools and often won games by huge margins.

“We weren’t seeing eye to eye, and my expectations weren’t being met as far as the vision I have for the athletic program here and the standards,” Harvest Christian athletic dirctor David Lockwood told the Daily Herald. “It’s more than basketball here. Therefore, I need to always make sure that we are holding to that standard and that vision.”

Bradshaw hopes to build on the good points of the program and the school.

“I want to continue to build on the success the school has had in the past,” Bradshaw said. “But also instilling on my players integrity and character that reflect the life of Jesus, and have that to be reflected not only in their lives but when they play basketball, too. I’m super-excited about being able to pour in spiritually, but also athletically, to these kids.”