Grace Christian names Rusty Bradley new football coach

Grace Christian Academy named Rusty Bradley as its new football coach Wednesday. Head of School Rob Hammond announced the hire on Twitter.

"I am confident that (Bradley) will exceed my high expectations in furthering a positive, Christ-centered culture in our football program," Hammond said in a release he posted to Twitter. "His desire for excellence and his coaching experience in TSSAA Division II football will be great assets during this transition."

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The Rams will move to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Division II classification starting in the fall.

Bradley comes to Grace Christian after spending a year at the University School of Jackson in which the Bruins went 9-4 and reached the Division II-A semifinals. Before his time at USJ, he spent nine seasons as the head coach at Christian Academy of Knoxville, where he went 88-30 and won two Class 3A state championships in 2011 and 2012.

“I will say this, this move isn’t about USJ or the kids or anything like that,” Bradley told the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee. “This position was open, and I felt God calling me to Grace Christian and the opportunity there.”

Bradley replaces Randy McKamey, who left in December to fill the head coaching vacancy at Clinton. McKamey went 89-32 in his 10 seasons at Grace Christian.