Former Newberry Indians Football Assistant Ken Bradley knows a thing or two about football.
Bradley, a Rudyard graduate who taught at Newberry High School before eventually coaching college football at Olivet, has developed and coached nationally rated recruits, paced the sidelines under the Friday night lights of high school football, and even molded future of the sport with various youth programs.
But it was the things he wasn’t seeing that pushed him to focused on the future of the sport that loves deeply.
“There were no real camps or even anybody offering training sessions that focused on defense,” Bradley said. “Colleges and trainers were always focused on skill guys and the offensive side of the ball. You see a ton of quarterback camps, skill position things, etc. Special Teams stuff is just now starting to grow. But for the defensive standout, for that kid who’s being looked at on that side of the ball or trying to grow his game, there really wasn’t anything out there.”
That’s why Bradley, a former defensive coordinator and lead assistant for the Indians under Fred Bryant, decided to give back to the game.
“I really wanted to start focusing more on the player. The individual kid. That’s ultimately where we focus our energy. We coach the kid, not just teach a drill and say ‘Go do it’,” says Bradley.
And with many camps being used more as a recruiting tool to draw the elite recruits to campus and overlook everyone else, Bradley said he wants everyone involved. “At the end of the day the best part is watching the kids’ improvement,” he said. “That’s the validating part.”
A former college player himself, Bradley envisions a well-rounded system that focuses on who wants it most.
“I found myself out of football,” he said. “I could’ve chased another job or moved on, but I sat back and thought about how I could use my coaching experience and time teaching to give back and really make an impact.”
In the spring of 2026, Bradley launched To the 9’s Sports Performance, a sports training company. Bradley kept things small, allowing him and his team, which includes former Rudyard grad Nick Postma who won championships on the staff at Division 2 powerhouse Grand Valley State, to focus more on each individual athlete. Some come for camps, while many make it a regular occurrence,
including for All UP Dream Team selection Cam Petersen, who went from tearing up the EUP in high school for the Rudyard Bulldogs to the collegiate level at downstate Hope College.
To the 9’s welcomes all kids in all age groups and is not your traditional summer sports camp. Bradley maximizes the experience with an individual and player specific focus.
“We evaluate on the fly and adjust when we need to based on the need and what’s comfortable for the athlete,” he said. “It’s not just about skill development and getting faster, stronger, or more athletic. It’s more than kids just running through drills and getting a time to send off to some school. We really try to provide a full set of tools each kid can use. To the 9’s combines focus, discipline, desire, with that skill development.”
To the 9’s will make its way to Newberry as part of its mission to grow the game and give back. For Bradley, the summer will be a homecoming of sorts. He will also host a camp at his alma mater in Rudyard as well.
Bringing To the 9’s above the Mackinac Bridge is even more personal, and he’s excited to do it in a place he feels might benefit the most.
“Opportunities in the Eastern Upper Peninsula are lacking. Not just in football, but for kids in general,” he said. “We want young kids to get involved and hopefully fall in love with football.
But it’s also not sport or position specific. The skills we can teach can be a benefit in any sport or at any age. We really stress the fundamentals. We also like to have fun and get kids out in the summer. This is an exciting way to do it this summer.”
Newberry’s To the 9’s summer camp will be held at the football field on July 20 and 21. Age groups will be broken up starting with K-2nd from 9-10 a.m., 3rd-5th grades 10:15-11:45 a.m., 6th-8th 12:30-2:30 p.m., and wrap up with high school players in grades 9-12 going from 2:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Early registration runs thru July 11, and costs just $60 per athlete. Families can sign up additional children for the sibling rate of $45 per player.
Between his camps in Newberry and Rudyard, which each already have over 20 early enrollees, 13 different EUP communities and schools will be represented, with more joining each day. For more information and how to register, visit the To the 9’s Facebook page or contact Coach Ken Bradley at 517-550-0770.
