2024 Interview with one of Ohio's best Head Coach Brad Burchfield from Bishop Hartley High School

 

Brad Burchfield 

Bishop Hartley High School

Head Football Coach 

College
Marietta College 

Would you share with everyone your coaching career, from your first job up to your current position?

I attended Reynoldsburg High School ('93).
I then attended Marietta College ('97).

I taught and coached at Marietta High School (1997–98). I was an assistant for Tim Hale. A great coach 

I taught and coached at Canal Winchester High School (1998–2003). I was an assistant for Gary Metzger.

Head Football Coach, Centerburg High School (2003-07)

Head Football Coach, Bishop Hartley High School (2008-Present) 

I never try to kiss butt; I never do that. Now, I tell people all the time that you are one of the best coaches in the state. Can you share how you seem to win everywhere you go?

That’s very kind of you to say. We love football and everything about it: the challenges of the game, the lessons it teaches, the strategy, the community experience—everything about it is awesome, and we’ve been surrounded by people that feel the same. 

We’ve been incredibly blessed to be surrounded by incredible people (coaches, players, families, and the school community) who are aligned as to what football means to a school and what role it should play in school culture. 

I’ve had incredible coaches. Chris Sawyer is a better coach than I have ever seen. And we’ve been together every step of the way. I’ve not had much staff turnover for many years, and now I have several former players on staff, and that allows things to be aligned. 

I guess a short answer would be: We love the kids. We love football. We work very hard. That all sounds simple. 

As a coach, how hard is it to change jobs?

It's been many years since I changed schools, so I don’t know if I have a really clear perspective. I’ve never seen the position of head football coach as a job but rather a responsibility to the overall school community. At both schools where I’ve been the HFC, I’ve done my best to ingrain myself and my family into the school. 

What is the best part of being a high school football head coach?

It’s a ton of fun. The challenges, the learning, and the relationships—it’s just a lot of fun, and there is nothing like high school football. 

What are your thoughts about students playing multiple sports?

Kids should play whatever their interests are. We work hard to create schedules and opportunities that allow the kids to participate in everything they can. The more experiences they have, the more memories they create. 

How important is it to you that all of the lower levels throughout the program play a full schedule?

You have to give your freshmen and sophomores opportunities to build as a team so that they have some preparation and chemistry when their time comes under the Friday Night Lights! 

What are your biggest concerns heading into the 2024 season?

The same concerns exist every season: how will our group respond when adversity strikes? We work on this and talk about it, but you don’t know for sure until we are confronted with it. 

What mark do you believe the 2024 class has left on the football program?

We had a rough season in 2022. We lost some tight games, and I could feel some confidence waning. In 2023, those guys brought us back. We won the close games, and they re-established the confidence that is critical in competition. 

When you are in a blowout-type game, when do you pull the starters?

Typicality: We pull starters at the running clock.

As the head coach, what do you do to help your players get recruited?

Provide them as many opportunities as possible. The advent of combine days and preparation for that on our own campuses in April have proven critical for the kids. 

How hard is it to fill the schedule at Hartley?

It has been an incredibly difficult task. We have traditionally played one of the toughest schedules in Ohio, and I know it has made us better. But it’s a task from year to year. In 2022, we played 8 games on the road. Not having year-to-year rivals (outside of Desales and Watterson) and consistency isn’t great. We’ve had the opportunity to play the very best all over Ohio, but we’ve desired consistency in rivalry and scheduling. 

The big games and the rivalries create an exciting experience within the entire school. It’s awesome. Having a schedule full of those would be best for everyone, and that is what high school sports should be all about. 

That looks to all be changing very soon.�

Where should the state finals be held?

We’ve played in the final games in both stark county and Ohio Stadium, and I can say this: no one who has ever had the incredible opportunity to play in the ultimate game has complained about the venue! My opinion is that it should be about the kids and the teams! 

What was the last book that you read, along with the author?

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie 

When you have free time, what are you doing for fun?

I like to follow the NFL and NHL.

What is your go-to snack?
I have a sweet tooth; peanut butter M&M'S