Brad Clifford
All my memories revolve around YC athletics. In 1987, as a walk-on player, I worked my way into the starting lineup and scored 10 points in the final game of my career.
"YC has been my success and goals."
It was never my intention to work at Yavapai College. After playing basketball for one year at YC, I re-injured my back and decided to end my sports career. The coach at the time told me about the open assistant women's basketball coaching position.
It was ideal because I could go to school and coach. My love for coaching and YC grew from there. 32 years later I still bleed green and gold! I've had many opportunities to move on to different schools but YC was my home.
All my memories revolve around YC athletics. In 1987, as a walk-on player, I worked my way into the starting lineup and scored 10 points in the final game of my career. I got chills up and down my spine in 1996 (my first year as the head coach) during the introductions and my name was announced as the head coach of the Roughriders. Special memories for everyone one of my teammates and players that I coached. Forever friends.
"All four of my kids grew up in Walraven Gym on the YC Campus."
My son, Dallas, was in the gym 2 days after he was born. Since my wife worked and I was the assistant coach, not making too much money, I was in charge of watching him. When he was old enough to walk, he would follow me up and down the sidelines and mimic my coaching.
At a game, we had a play that I called "Dallas" (not after him but after the Dallas Mavericks). I yelled out the play and my son came out of the stands and stood behind the bench to ask me what I needed.
My daughter Annie's birth announcement was announced on the front page of the Courier sports page. She was born in the last week of the season and we were trying to clinch a playoff berth which we did. The headline read, "Clifford gets two berths in one day: playoffs and his daughter, Annie"
Ironically, my daughter Annie was the only one that attended and graduated from Yavapai College.
The Stats:
- Years attended? Spring 1986-1989
- Academic programs? General Studies
- Athletic programs you participated in at YC? Basketball (1987-88)
- What are you doing now? Athletic Director at Yavapai College
Career Highlights:
- Assistant Women's/Men's Basketball Coach at Yavapai College (1988-1996)
- Head Women's Basketball Coach (1996-2011)
- Assistant Athletic Director (2011-2012 Athletic Director (2012 to present)
- Areas of Interest: Roughrider Club