David Bradman lacrosse coach dies Canton 2026

Key Points

• David Bradman, a longtime lacrosse coach in Canton, New York, has died at the age of 78.
• He passed away on Monday, 23 February 2026, with his family by his side, according to a statement from SUNY Canton.
• Bradman was the founder and original head coach of the SUNY Canton women’s lacrosse programme, which launched in 2012.
• As head coach, he compiled a 19‑10 record over his final two seasons, including two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament playoff appearances.
• He later served 11 years as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach, helping the Kangaroos claim four consecutive North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championships and four NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship tournament berths.
• Bradman spent 24 years coaching boys lacrosse and football at Canton Central School, where he amassed 364 wins in boys lacrosse, placing him 20th among New York state coaches at the time of his retirement.
• He was inducted into the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008.
• In addition to coaching, he worked as a physical education teacher and athletic director at Hugh C. Williams High School in Canton.
• University officials have announced that the campus flag will be lowered in his honour and that further details will be released when funeral or memorial arrangements are formalised.
• The college has also directed students and staff needing emotional support to campus and state‑funded counselling services.

Canton (Cardiff Daily) February 25, 2026-Canton, St. Lawrence County – Longtime lacrosse coach David Bradman, architect of the SUNY Canton women’s lacrosse programme and a pillar of the Canton Central School athletics system, has died at the age of 78. According to a statement issued by SUNY Canton, Bradman passed away on Monday, February 23, 2026, with his family by his side. The college said he will be “greatly missed” and announced plans to lower the campus flag in his memory while it coordinates with the family on a formal memorial service.

Who was David Bradman?

David Bradman was for decades one of the most prominent figures in local lacrosse, shaping the sport at both the high‑school and university levels in Canton, New York. As reported by Dave Slotnick of North Country Now, who relayed the college’s formal announcement, Bradman was a longtime coach for the SUNY Canton women’s lacrosse programme and a foundational figure in the town’s athletic culture.

Born and rooted in the North Country region, Bradman’s career spanned education and coaching, with his name repeatedly linked to the growth of lacrosse in a community that has long taken pride in its school sports tradition.

How did he build the SUNY Canton women’s lacrosse programme?

Bradman’s most widely recognised contribution at the collegiate level was launching the SUNY Canton women’s lacrosse programme in 2012, North Country Now reported. College officials described him as the founder of the inaugural women’s lacrosse team, underscoring that the roster began essentially from scratch under his leadership.

In the early years, the team posted a modest seven wins over its first two seasons, reflecting the challenges of building a new programme, North Country Now wrote. However, by his final two seasons as head coach, Bradman’s record improved sharply to 19‑10, including two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament playoff appearances, the college’s athletics site noted.

After stepping down as head coach, Bradman continued with the Kangaroos as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach for 11 seasons, the SUNY Canton athletics staff directory and related news announcement stated. During that span, he helped guide the programme to four consecutive North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championships and four appearances in the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship tournament, a feat highlighted by the college’s official release.

What was his legacy at Canton Central School?

Beyond the campus fields of SUNY Canton, Bradman’s impact ran deeper in the Canton Central School District, where he spent 24 years coaching boys lacrosse and football, North Country Now reported. In that time, he amassed 364 victories in boys lacrosse alone, a tally that placed him 20th among New York state coaches in career boys lacrosse wins at the time of his retirement.

Local media and obituary prose written by North Country Now also noted that Bradman’s coaching style helped establish a culture of discipline and resilience in the Canton Central boys’ programme, creating a pipeline of talent that populated both college squads and regional club teams.

Why was he inducted into the Upstate New York Hall of Fame?

Bradman’s sustained success and influence across high‑school and collegiate levels earned him a place in the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008, as detailed in the SUNY Canton athletics staff profile and related coverage. The Hall of Fame recognition cited his longevity, win‑total, and role in developing women’s lacrosse at SUNY Canton, the college’s athletics site noted.

What other roles did he hold in Canton?

In addition to coaching, Bradman was a physical education teacher at Hugh C. Williams High School in Canton, according to North Country Now and the SUNY Canton communication. He also served as the school’s athletic director, overseeing scheduling, facilities, and the broader athletics programme for Canton Central.

His dual role as teacher and administrator meant he influenced not only game‑day results but also school‑wide physical‑education policy and student‑athlete conduct, colleagues and local reports have indicated.

How did the college and community respond to his death?

SUNY Canton released a formal statement on February  24 , 2026, announcing Bradman’s death and describing him as a “longtime coach” whose contributions helped shape the women’s lacrosse programme from its inception. The college pledged to lower the campus flag in his honour and to share further details about funeral or memorial arrangements once they are finalised.

In addition, the statement reminded students in distress to contact the SUNY Canton Counselling Centre at 315‑386‑7314, while employees were directed to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) office and the New York State Employee Assistance Program hotline at 1‑800‑822‑0244, which offers 24‑hour support, North Country Now reported.

The North Country Now obituary for “David J. Bradman, 78, Canton” added that he passed away at Upstate University Medical Center in Syracuse, where he was surrounded by family, underscoring the tight‑knit nature of his personal and professional circles.​

What does his passing mean for lacrosse in Canton?

Local journalists and programme histories have framed Bradman’s death as marking the end of an era in North Country lacrosse, given his four‑decade footprint across both football and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse. His work at Canton Central helped keep the sport viable in a small‑town environment, while his later role at SUNY Canton extended that legacy into the collegiate ranks.

The college’s emphasis on the four consecutive NAC championships and four NCAA tournament berths underlines how the foundation he laid continues to anchor the women’s lacrosse programme today.