Defensive assistant Todd Bradford leaving KU football

Former KU linebackers coach Todd Bradford, pictured at a practice, in 2016.

Kansas football coach David Beaty has an opening on his staff less than two weeks before the start of spring practices.

After spending two years coaching KU’s linebackers, Todd Bradford is leaving the program.

As first reported by Jayhawk Slant and confirmed by a Kansas official, Bradford has left the team to return to the oil industry.

Earlier in the offseason, Beaty moved Bradford to safeties coach as he reassigned staff responsibilities with the hiring of Bill Miller, KU’s current linebackers coach.

A former assistant coach at Maryland, Southern Miss, Oklahoma State, BYU and Wisconsin, Bradford joined Beaty’s staff before the 2016 season, following a prolonged break from coaching, as he helped care for his ill mother.

During that time Bradford worked in the oil industry, to which he will now return.

The move didn’t catch the KU staff off guard, and the vacancy could be filled by the start of spring practice, on March 31.