Brian Bratton, one of the greatest receivers and return specialists in Furman history who enjoyed several highly successful seasons in professional football, was named wide receivers coach at his alma mater in 2015, and in the spring of 2017 added special teams coordinator duties under then-first year head coach Clay Hendrix.
In 2017 he worked with a pair of standout wide receivers in Thomas Gordon (39 rec., 717 yds. TD) and Logan McCarter (31 rec., 555 yds., 5 TDs), who played a pivotal role in Furman’s SoCon passing efficiency leading offense that helped power Furman to an 8-5 season and FCS playoff appearance. In addition he oversaw Paladin special teams that ranked among league leaders in a number of categories.
In 2018 Bratton’s receiving corp and special teams played a pivotal role in Furman winning six of its final seven games to claim a share of the program’s 14th SoCon championship. In addition to leading the league in passing efficiency, the Paladins also produced the SoCon’s best multi-purpose specialist in All-American kicker Grayson Atkins and league’s top kick return specialist, Dejuan Bell.
The solid work continued in 2019 as Gordon completed his career as Furman’s all-time receiving yards leader (2,552 yds.), helping the Paladins garner an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs and AFCA No. 19 final national ranking.
Bratton joined the Paladin coaching staff following two seasons as an assistant coach at nearby North Greenville (S.C.) University.
Prior to beginning his coaching career he spent six seasons (2007-12) in the Canadian Football League (CFL), seeing action as a wide receiver and return specialist and helping the Montreal Alouettes capture a pair of Grey Cup championships. He capped his CFL career by receiving the league’s 2012 Tom Pate Award, which is similar to the NFL’s Walter Payton “Man of The Year” Award that honors a player who displays outstanding sportsmanship and has made a significant contribution to his team, community, and association.
Bratton, a 2011 Furman Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, earned SoCon Freshman of the Year and All-America accolades in 2001 after averaging a nation best 37.2 yards on kickoff returns, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He caught 131 passes for 1,826 yards, and 18 touchdowns in his career, helping lead Furman to a pair of SoCon championships (2001 & ‘04) and three playoff appearances, including an FCS national runner-up finish.
Following graduation in 2005 with a degree in communications, the Martinez, Ga., native signed free agent contracts with the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens. After starring with the Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe) in 2006, he joined the Alouettes, where over his six-year career he caught 263 passes for 3,127 yards, and 23 touchdowns while helping Montreal to Grey Cup championships in both 2009 & ‘10.
Bratton and his wife Ashley have three children:, Blaze, Brynlee, and Breeze.
