Bradford Bulls coach Jonathan Schofield gets key academy job

Schofield, who arrived at the club as pathways assistant coach in 2024, takes over from Glenn Morrison, who steps aside due to work commitments away from rugby. 

Schofield, the son of Garry Schofield OBE, represented York City Knights, Hunslet Hawks and Dewsbury Rams as a player before taking on a coaching role at the latter. 

Discussing his new Bulls role, he said: “I am delighted.

“I would like to thank (head of youth) Ryan Hunkin and (first team head coach) Eamon O’Carroll for this great opportunity to be involved in a club that’s definitely on the up, with some great talent coming through the pathways. 

“I am really looking forward to the challenge, being in the environment full-time and putting a lot of time into the players’ development.

“There have been some great players come through in the past and hopefully we can produce some more. 

“Glenn has played a huge part in my development in coaching but stepping up from assistant comes with more responsibility.

Glenn Morrison worked closely with Eamon O'Carroll, and Jonathan Schofield will be doing the same. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

“It is all about preparation and man management though, and the plan is to get players ready for the first team.

“If Eamon feels they are ready to make that jump, then it’s my job to prepare them.

“We’re developing the lads to make sure they are ready to play but also developing them as people too.

“We have some great lads coming through and the year they have had this year will stand them in good stead.”

Delving into specifics, Schofield said: “We’re pushing six players to join the first team in pre-season.

“Jacob Bateman and Jamie Gill got League 1 experience this year, while Sam Ackroyd got to play in the Championship with Whitehaven.

“Jacob also made his first team debut for Bulls and I always use the word development because that’s the arena we are in.

“Having spent time looking at what Eamon does and what his philosophies are, that is filtering all the way down to scholarship level and it’s excellent that everything will be aligned. 

“Ryan has done a great job in his role as head of youth and the club has made some great strides forward.

“We just need to keep working hard as a group on and off the field, putting the right things in place and getting people excited to play for the Bradford Bulls.”