If a local college basketball fan was asked to name some famous coaches of the early 21st century, you’d probably hear last names such as Krzyzewski from Duke, Boeheim from Syracuse or Knight from Texas Tech. They’re all big winners in their careers.

Speaking of Duke, two Oneonta men were major contributors to the success in turning around a floundering Duke Blue Devils team of the 1950s. Former Duke head coach Harold "Hal" Bradley got his coaching career started in our region. Later, Tony Drago joined Bradley as an assistant coach. Drago also had local origins and came back to his hometown to make a big impression on Oneonta High basketball teams.

Bradley graduated from Hartwick College in 1934 and got his first job as a basketball coach at Georgetown High School in southern Madison County, which today is the Otselic Valley school district. Bradley posted an impressive record of 46-18 with the boys’ and 32-11 with the girls’ teams between 1935-39.

As a Hartwick grad, Bradley intended to become a physician. However, the lure of coaching was too strong, and it never left him. By the 1939-40 season, Bradley moved on to the larger Norwich school district. For eight seasons, he coached winning teams, with a few championships of the leagues that existed in that era.

Bradley’s alma mater then called, and he coached the Hartwick College basketball team beginning in 1947-48.

Another longtime Oneontan, Tom Greene, happened to be in the right place at the right time one day. Greene was helping Oneonta High coach Edwin "Shorty" Long with the junior varsity team when Bradley visited the high school. Bradley was looking for an assistant coach at Hartwick. "He talked me into it," Greene said.

In three seasons, Bradley had amassed a winning record of 47-18 and was looking for new options at larger universities. Greene remembered how Bradley got a call from Durham, N.C., during a Thanksgiving break. A struggling Duke University team was in search of a coach, as the current coach had become terminally ill. Bradley was hired on the spot, Greene said. Greene then went on to become Hartwick’s varsity basketball coach.

Bradley proceeded to turn the Duke program around in 1950-51, with a 20-13 record. Tony Drago came into the picture around this time. Bradley and Drago knew each other from growing up and beyond. Drago played for Bradley at Hartwick and later became director of physical education and the freshman basketball coach.

Drago recalled the day in August 1952 when Bradley came to his family’s store near the corner of Main and River streets to convince him to come to Duke. Drago was on his way to Durham the next day for an interview and became Bradley’s assistant coach.

Drago was there for a few seasons. "Shorty" Long convinced Drago to come back to Oneonta High. It was around this time that Drago coached some outstanding basketball teams, including an undefeated team in 1959-60. Drago said that the college experience helped in his coaching successes at OHS.[an error occurred while processing this directive]