Remembering the Life of Former Wheelchair Rugby Coach

By Peter Hughes, Disability Resource Center
May 13, 2020
To: UA Faculty and Staff
From: Disability Resource Center Adaptive Athletics
Subject: Remembering the Life of Former Wheelchair Rugby Coach
Date: May 13, 2020

The University of Arizona's Disability Resource Center and Adaptive Athletics mourns the passing of Coach Stephan "Brad" McFadden (11/22/77-5/6/2020). 

Coach McFadden moved to Tucson in 1999 for academic and athletic reasons, eventually receiving his degree from Northern Arizona University. Brad loved sports and was active on both the University of Arizona's wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby teams. He became assistant coach of the rugby team in 2014 and was promoted to head coach in 2016. He led the team to its first national title in 2018 and again in 2019. Coach Brad will be remembered as a great coach, dear friend, great father, loving husband and son.

He is survived by: his wife, Marie; daughters Avril and Alaina; his mother and stepfather, Janet and Jeff Neilson; and a sister, Jennifer.

Those who would like to help support his family can make a donation on GoFundMe.

Resources for the Media