In May 1988, at the age of 67, Bradley got the athlete coaching bug back and commenced coaching his own squad on the Victorian Athletic League circuit.
On New Year's Day 1990, Jim Bradley scored the unprecedented feat of having first and second in the feature Gifts at two of Australia's most prestigious 120-metre Gifts when Dave Clarke beat Paul Dinan at Maryborough (Victoria) and Sam Kirsopp beat Simon Smith at Burnie (Tasmania).