Local high school football coaches on this season’s expectations and strengths

As high school football teams across the region gear up for the 2025 season, coaches from several local public school programs spoke candidly about their expectations, team strengths, and goals—both on and off the field. From Albemarle and Western Albemarle to Monticello and Charlottesville high schools, these leaders are focused not just on wins but on building character, community, and consistent effort.

Albemarle High School
Head Coach Brandon Isaiah

Isaiah enters year nine as head coach, with eyes on consistency, player development, and a deep senior class.

C-VILLE: How are you feeling about the upcoming season? What are your expectations for this year’s team?

Brandon Isaiah: We have some tough games ahead, but we’re preparing week by week. Our goal is to improve every day and compete hard. Last year we weren’t able to have the season we were kind of set up for. We didn’t really meet our expectations—program, coaching staff and as a team. So any time you get a chance to run it back—and get to start fresh—all of those elements for me make it exciting just to get started with the new season.

What are your team’s biggest strengths heading into the season? Are there any challenges or questions you’re hoping to answer early on? 

I think the strength is that, you know, we had a tough year, but I think there were a lot of lessons learned in that. Just getting off to a good start has always been a challenge for us, especially the last several years, playing really good teams early, just not being experienced, not being able to put it together.

Any returning players or newcomers you expect to make an impact?

There’s a few guys that have stepped into leadership roles already. It’s early, but we’ll find out who’s really ready once we get into full pads. Jasaun Massie and Yuri Radcliffe are two—very young players asked to play a lot on varsity, which … presented challenges for them. Hoping to see that light bulb is going to click for them.

Josh Lykin—I think he’s going to be really important to our team. He was an all-district player.  Then you have other skilled players like Xzaivon Carter, a really good athlete for us who is going to be asked to do a lot more.

What does success look like this season—on and off the field?

The biggest thing is … we’re just excited to get back to work. You know, seasons come and go and so we’re just excited to work with these kids and watch them grow. It’s all about taking accountability and responsibility. This is your time, your moment. You’ve got to step into it and I think they’ve done a good job of responding to that.

Western Albemarle High School
Head Coach Michael Redmond

After being named head coach last spring, Redmond preaches toughness, grit, and a renewed sense of community.

How are you feeling about the upcoming season?

Michael Redmond: We’ve really been focusing on three things. It’s being present physically, mentally, and emotionally. Asking the guys to show up, be present mentally, listening, and then lastly emotionally caring … investing in what we’re doing.

What are the team’s strengths or challenges going into the season?

We have a really strong senior class. I think we have 24 to 25 seniors on the list right now. We really pride ourselves on hard work and not quitting. 

We do a lot of up-downs and the old-school stuff. I’ve been around football a long time—even though I’m not even 40, I’ve probably been on the sideline over 30 years of my life. My father was a longtime football coach.

Who are some returning players or impact players to watch?

We have a quarterback that’s returning—Gray Heilman. I coached Gray for two years when he was in eighth grade and a freshman. RJ Corbey—he’s another big, big name. Andrew Azzato … I could go down the list. We have a lot of good kids that are working really hard. The skill players are outstanding, the big guys are outstanding. Quite frankly, there’s probably not enough footballs on the field for all these guys.

Are there any key games this season or changes in strategy?

One thing I’m really excited about is—I think for the first time ever in Western Albemarle history—we’re playing Madison County. Coach Helmick does a great job up there. Him and I go back pretty far … He actually beat me out for that job, so I got a little something for him.

What does success look like for your team this season?

We can’t measure our success on wins and losses. I think it’s the daily grind; we do a great job in the community and Crozet. Our kids get out and they open doors at the elementary schools before school for the car line drop-off. That’s even before our school day starts.

Community is at the top of my list. I really want to invigorate the community in Crozet through football—using that to uplift our athletic program.

A lot of the kids that are playing for us this year came to practice when they were 5, 6, 7 years old—now they’re Friday night guys. … That community spirit is important to me. My children go to school in the elementary feeder pattern. They’re going to be athletes at Western one day.

Iron sharpens iron. We try to work hard and challenge each other every day to do the best we can—whether it’s brushing your teeth or doing a drill at football practice. Just be the best. Those who stay will be champions, and we’re going to put out positive role models in our society.

Monticello High School 
Head Coach Jon Berlin

New head coach Berlin looks to build a physical identity with a young, hungry group.

How are you feeling about this upcoming season?

Jon Berlin: We’re very excited. We’ve got a good young group, got a nice little core of seniors, but it’s not a big group. Monticello graduated a big class last year.

What are your team’s strengths and challenges entering the season?

We’ve got a good handful of offensive and defensive linemen back. Our skill guys are young, but a lot of them were blessed enough to play at various times last year due to injuries. That being said, not a ton of starting experience coming back, but we’re excited.

Who are some players to watch this season?

Cyrus Smith was a defensive lineman last year. Vaughn Conlon was an offensive lineman. Blake Barnes played outside linebacker last year—like a strong safety, outside linebacker hybrid, and Jayden Walker was a running back. I believe he was honorable mention all district.

Any key matchups or changes to the program?

Everybody’s a rival—because the district’s been together so long. So, we’re looking forward to each one.

I’m the new head coach. I’m coming from the college ranks—Davidson College and Washington and Lee. We’ve got a new offensive system. Our defensive system is very similar with a few wrinkles.

What does success look like for Monticello this year?

We’ve had great weight room numbers. Our kids have really bought into that piece of it. We want to play a physical brand of football.

Get better every week. That’s the bottom line. We want to get better every day, every play. And if we do that, I look forward to us being competitive.

Charlottesville High School
Head Coach Terrell Mulford

Mulford emphasizes execution, academics, and consistency as the Black Knights look to take a step forward.

How are you feeling about the upcoming season? Any expectations for your team?

Terrell Mulford: I’m feeling optimistic about this upcoming season. We have key players returning and are adding some players to the team. The expectations for this season are improving every day and every game.

What do you see as your team’s strengths and early challenges?

The strength of our team will be our returning players. Some questions we will answer during camp are: Who are our playmakers?

Who are some returning players to watch?

August Bryan, Vittorio Pallini, Maurionte Jackson, and Nasir Anderson are returning players that will make plays and lead
the team.

Are there any changes to your schedule or approach this season?

We have a first-week bye this season, so we play 10 games after the bye week. This will be a grind for the team and coaches. We will focus each week on our opponent and play hard each game!

What does success look like for your program in 2025?

Success on the field this season will be playing hard and executing the plays. Success off the field will be students having a strong academic year and being leaders in the school community.

Any final thoughts for the fans or community?

“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently.”—Nick Saban, former University of Alabama football coach