Bellevue finished 5–6 last season with several close, tough losses to Pendleton County, Nicholas County, and Newport. Defensively, they were solid all year and created a lot of turnovers, with the defensive line being the clear strength of the team. That unit consistently kept them in games.

Offensively, Bellevue made the switch to the Wing-T. While there were flashes of promise, the offense struggled to move the ball consistently, which often put the defense in difficult situations. Special teams, however, showed noticeable improvement compared to previous seasons.

Looking ahead to 2026, Bellevue is graduating a large senior class—around nine seniors total—including the majority of both the offensive and defensive lines. Replacing that experience will be a major challenge.

Another big question mark is the coaching staff. Dustin Trimnell is heavily rumored (and close to confirmed) as the next head coach at Scott High School. If that happens, it raises the question of who leaves with him. There is speculation that much of the defensive staff could follow, but that remains to be seen.

From what I’ve heard, offensive coordinator Rob Keifer is expected to stay, and Bellevue plans to continue running the Wing-T. They are also expected to bring in Jennings from Dixie Heights to replace Trimnell, which will be a tough transition given the shoes he’ll be filling.

There are also rumors that last year’s starting quarterback has transferred to Dayton. While he was steady, there were several games where backup Evans Brooks stepped in and performed well, so the QB loss may not be as significant as it appears on paper.

One “what if” from last season: if Bellevue had Jordan Pendleton and he hadn’t transferred to Simon Kenton, there’s a strong argument they win seven games and possibly a playoff game. But if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, it’d be Christmas every day.

Overall, Chad Montgomery deserves a lot of credit for keeping the program moving forward. Between graduating players, potential staff turnover, and limited administrative support, he’s had plenty of reasons to walk away—but he hasn’t. Bellevue has a lot working against them in 2026, but they’ve shown resilience before, and it’ll be interesting to see how they respond.

Welcome to BGP @IfsAndButsKY!

1 hour ago, IfsAndButsKY said:

Bellevue finished 5–6 last season with several close, tough losses to Pendleton County, Nicholas County, and Newport. Defensively, they were solid all year and created a lot of turnovers, with the defensive line being the clear strength of the team. That unit consistently kept them in games.

Offensively, Bellevue made the switch to the Wing-T. While there were flashes of promise, the offense struggled to move the ball consistently, which often put the defense in difficult situations. Special teams, however, showed noticeable improvement compared to previous seasons.

Looking ahead to 2026, Bellevue is graduating a large senior class—around nine seniors total—including the majority of both the offensive and defensive lines. Replacing that experience will be a major challenge.

Another big question mark is the coaching staff. Dustin Trimnell is heavily rumored (and close to confirmed) as the next head coach at Scott High School. If that happens, it raises the question of who leaves with him. There is speculation that much of the defensive staff could follow, but that remains to be seen.

From what I’ve heard, offensive coordinator Rob Keifer is expected to stay, and Bellevue plans to continue running the Wing-T. They are also expected to bring in Jennings from Dixie Heights to replace Trimnell, which will be a tough transition given the shoes he’ll be filling.

There are also rumors that last year’s starting quarterback has transferred to Dayton. While he was steady, there were several games where backup Evans Brooks stepped in and performed well, so the QB loss may not be as significant as it appears on paper.

One “what if” from last season: if Bellevue had Jordan Pendleton and he hadn’t transferred to Simon Kenton, there’s a strong argument they win seven games and possibly a playoff game. But if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, it’d be Christmas every day.

Overall, Chad Montgomery deserves a lot of credit for keeping the program moving forward. Between graduating players, potential staff turnover, and limited administrative support, he’s had plenty of reasons to walk away—but he hasn’t. Bellevue has a lot working against them in 2026, but they’ve shown resilience before, and it’ll be interesting to see how they respond.

Did some further digging and these stats highlight just how significant a loss Trimnell and his defensive staff will be for Bellevue:

Team Defensive Stats:

1st in Class A in total sacks

3rd in Class A in rushing defense

5th overall in total defense in Class A

14th overall in team sacks in the state

7th overall in team interceptions

36th overall in team defense in the state

The defensive line has clearly been the team’s biggest strength, and with most of that staff likely leaving, replacing that production will be a major challenge next season. If Chad Montgomery can retain the rest of his defensive staff, there may be some continuity, but unfortunately, in the coaching world, assistants typically follow the head coach or coordinator who brought them in. While the strength of schedule isn’t elite, Bellevue showed steady growth each year, which I’m sure Scott noticed and factored into their decision to pursue Trimnell.

Offensive production returning is just over 700 yards of total offense. This is counting the returning quarterback( if he is still with the team). Defense looks to return 3-4 staters and a secondary with 5 INTs returning for 2026.

25 minutes ago, Bac2369 said:

Offensive production returning is just over 700 yards of total offense. This is counting the returning quarterback( if he is still with the team). Defense looks to return 3-4 staters and a secondary with 5 INTs returning for 2026.

The offensive production returning is definitely limited, but that also creates a real opportunity for growth. Chad and his staff have shown they can maximize what they have, and if they’re able to get the offense moving even modestly, it changes the outlook quickly. The offense struggled last year even with a senior-led offensive line, so improvement will have to come through player development, scheme refinement, and reps—not just experience.

Long term, the key to rebuilding Bellevue has to be development, especially starting at the middle school level. Until that pipeline is stabilized, the program risks staying stuck in a cycle of mediocrity. Enrollment numbers make that challenge even tougher. From what I’ve heard, the middle school program isn’t short on interest, but simply lacks bodies coming up.

The River City Ducks feeder program is part of that issue as well. Most of those players end up at NewCath, which doesn’t benefit Dayton, Newport, or Bellevue. At some point, it may make more sense for those schools to break away and create their own feeder systems, either independently or through a shared effort with Dayton, to better support long-term development.

That said, given the circumstances, last year’s staff did an excellent job with what they had. The limited buy-in from administration and the community hasn’t helped, and that’s evident in things like the long delay in building a stadium and having to practice at Newport during the summer. It’s a tough situation all around, but hopefully the program can stay afloat and continue building toward something sustainable.

5 hours ago, IfsAndButsKY said:

Did some further digging and these stats highlight just how significant a loss Trimnell and his defensive staff will be for Bellevue:

Team Defensive Stats:

1st in Class A in total sacks

3rd in Class A in rushing defense

5th overall in total defense in Class A

14th overall in team sacks in the state

7th overall in team interceptions

36th overall in team defense in the state

The defensive line has clearly been the team’s biggest strength, and with most of that staff likely leaving, replacing that production will be a major challenge next season. If Chad Montgomery can retain the rest of his defensive staff, there may be some continuity, but unfortunately, in the coaching world, assistants typically follow the head coach or coordinator who brought them in. While the strength of schedule isn’t elite, Bellevue showed steady growth each year, which I’m sure Scott noticed and factored into their decision to pursue Trimnell.

I saw a post from coach montgomery recently that stated he was seeking several new coaches for this upcoming year. Unless someone has in fact left for another job, I couldn't imagine he'd be seeking to replace guys from the previous staff just to do it. 

6 minutes ago, Hydration-coach83 said:

I saw a post from coach montgomery recently that stated he was seeking several new coaches for this upcoming year. Unless someone has in fact left for another job, I couldn't imagine he'd be seeking to replace guys from the previous staff just to do it. 

Excellent point. I agree it is almost certain Trimnell is gone, and I would assume most of the guys he brought in followed him. That really begs the question, what is Montgomery’s plan moving forward?

If I remember correctly, though, he hired a bunch of Bellevue alumni, so I could not imagine many of them jumping ship either. That makes me think Montgomery is trying to maintain as much continuity as possible while filling the spots left by Trimnell and his staff.

1 hour ago, IfsAndButsKY said:

The offensive production returning is definitely limited, but that also creates a real opportunity for growth. Chad and his staff have shown they can maximize what they have, and if they’re able to get the offense moving even modestly, it changes the outlook quickly. The offense struggled last year even with a senior-led offensive line, so improvement will have to come through player development, scheme refinement, and reps—not just experience.

Long term, the key to rebuilding Bellevue has to be development, especially starting at the middle school level. Until that pipeline is stabilized, the program risks staying stuck in a cycle of mediocrity. Enrollment numbers make that challenge even tougher. From what I’ve heard, the middle school program isn’t short on interest, but simply lacks bodies coming up.

The River City Ducks feeder program is part of that issue as well. Most of those players end up at NewCath, which doesn’t benefit Dayton, Newport, or Bellevue. At some point, it may make more sense for those schools to break away and create their own feeder systems, either independently or through a shared effort with Dayton, to better support long-term development.

That said, given the circumstances, last year’s staff did an excellent job with what they had. The limited buy-in from administration and the community hasn’t helped, and that’s evident in things like the long delay in building a stadium and having to practice at Newport during the summer. It’s a tough situation all around, but hopefully the program can stay afloat and continue building toward something sustainable.

I also agree what kind of season could have Bellevue had with the Pendleton kid.  The staff at Bellevue has did an excellent job. I hope they can continue the success. I really like diving into these Class 1A teams. 

5 minutes ago, Bac2369 said:

I also agree what kind of season could have Bellevue had with the Pendleton kid.  The staff at Bellevue has did an excellent job. I hope they can continue the success. I really like diving into these Class 1A teams.

If Pendleton had stayed, I truly believe they win eight games. They probably drop one to NewCath and slip in one other, but they win a playoff game and maybe even two as a two seed. That kind of success matters. It changes expectations, buy in, and the overall trajectory of a program. But at the end of the day, ifs and buts do not mean much.

In my opinion, 1A football is overlooked, and that does a disservice to NKY football as a whole. The margin for error at this level is razor thin, and a single player, coach, or decision can swing an entire season. That leads to the bigger question: how do programs like Bellevue and Dayton truly compete long term? Both face different challenges, from enrollment numbers to administrative support, yet the answer probably is not chasing one magical season. It is surviving long enough to stack them. At this level, progress is not measured in championships. It is measured in retention, development, and whether the program is still standing five years from now.

On 1/21/2026 at 2:14 PM, theguru said:

Welcome to BGP @IfsAndButsKY!

Thank you!

23 hours ago, IfsAndButsKY said:

If Pendleton had stayed, I truly believe they win eight games. They probably drop one to NewCath and slip in one other, but they win a playoff game and maybe even two as a two seed. That kind of success matters. It changes expectations, buy in, and the overall trajectory of a program. But at the end of the day, ifs and buts do not mean much.

In my opinion, 1A football is overlooked, and that does a disservice to NKY football as a whole. The margin for error at this level is razor thin, and a single player, coach, or decision can swing an entire season. That leads to the bigger question: how do programs like Bellevue and Dayton truly compete long term? Both face different challenges, from enrollment numbers to administrative support, yet the answer probably is not chasing one magical season. It is surviving long enough to stack them. At this level, progress is not measured in championships. It is measured in retention, development, and whether the program is still standing five years from now.

I think both Dayton and Bellevue football are on solid ground. Both communities are on a good up tick and that should help fuel the schools.

10 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I think both Dayton and Bellevue football are on solid ground. Both communities are on a good up tick and that should help fuel the schools.

I agree that Bellevue are on solid ground compared to where they were 3 years ago. No doubt. What I struggle with is the glaring challenges that school presents. 

Last year did feel like an underachievement given how senior heavy the roster was, especially on offense. That is not entirely on the players or staff, but having just over 700 total yards returning after a season with that much experience is alarming. Everyone understands that installing a new offense takes time, but the level of struggle was more than anyone reasonably expected.

I also think the bigger issue is buy in. Without consistent support from administration, players, and the community, there is a clear ceiling on what any coach can accomplish. Montgomery is doing everything he can, but even the best coaches  and with a great staff are limited in a poor environment. Until enrollment improves and the younger pipeline stabilizes, Bellevue’s version of success may simply be fielding a team that competes week to week rather than consistently chasing wins. Hearing that only eight or nine middle school players are coming up really puts that reality into perspective.

14 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I think both Dayton and Bellevue football are on solid ground. Both communities are on a good up tick and that should help fuel the schools.

Practicing at Newport all summer while their field was supposed to be finished says a lot. It was not until Dayton committed to a new field that Bellevue finally followed through, and even then the original vision never fully happened. The arch and softball field that were supposed to be part of the plan got scratched entirely. However, the turf is nice. But when looking at it from the distance it is clearly seen that they are doing bare minimum. I think they were also supposed to to have 8 lane track but it got bumped down to 6 lanes… tell me how can you run invitationals, meets etc. with that. And all these issues start up top with superintendent, school board and AD.

 

When you compare that to what is right next door, the contrast is hard to ignore. A legitimate stadium, an indoor practice facility, and a setup that clearly signals administrative buy in. Facilities do not win games by themselves, but they absolutely send a message to players, parents, and coaches about how much a school values the program. When one school is practicing elsewhere all summer (Newport, Vets, Parking lots)  and another has everything in house, that gap becomes more than just cosmetic.

Is there a long term plan to add a field house? I don't necesarrily think you need an indoor practice facility in high school in Ky, but if Dayton can do it so could Bellevue. How much of Dayton's upgrade is coming from tax dollars? The development on the flood wall has a ton of people living there (if you try to drive the Avenue after 8am you know), and the small businesses are doing just fine seemingly. 

Bellevue is planning a big residential/business development so that should add more tax dollars for the school system. I would hope that would correlate to maximizing the high school facilities. 

2 hours ago, Breds82 said:

Is there a long term plan to add a field house? I don't necesarrily think you need an indoor practice facility in high school in Ky, but if Dayton can do it so could Bellevue. How much of Dayton's upgrade is coming from tax dollars? The development on the flood wall has a ton of people living there (if you try to drive the Avenue after 8am you know), and the small businesses are doing just fine seemingly. 

Bellevue is planning a big residential/business development so that should add more tax dollars for the school system. I would hope that would correlate to maximizing the high school facilities. 

From everything I’ve heard, Bellevue does not have plans to add a field house, and they’re largely content with what they currently have. I’m not saying an indoor facility is required to compete in Kentucky—plenty of programs win without one. But these small investments (or lack of them) absolutely affect enrollment and perception. Parents want to see visible commitment to their kids and their community. Facilities aren’t about luxury; they’re a signal that the school and city are invested.

Dayton is a good contrast. A big part of their upgrade came because school leadership actively advocated for the program. They convinced the Kentucky School Building Authority to provide additional funding and approval, which ultimately led to an extra $3.9 million for the project. That advocacy mattered. But it also goes both ways—the community supported it. In Bellevue, the consistent issue I hear is that the city doesn’t really support the school system in the same way. Until that relationship changes, even future residential and business development won’t automatically translate into maximizing high school facilities. Advocacy has to come from the school, and backing has to come from the community.