IfsAndButsKY

While pursuing an experienced coach has clear advantages, there are also plenty of young, driven coaches who could thrive and provide long-term stability with the strong support and backing of the NewCath community and administration. I don’t believe the Hubbard situation is as far-fetched as some suggest. Based on what I’m hearing, I anticipate the new coach will be announced within the next week.

I think they go 5-5 and a slight regression.

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.