New coach hopes to turn around Rantoul football

RANTOUL, Ill. (WCIA) - Rantoul football has been starved for success for more than two decades.

The Eagles, with just one winning season since the turn of the century and winless in 2025, now have a new head coach. Ronald Beldo is pouring his all into helping bringing the program to life after just one total win in the last seven seasons. He takes over as head coach after two seasons as defensive coordinator.

"Our main focus and mindset this offseason has been get better every day," Beldo said. "..."We've picked up the intensity a lot in practice, we've been more demanding."

He knows the turnaround may not feature immediate large-scale transformation, but believes with consistent effort and expectations the Eagles can make progress. Progress is already showing up in the form of nearly 40 players out for the varsity team this year, up from less than 25 to finish out the 2025 season.

Rantoul features a larger junior than senior class this fall, but its quality over quantity for the 2027 class. In that group is senior quarterback Jordyn Rice, who enters his third year getting snaps under center at the varsity level. He took over as the starter in the middle of his sophomore year.

"There's not a lot bad you could say about [Rice,]" Beldo said. "He's gotten better year by year. He's gotten better, he's gotten bigger, he's gotten stronger. The kid is a good leader. He's not really vocal, he's more of a lead by example kind of kid, which is important out of your leadership. I don't need you to be vocal, but I need you to demand and lead the way, and show these guys where we're trying to go."

Rice hopes he can make an impact which will last for years after he graduates.

"We just want to be more competitive, more physical - just be a better team all together," he said. "...We want to just change the culture all together. Hopefully do good this year and get more people out to want to play football... A lot of people that have never played football so far have come out. Seeing us out here working hard, they just want to be a part of it. So yeah, it's definitely changed already."

The Eagles open the season at home against Unity on Friday, Aug. 21.

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