RANTOUL, Ill. – The Rantoul Eagles football team has faced a challenging two-decade stretch without significant success, with only one winning season since the dawn of the 21st century. In a bid to change the narrative, the Eagles have appointed Ronald Beldo as their new head coach. Beldo, who previously served as the defensive coordinator for the team, is determined to breathe new life into a program that has managed just one victory in the last seven seasons.
Beldo emphasized that the team's primary goal this offseason is to improve daily. "Our main focus and mindset this offseason has been to get better every day," he stated. He noted that the intensity of practices has increased significantly, with higher expectations placed on the players. While he recognizes that immediate, sweeping changes may not be feasible, Beldo is optimistic that sustained effort will yield positive results.
Encouraging signs of progress are already evident, as nearly 40 players have joined the varsity team this year, a notable increase from the fewer than 25 who participated at the end of the 2025 season. This influx of talent is crucial for a program that has struggled to attract players in recent years.
The Eagles' roster features a larger junior class compared to the senior class this fall, but the quality of the senior players is promising. Among them is quarterback Jordyn Rice, who is entering his third year as the starting quarterback at the varsity level. Rice took over the position midway through his sophomore year and has steadily developed his skills since then.
Beldo praised Rice's growth, saying, "There's not a lot bad you could say about [Rice]. He's gotten better year by year. 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."
With the season approaching, Rice expressed his desire to leave a lasting impact on the program. "We just want to be more competitive, more physical - just be a better team altogether," he said. He hopes to change the culture of Rantoul football, making it more appealing to potential players. "Hopefully, we do good this year and get more people out to want to play football. A lot of people who 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," he added.
The Eagles are set to kick off their season at home against Unity on Friday, August 21. As Rantoul football embarks on this new chapter under Coach Beldo, the community is hopeful that the team can finally turn the corner and build a brighter future.
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