By: Landon Swanson, Sports Reporter
BLACKSBURG, Va. – A little over three years ago, Blacksburg thought they needed a change. Zack Leonard was hired as the Blacksburg High School football coach to help a struggling program. Now in his fourth season, he is trying to revitalize a team that had been struggling for so long.
After taking over in 2022, the vision was clear build a stable foundation and start from the ground up. The goal was to play with readiness and confidence before they ever took the field. Being prepared before the game helps you execute during the game.
Foundation Building
Football season has begun, and Blacksburg High School has started to find its stride lately under fourth year coach Zack Leonard. Leonard has brought persistence and steady leadership leading the team to victories in a big way.
When Leonard arrived in 2022, the Bruins were struggling as a program in more ways than on the field. With multiple losing seasons in a row before he arrived, things were looking up after his first free seasons in charge.
This fall’s hard work has been paying off as the Bruins started 2-1. The team has shown much resilience and confidence that is key in winning games. The team has gotten steadily better each year under Leonard.
“It’s been a process,” Leonard said. “We had to take every game one at a time, it was tough at the beginning.” Blacksburg struggled to win games for years prior to Leonard to being introduced to the team.
Stepping Stones
The team’s progress this season came into test earlier this season in an away game at Giles which resulted in a win for the Bruins, 40-8. The team came out with tremendous energy easily beating the first opponent of their season, which seemed to transition to week two as well. Week two led to a home game against James River which the Bruins came out on top once again.
Blacksburg High School Football in action. Blacksburg, Va. Sept. 19. 2025. (Landon Swanson, TheNewsFeedNRV)
“When you walk into the locker room there is a major energy difference from where we started to where we are now,” Assistant coach Mike Reynolds said. The belief in the team this year should be the highest it has been in a while.
Not many knew what could be done to bring life back into the program. A coaching change after the previous coach retired required a new system and new methodology for such a struggling team. The team relies more on each other than they do themselves and that is what has become key.
Finding an Identity
The Bruins aren’t leaning on major college prospects every week it takes a team effort. Even the offense and defense work together where the offense might attempt to take a long drive to give the defense a break. This led to Leonard and Blacksburg wanting to play a tough style of football.
“Wanting to play as tough as possible while getting the most out of my players is one of my top priorities this season,” Leonard said.
Playing as a team is the most important thing for many but especially for this Blacksburg team. Each player does well individually they seem to all put together as team when it matters most. Nothing is more important than good communication in football because without it nothing functions properly.
More Than Football
Off the field there are just as many important aspects of football where building strong team chemistry is essential to having a good team. Hanging out as a team and bonding through school or other activities has led Blacksburg to a stronger team chemistry.
Academics is also a major focus for Leonard and the team. “The student part of student-athletes will always come first no matter the circumstance,” he said.
Marcus Green, player, once thought of football as just as a fall activity, something he could do to fill the time but now he sees it as a commitment to his teammates and everyone else to participate. Green also believes this commitment he has brought to this team will help him far beyond high school football as well.
Looking Forward
With majority of the season still to go the Bruins football team has a lot to look forward to. The team wants to win as much as anyone else, but the hunger is stronger as much this year as ever before. The ability this team must win games has already been proven at the beginning of the year when they started with two wins.
Blacksburg High School Sign before their football game. Blacksburg, Va. Sept 19, 2025. (Landon Swanson, TheNewsFeedNRV)
“I thought this would just be something to do at first, but this has become something much more,” Green said. Coming together as a team has meant so much to Green and the rest of the team.
The hopes are high for the coaches and players this year at Blacksburg High School. The transition made from several winless seasons to playoff aspirations are real. Now it’s time to just put everything to the test as they continue playing this season.
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