RCTC Football’s new coach aims to push new players towards next level

(ABC News) — Some high schoolers go right to a Division I school, others take community college. The JUCO level is often a good outlet for student-athletes to get the extra experience they need for the next level.

"Guys, when you first meet them, you ask them what their goals are," new Yellowjackets football head coach Terrance Isaac said. "And they’re like, ‘ I want to go D-1 and I want to go to the league.’ and I tell guys, ‘you know, you can do anything you put your mind to.’

Isaac, the Yellowjackets new head coach, knows JUCO football is a vital tool to an athlete’s future. He understands it well due to being both a player and coach at Vermilion Community College in Ely.

"JUCO, man, you have to be strong," Coach Isaac emphasized. "You have to be dedicated; you have to be committed to the process."

Historically, few players from the Med City have made it to the NFL. But even getting to the league doesn’t guarantee success either. Isaac knows this from when he once tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.

"I remember seeing guys like Emmitt Smith and looking at these guys like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m here,’" Isaac reflected. "Just taking those experiences and just being in the room knowing that, ‘Man, I made it this far and I’m finally here.’ So, that was exciting for me."

And for some Yellowjackets currently on the team, there’s already examples of going from RCTC all the way to the league, as punter Ethan Fornun mentions.

"Rhys Lloyd, he played here. He played in the nfl too, played for the gophers. It’s cool to look up at him because that’s the exact position that I’m in right now."

Yellowjackets football presents a chance to leave a mark with a team that has won national championships. Something safety DeLeon Gardner knows no D-1 coach will gloss over when looking for transfers.

"I just want to make plays more consistently, come in the game, be a game-changer for sure and I – win, win a ring. That’s all — that’s what we’re here for, win a ring, for sure."

Isaac knows not every athlete will reach the league. There’s only one thing that will matter to him the most as he begins his tenure in Rochester. It’s using football as a tool to shape men into better people.

"I want to see how you make it in the long run," Isaac stated. "If football’s the only thing you got from me, I failed you as a coach. So, get that degree. You know, you can go a long way with that degree everything else will fall into place."