FRANKLIN — The Franklin High School football program is turning the page to familiarity.
Brad Childers, who guided the Wildcats from 2014 to 2020, is back on the sideline in 2025 with a clear mission — rebuild the program’s identity, reestablish tradition and give this year’s senior class the chance to “rewrite their story.”
“All spring and summer, we’ve been telling our seniors this is their opportunity,” said Childers, who was hired when Matt Muncy left for Miamisburg after one season.
“That group has been through multiple changes, but we don’t spend any time thinking about the past. We can only control the future — how we prepare and how we go about the season. And so far, they’ve completely bought in.”
Childers, a longtime teacher in the Franklin district, returned to the job with the advantage of knowing the players and the program from the inside. He also brought back several assistant coaches from his earlier tenure, uniting the staff under one vision.
“This group of kids — they want to be coached, and they want to be coached hard,” Childers said. “There are some really good football players here. I knew that from watching from afar. Now it’s about putting them in the best position to succeed.”
Up front, Franklin will be led by senior center Dillon Smith, who earned the starting job after preseason competition. Smith will be the foundation for an offense that will break in a new starting quarterback, with sophomores Ryan Michael and Ryder Chamberlain locked in a tight battle for the job.
The backfield will feature a committee of experienced seniors, including Connor Monk and Joseph Hughes, and junior Bryant Ferguson.
The Wildcats return a wealth of experience on defense. Senior linebacker Braydon Isaacs is a team captain, and Isaacs, senior safety Jack Berry and senior linebacker Jordan Milligan are all four-year starters.
“Those three are the heartbeat of our defense,” Childers said. “They’ve been through a lot, they’re tough, physical, and they all want to be coached. Everything else falls into place when they’re out there.”
Childers also praised senior linemen Jeffrey Lay and Caden Keith, as well as junior defensive end Christian Knipper, who has stepped into a key role. In the secondary, senior defensive backs A.J. Cooke and Hughes provide stability and experience.
Franklin got an early measuring stick during its annual four-team preseason scrimmage — a tradition Childers says goes back more than 15 years.
“It was really good for us because you never know — you’ve been hitting each other for weeks, and sometimes things look better in practice than they really are,” Childers said. “I left that scrimmage really happy, but not satisfied. Everything we need to fix is correctable, and that’s a good place to be.”
Childers has emphasized competition in every phase of practice, with the belief that training must be harder than Friday nights. That approach, he says, has pushed players to execute under pressure.
“We put them in adverse situations,” Childers said. “Fourteen seconds on the clock, get the play in, line up, and go. And they’ve adapted.”
Special teams is another area where the Wildcats will look to gain an edge. Childers makes no secret that his best players will be on the field in the kicking game.
“We’re going to win on special teams,” Childers said. “That’s non-negotiable.”
“These kids have shown signs of being resilient and tough. They understand the culture we’re creating, the expectations, the attention to detail it takes. I’m excited. We’re in a good place.”
