Attention Cougar fans: Asheville High School’s football team has its next coach, Cort Radford.
Currently the Head Football Coach at Rutherford County’s Chase High School, Radford is an Asheville native who’s looking forward to “coming home to the mountains.”
“Asheville High School’s Football Program has a huge depth of talent and history,” said Radford. “I’m truly honored to have this opportunity to carry on the tradition that is Asheville High School Football.”
Radford wore a lot of hats while leading the Chase Trojans. From mowing the grass to hiring a coaching staff and holding players accountable for their actions both on the field and in the classroom, he was responsible for all aspects of the school’s football program.
Under his leadership, the school’s football record increased from 1 win, 1o losses to 10 wins, 3 losses in just two seasons. In 2019, Chase also won the Rutherford County Championship for the first time since 2011.
Radford said he’s certainly proud of what happened on the field, but his true measures of success occurred away from the gridiron.
“My definition of success is who my players become as men,” he said. “ I’ve been fortunate enough to coach some very talented players. One’s currently in the NFL, and two of my former players were in this year’s College Football National Championship. But, what’s even more important to me is that in just two years, my Chase football players raised our team GPA from 2.31 to nearly 3.0 and participated in 18 community service projects. To me, it’s crucial that I use my position of leadership to be a role
model for my players on what it looks like to be a man on the find, in the classroom and within our community.”
Following the 2019 season, Radford was named the Southwestern 2A Conference’s Coach of the Year. In 2018, he was additionally selected as one of only ten coaches from both North and South Carolina to earn the distinction of Carolina Panthers Coach of the Week.
In addition to his time at Chase, Radford was Crest High School’s Defensive Coordinator for two years. He was Erwin High School’s Linebacker Coach/Special Teams Coordinator, JV Defensive Coordinator and Head Baseball Coach from 2013-2015 as well as the Offensive Line Coach and Head JV Coach at Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro for one year. Radford began his high school coaching career as Bunn High School’s Defensive Line Coach in 2011.
In regards to his new position, Radford is very eager to be part of the Cougar Family.
“I’m excited for this fall,” he said. “Our community will love watching Cougar football because they will see how hard their team plays and appreciate their relentless and exhaustive efforts. We want to take back Buncombe County and make sure everyone knows that to win our conference, the road now runs back through ‘The High.’”
Radford added that his Cougar Core Values will include: love, trust, responsibility, accountability, sacrifice, discipline, respect, integrity, effort, toughness, commitment and brotherhood.
When he’s not watching game film, mentoring his student-athletes or preparing for the next game, Radford enjoys spending time with his family. His wife, Casey, is a health inspector for Buncombe County. Together, they have two children; Anna is four, and Charlie turns one this week.
Radford’s name will be the only one brought before the Asheville City Board of Education during their next meeting. Pending their final approval, he’ll officially become Asheville High School’s next football coach.
More information about Radford’s Welcome to the Community/Meet and Greet event will soon be shared.