Millionaires, Warriors set to see new faces man helm for 2026
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In 2026, there will be some unfamiliar names wearing the head sets on the sidelines this season.
During this past Friday's PHAC Media Availability two coaches, Montoursville's Reese Holmes and Williamsport's Kevin Brown, faced the media ahead of the upcoming high school football season.
Those who frequent Memorial Stadium will be somewhat familiar with Holmes' exploits. A native of the area, Brown resided in Montoursville during his tenure previously as the assistant coach with Williamsport 15 minutes away. While there certainly is no love lost between the two parties, with Coach Brown seen chopping it up with his former athletes during Media Day, it is clear that the Montoursville natives' attitude is firmly on the Warriors.
"When we show up, (we want) to be about our business," Brown discussed. "We want to have a good time. We want to have fun. It's a game at the end of the day. But when we are inside of drills or the weight room and offseason workouts, there is an expectation. There is a bar that is set, and the kids have been great in showing up. "
Holmes' first year will see little room for adjusting. After mediating around a .500 record in the 2020's, the Warriors in head coach Joe Hanna's final year was a breakthrough with a 9-3 record that includes a dramatic 43-42 district playoff victory against Mount Carmel.
"I'm just trying to carry the rich history of what I believe is Montoursville football,” concluded Brown. "The kids are great, and we are going to keep it going."
Even with the graduation of star running back Christian Banks, quarterback standout Elijah Eck returns to help propel Montoursville's 2026 season from a rebuild to a reset.
"We lost quite a few seniors which hurts, but we also returned a bunch of guys; and we are looking like we have a strong team and want to keep going from last year," discussed Eck. "Hopefully we have the same results, hopefully (even) better."
The loss of Holmes was far from the only coaching change that the Millionaires had after 2025. In March, it was announced that former Williamsport graduate Kevin Brown would take the reins as head coach of an electrifying Millionaire team.
A member of Williamsport's class of 2001, Brown would take his football talents to the next level with Lock Haven before returning to coach the Millionaires as an assistant from 2012-2021. From there, Brown jumped back to the college level to serve as a Running Back's coach at Lycoming College.
But when an offer to be the head man at his alma mater came, Brown could not refuse it.
"I was very happy," discussed Brown at PHAC Media Day when asked about his reaction to receiving the job offer. "I had anxiety, but when I heard it, I was (excited.) It's good to come back to my alma mater and try to help out."
Brown is taking over the reigns for Mike Pearson, who led the Millionaires across the last four seasons before taking the job for Mansfield's Spring Football program,
From discussing offseason workouts with the former Millionaire athlete, it was clear that the tone of the way that Brown wants to play was set early.
"Don't be afraid of working hard, because we are going to work hard," said Brown on the culture he is trying to bring to Billtown. "I think these guys are all concerned about how much running we are going to be doing with conditioning." Brown then turns to his athletes at the table that were chosen to represent Williamsport for Media Day.
"Look, they are all saying yes," chuckled Brown. "But you know, if you are in shape, you play well longer and it is going to stink in the beginning, but hopefully it pays off."
The Millionaires open their season on the bus, taking a near three hour drive to face a Wyoming Valley West side that has mustered one win in its last two years.
Back in the area, Montoursville will start the Reese Holmes era at their place, with the Warriors taking on Hughesville.