February 9, 2011

Monticello High School head football coach Brud Bicknell is departing the Mustangs and heading north to Prince William County. He'll take over the head coaching duties at Patriot High School, a new Group AAA school near Manassas.

In 13 seasons at the head of the Mustangs, Bicknell was 91-53. He held a 52-28 record in the Jefferson District and was 10-5 in postseason play. He led Monticello to a state championship in 2007, a runner-up finish in 2003 and a state semifinals appearance in 2008.

Bicknell is the only head coach the Mustangs have ever had, as he was the first head coach when the school opened in 1998. His teams won at least eight games in seven straight seasons from 2002 through 2008 and qualified for postseason play seven times. Monticello missed the playoffs on two other occasions, despite posting 8-2 records.

Bicknell's final season saw Monticello finish 6-4 in the regular season, top Goochland in the Region II quarterfinals in a dramatic come-from-behind win, and fall to Handley in the regional semifinals.

Monticello athletics director Fitzgerald Barnes told CBS19 that an immediate search will begin for a new head coach. While Barnes did not mention any names of candidates, some speculation may lead towards Rodney Redd, who was Bicknell's assistant coach. Redd spent one year as the head coach at Fluvanna before returning to Bicknell's staff for the 2010 season.

CBS19 will bring you more information on Monticello's coaching search as soon as it becomes available.