Acalanes’ Joel Isaac is Bay Area News Group’s prep football coach of year
LAFAYETTE — For the last few years, Acalanes has elevated itself into a program where winning is the expectation.
The Dons are two years removed from winning a state championship and were one two-point conversion away from returning to a state title game in 2024.
And yet somehow, in his first season as head coach, Joel Isaac found a way to elevate the Lafayette school’s ceiling.
Following an offseason that saw Acalanes navigate a rocky coaching transition – parting ways with a longtime coach Floyd Burnsed and promoting Isaac – and then grapple with the emotional tragedy that shook the program when teammate Amin Noroozi died after a swimming accident at Stinson Beach, Isaac kept the Dons playing at a high level.
He steadied a talented roster through change, galvanized his players through purpose and resilience and pushed Acalanes to yet another successful campaign.
And for those reasons, Isaac is the Bay Area News Group’s coach of the year.
Acalanes finished the season 11-1, making it all the way to the NCS Division I semifinals, where the Dons fell to Cardinal Newman. It was the highest division they have been placed in a section playoff in the MaxPreps era (since 2004).
For Isaac, this season didn’t come as a surprise.
“Being prepared for the moment is something I think about often,” Isaac told the Bay Area News Group in November. “This is what we work to do every day. Being prepared for the day, being prepared for the week, for the task and for the challenge. I’m not surprised by this.”
Acalanes averaged an absurd 39.25 points per game this season. The Dons pulled off impressive wins over Archbishop Miity, Menlo-Atherton, St. Ignatius, Campolindo, Clayton Valley and Marin Catholic.
But where Isaac really made his presence known was on the defensive end.
The Dons held their opponents to under 20 points per game and forced 25 turnovers. It was a big step in the right direction for a program that has struggled defensively, even in its best years.
“I made the decision to go to the defensive side to make sure we get those guys right,” Isaac said.
Isaac couldn’t have asked for a better start to his head coaching career, but credited his players for being able to weather through some early storms.
“One thing that we didn’t do is shy away,” Isaac said. “Even with the changes we took everything head on. They did a good job of staying focused and avoiding all of that.”
Honorable mention
Kevin Collins, Lincoln-San Jose: Led Lions to CCS Division IV and NorCal Division 6-A titles.
Tim Johnson, El Cerrito: The first-year coach led El Cerrito to Tri-Country Athletic League Rock Division, NCS Division III and state Division 4-A championships one season after the team forfeited numerous games and was ineligible for the playoffs because it used ineligible players.
JaJuan Lawson, St. Ignatius: Helped Wildcats capture CCS Division II and state Division 3-AA crowns.
Hardy Nickerson, Bishop O’Dowd: Helped O’Dowd overcome a 1-3 start to claim NCS Division VI and state Division 5-A titles.
Adhir Ravipati, Archbishop Riordan: Led Riordan to its best season in school history, notching WCAL and CCS Open Division championships.
All-BANG football online publication schedule
Monday, Jan. 5
Coach of the year
Alameda County player of the year
Contra Costa County player of the year
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Peninsula player of the year
Santa Clara County player of the year
Bay Area News Group player of the year
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Kickers/punters
Offensive line
Defensive line
Athletes
Thursday, Jan. 8
Linebackers
Running backs
Utility
Friday, Jan. 9
Defensive backs
Wide receivers/tight ends
Quarterbacks
Sunday, Jan. 11
Entire team in one article
Those eligible for all-BANG honors come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school sports staff chooses the players and coaches.