The 2024 season marked a fresh start for the Liberty Tech Crusaders under first-year head coach Robert Gillard, a season defined not by wins and losses, but by the groundwork being laid for the future of the program. While the Crusaders finished with a tough 0-10 record, the year was about far more than the scoreboard — it was about culture, commitment, and change.
Taking over a program in transition is never easy, and Coach Gillard embraced the challenge head-on. From day one, he focused on rebuilding from the inside out: instilling discipline, accountability, and a sense of pride in wearing the Crusader jersey. The results may not have shown in the win column just yet, but the foundation being laid is clear to anyone paying attention.
Each week, Liberty Tech showed flashes of promise — moments of fight, effort, and growth that are essential to turning a program around. Young players were thrown into tough situations and responded with heart and resilience. Veteran players stepped up as leaders, helping establish the standard Coach Gillard is working to build.
The Crusaders faced a brutal schedule and never backed down, showing up every Friday night ready to compete. While the losses piled up, so did the lessons — lessons that will prove invaluable as Liberty looks to take the next step in 2025.
Now, with a full offseason ahead and a year of experience in the system, the Crusaders have a clear goal: to keep building. With returning talent, a hungry roster, and a coaching staff committed to the long haul, Liberty Tech is laying the bricks for something better.
It won’t happen overnight, but change is coming. And when the wins do start to come, they’ll be earned the hard way — with grit, work, and belief. The 2024 season may be remembered as a winless campaign, but it will also be remembered as the beginning of the rebuild. The Crusaders are down, but not out — and their climb back has already begun.