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GLADSTONE - You wouldn't know it by the warm and muggy weather the past couple days, but the start of another high school football season is less than three weeks away.

Josh Mileski isn't fazed by warm temperatures or humidity, or a whole lot else for that matter. The new head coach at Gladstone prefers summer-like conditions. "It's supposed to be muggy the next few days, which is good because I think it gets the guys in better shape," said Mileski.

The 29-year-old Mileski is taking over the head position this season from his father John, who served two tenures as head coach of the Braves from 1985-2001 and 2006-2008, amassing 97 wins during that time. John remains on Josh's staff as an assistant coach.

"To me, with the way we work together (Josh, John and defensive coordinator Casey Young), the head coach title has changed in name only," said Josh. "Now I'm the guy who talks to the press," he said with a grin.

"I still like working with kids and I still enjoy football," said John. "I just felt it was time for a change."

The younger Mileski welcomed 24 players to the first day of practice Monday. Dressed in a dark t-shirt and purple shorts, matching the school's primary color, the first-year coach put his new team through various exercises and conditioning drills during the four hour session.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association requires teams to devote the first three days of practice to conditioning. Players can wear helmets, but are not allowed in pads until Thursday.

Until the pads are introduced, Mileski won't know what he has with the 2009 edition of the Braves, and even then, it will take a while. "Sometimes, it takes four, five, even six weeks to get the right kid in the right spot," said Mileski. "It can be frustrating, but we deal with it."

Athletic ability and size are important for any football team, but with just 25 players set to suit up (one player missed Monday's practice), staying healthy will also be key for the Braves.

"We don't get the biggest, strongest, fastest kids, especially with the conference we play in (Great Northern U.P.), so our program has to outhit our opponents," said Mileski. "We hang our hats on hitting and pride ourselves on a hitting tradition."

Mileski feels he has a bit of an advantage over other coaches heading into their first year with a program. "I've been around football practically since I was born so most of the normal team stuff a first year coach isn't used to, I've had a hand in," said Mileski.

Because his father will join him on the sidelines, Josh expects the coaching change will hardly be noticed.

What might be noticed is how well Gladstone responds to a devastating loss to Standish-Sterling in last year's regional championship. One of the players helping the Braves make the transition into 2009 is Kent King, a senior and three year starter on both sides of the ball as an offensive lineman and linebacker. King has accepted a scholarship to play football for Butch Jones at Central Michigan, but before that, there is unfinished football business to take care of in Gladstone.

"That loss (to Standish-Sterling) left a bad taste in my mouth," said King. "I wanted to start 2009 (the season) right after that game." King hopes to lead the Braves back to the state playoffs this year.

Mileski prefers to focus on the current season as well. "Last season was gonna end one way or another, although it would have been easier to lose 65-3," said Mileski.

As for what he would like to accomplish in his first year at the helm, "our number one goal is to give the kids a good experience because there's no way to predict wins and losses," said Mileski. "If nothing else we hope the players improve as people."