Gene Combs named new Coach at Wolfe County High School

Gene Combs has officially been named the new baseball coach at Wolfe County High School. I think this is a great hire and Props to the administration at Wolfe County High School for setting their aim high and shooting for a big name coach. I still believe Coach Combs was treated unfairly by the so called administrators at Montgomery County High School.

I look for Combs to turn this program around and get the support from School Officials and Parents which is something he didn't get at Montgomery County High School.

Good Luck Coach Combs. You will do great things at Wolfe County before you are finished.

Originally Posted by Kentucky Baseball Source

Gene Combs has officially been named the new baseball coach at Wolfe County High School. I think this is a great hire and Props to the administration at Wolfe County High School for setting their aim high and shooting for a big name coach. I still believe Coach Combs was treated unfairly by the so called administrators at Montgomery County High School.

I look for Combs to turn this program around and get the support from School Officials and Parents which is something he didn't get at Montgomery County High School.

Good Luck Coach Combs. You will do great things at Wolfe County before you are finished.

Turn the program around? They won 20 games last year and made it to the region, unlike Montgomery County. In the last 6 years Montgomery went to region 1 time and Wolfe went 4. As a matter of fact in the last 6 years...Wolfe is 92-79 and Montgomery is 85-85. I understand that you believe that Combs was wronged at Montgomery but his numbers don't really show that he is a big name coach, atleast outside of the mountains.

Apples and oranges! Two totally separate districts and regions. There is no way you can compare the 40th district to the 55th...they only have 3 teams. Look at the schedules played also. I believe Montgomery Co played Wolfe in recent years.

I think it's fair to say that the 14th Region is not close to being as good as the 10th Region. If I'm not mistaken Montgomery County beat Wolf County last year in 5 innings.

Last Season Bishop Brossart went to the State Tournament from the 10th Region while Powell County went from the 14th Region.

The KHSAA web site shows that Montgomery County beat Powell County 3 times. MC finished the years with 22 wins in a fairly strong Region. I've always felt Powell County should get out of the 14th Region and go to the 10th Region. Powell County came on at the end of the year and came very close to beating State Champ Woodford County. I look for Powell to repeat in the 14th Region next year.

Wolfe went to the Region because their District consist of Breathitt, Jackson City, Wolfe and I think Red Bird. Who wouldn't go to the Region playing teams like this. I look for Combs to guide the Wolfs to the Region every year.

A lot of High School Coaches in the State of KY thinks Montgomery County is the grave yard for a good High School Coach. One Coach in the 10th Region said that MC was lucky to get Combs and when they got rid of him another in state coach would not take that job. The coaching search happened just like he said when he said they would have to go out of State and get a coach who wasn't very experienced. I'm wondering how the new coach is doing and how the players feel about him. If you can let us know I would be very appreciative.

Originally Posted by Kentucky Baseball Source

A lot of High School Coaches in the State of KY thinks Montgomery County is the grave yard for a good High School Coach.

I don't buy that at all. Montgomery was in the 10th region tournament 6 out of 9 years prior to Combs coming in. That includes 4 district titles and 2 trips to the regional finals.

With Combs, MC went to the 10 region tournament 1 out of 6 years and did not get past the first round.

Did the talent drop off that much?

It's true. Combs didn't have any pitching which is why MC won't go anywhere next year. They have some very talented players but without pitching you won't go very far. You can't coach when you have you're assistant Coaches are complaining as much as disgruntled parents who's kids weren't playing. I wouldn't want my worse enemy to coach at Montgomery County. I have always said that Athletics in Montgomery County was Average. I think deep down Combs was glad to get away from the mess at MC and put it all behind him. I think he will do well at Wolfe County and the administration will back him and that's very important to a coach.

Originally Posted by KY Thorobred

I don't buy that at all. Montgomery was in the 10th region tournament 6 out of 9 years prior to Combs coming in. That includes 4 district titles and 2 trips to the regional finals.

With Combs, MC went to the 10 region tournament 1 out of 6 years and did not get past the first round.

Did the talent drop off that much?

From 1998-2001 Montgomery Co was in the district with GRC, Estill, and Millersburg Academy. Basically a 3 team district. Then, from 2002-2005 there were only 3 teams with Millersburg Acad. out. a little easier to get to region without as tough competition. In 2006, Paris and Bourbon came into district and Montgomery Co did not advance that year. Combs first yr 2007, got beat by GRC in championship game of district and advanced to region. GRC won region that year. 2008-2010 were all close games. 2011 got beat by GRC by 1 run and they one region again that year. 2012 got beat in extra inning by GRC by 1. Quit a different scenerio!

Congrats to Coach Combs and to the Wolfe Co Wolves! It is the beginning of a new and exciting era!!!

Originally Posted by Cataholic

From 1998-2001 Montgomery Co was in the district with GRC, Estill, and Millersburg Academy. Basically a 3 team district. Then, from 2002-2005 there were only 3 teams with Millersburg Acad. out. a little easier to get to region without as tough competition. In 2006, Paris and Bourbon came into district and Montgomery Co did not advance that year. Combs first yr 2007, got beat by GRC in championship game of district and advanced to region. GRC won region that year. 2008-2010 were all close games. 2011 got beat by GRC by 1 run and they one region again that year. 2012 got beat in extra inning by GRC by 1. Quit a different scenerio!

That doesn't explain the wins in the Regional tournament or the district championships won before since GRC was in their district all along.

Originally Posted by KY Thorobred

That doesn't explain the wins in the Regional tournament or the district championships won before since GRC was in their district all along.

Yes it does because Estill only advanced in 2 times the rest was GRC and Montgomery...never had to deal with Bourbon and 96 mile an hour fastball!!! You need to look at the record. No comparison!

Originally Posted by Kentucky Baseball Source

I think it's fair to say that the 14th Region is not close to being as good as the 10th Region. If I'm not mistaken Montgomery County beat Wolf County last year in 5 innings.

Last Season Bishop Brossart went to the State Tournament from the 10th Region while Powell County went from the 14th Region.

The KHSAA web site shows that Montgomery County beat Powell County 3 times. MC finished the years with 22 wins in a fairly strong Region. I've always felt Powell County should get out of the 14th Region and go to the 10th Region. Powell County came on at the end of the year and came very close to beating State Champ Woodford County. I look for Powell to repeat in the 14th Region next year.

Wolfe went to the Region because their District consist of Breathitt, Jackson City, Wolfe and I think Red Bird. Who wouldn't go to the Region playing teams like this. I look for Combs to guide the Wolfs to the Region every year.

I doubt that Powell will win their Region again this year. Hazard, Perry Central, Estill County. They did get Mullins from Knott Central but they still lost a ton. They do have some good young talent coming up but I think it will be a re-building year for the Pirates

Riverside Christian was the other school you was thinking about, not Red Bird

Will Combs still teach at Montgomery Co.?

Originally Posted by All State Baseball

I doubt that Powell will win their Region again this year. Hazard, Perry Central, Estill County. They did get Mullins from Knott Central but they still lost a ton. They do have some good young talent coming up but I think it will be a re-building year for the Pirates

Riverside Christian was the other school you was thinking about, not Red Bird

Meant to say Hazard, Perry Central, Estill County all return a significant amount of players from last year.

Originally Posted by Cataholic

Yes it does because Estill only advanced in 2 times the rest was GRC and Montgomery...never had to deal with Bourbon and 96 mile an hour fastball!!! You need to look at the record. No comparison!

The region didn't change, the district did. Montgomery used to advance in the region, that hasn't happened the last 5+ years. And yes Estill did have a pitcher that threw 90+. His name was Jon Kirby and he was a minor league pitcher...

Originally Posted by KY Thorobred

The region didn't change, the district did. Montgomery used to advance in the region, that hasn't happened the last 5+ years. And yes Estill did have a pitcher that threw 90+. His name was Jon Kirby and he was a minor league pitcher...

The region has to change if the district changes! Fleming County and Estill are not in the 10th region now. From 1998-2006 Montgomery County advanced 3 times(3 times in 9 years). With rearrangement of the regions, they advanced to the region only once from 2007-2012 but was beat by the team I believe won that year. Jon Kirby was very talented but I do not believe he played for a division one school or was recruited by all the major league teams Mullins was. To have 9 major league scouts standing there watching the opposing pitcher is a little intimidating to say the least.

I don't care what anyone say's about Chase Mullins but he was the most dominate pitcher to ever play in the 10th Region. I feel for the kid who did everthing in his power to try and get his coach a Regional Title before he retired. Mullins threw a 139 pitches or more in several ballgames The coach should have never had a child throw that many pitches. The end result is Mullins just had Tommy John surgery and will be redshirting his freshman year. I wish Mullins all the luck in the world. Good thing happen to good kids and his payday is only a few years down the road.

I'm told that Combs will be Teaching at Wolfe County. I look for his youngest son to be a Wolfe County Wolfe after this season.

Originally Posted by Cataholic

The region has to change if the district changes! Fleming County and Estill are not in the 10th region now. From 1998-2006 Montgomery County advanced 3 times(3 times in 9 years). With rearrangement of the regions, they advanced to the region only once from 2007-2012 but was beat by the team I believe won that year. Jon Kirby was very talented but I do not believe he played for a division one school or was recruited by all the major league teams Mullins was. To have 9 major league scouts standing there watching the opposing pitcher is a little intimidating to say the least.

In the regionals along with beating Fleming they beat Bourbon twice and Campbell both still 10th region teams. Jon Kirby did have scouts interested in him and played pro ball. Any way that you cut it 85-85 is mediocre.

Originally Posted by Kentucky Baseball Source

I don't care what anyone say's about Chase Mullins but he was the most dominate pitcher to ever play in the 10th Region. I feel for the kid who did everthing in his power to try and get his coach a Regional Title before he retired. Mullins threw a 139 pitches or more in several ballgames The coach should have never had a child throw that many pitches. The end result is Mullins just had Tommy John surgery and will be redshirting his freshman year. I wish Mullins all the luck in the world. Good thing happen to good kids and his payday is only a few years down the road.

That is awful news on Mullins, I hope he has a speedy recovery!