Whitley needs a hard nosed coach like Deaton. That's why the program hasn't advanced. A good coach demands discipline and Whitley's kids just can't handle that, because parents have always intervened. The parents are worse than the kids. Once you get to the high school level, you gotta put in the effort to get to play. Practice only makes you better. Traveling and playing other teams not from around here can only improve a team. I hope the new coach (if there is one) looks at it the same way. It wouldn't be fair to the kids who have worked so hard to this point.
Do you think S. Laurel and Corbin players sit on their during the summer months. Their practicing and playing teams better than them so they can get better at playing local teams. Duh!
I for one hope Deaton stays. Whitley can only improve. It would be nice to have a team playing in the regionals in 2011, not just hosting them.
At the rate Whitley is going, they'll have 4 more coaches before then. You can't please everybody.