That's a very NoKy-centric view (as if I would expect anything less, given NoKy folks' tendency to ignore the rest of the state). How many state championships does she have? Where does she fall on the career wins list? Of course, I'm asking that rhetorically, because she falls behind a few on both accounts. That's not to say she's not been a great coach. Just not the best ever, by any measure. Top 10, perhaps, but dominating a region that has never produced a state champion doesn't much help the case.

 

MANY of the greatest coaches (all sports, all levels) have dominated their regular season competition and never won a championship. In a one-n-done tournament it takes a lot of skill, great coach, hot at the right time, and a lot of luck! She may not be the best, but you are seriously diluted if you think there are 9 better.

I don't watch much girls basketball, but I am surprised that anyone though this Boone County team had a good shot at a state title. It takes more than one player to win a title, even a player as good as Sydney Moss. I saw some serious shortcomings on this Boone team. In fact, despite losing to Boone County, I felt Notre Dame had more players and talent than Boone County. I am glad to see Moss do her thing in the state tournament. She is an incredible athlete and excellent basketball player.

 

I personally didn't think they would win it, but I did figure they had a good shot at the final four. I figured guard-play would be a factor, but depth would be their achilles.

 

I personally felt overall this wasn't a real strong year for KY girl's hoops both team & individually. However, I don't pay a ton of attention like I used to. I need to get me a camera and jump in the car with Panda!

MANY of the greatest coaches (all sports, all levels) have dominated their regular season competition and never won a championship. In a one-n-done tournament it takes a lot of skill, great coach, hot at the right time, and a lot of luck! She may not be the best, but you are seriously diluted if you think there are 9 better.

 

Good, bad or indifferent, winning championships is part of the equation. With that in mind I'll give the nod to a few that I'm very familiar with: Roy Bowling, Tim Mudd, Randy Napier, Donnie Gray. Might also give Terry Buckles the nod as well — he had the misfortune of being in the same district as E'town's Mudd for much of his career.

 

There are also plenty of other great coaches who don't get the talent some of the better-known girls' state powers get, who rarely even make it to their region tournaments.

 

Again, I've got lots of respect for Coach Fookes. She's done some great things over the years, and is certainly one of the best the state's had. I'm just pointing out that there's more going on around the state in girls' basketball than just the 9th Region — which, again, has never produced a state champion and would have to be considered, when compared to the rest of the regions in the state, as lagging behind toward the middle of the pack.

From a conversation I had this weekend, it doesn't sound like Coach Fookes is going anywhere.

From a conversation I had this weekend, it doesn't sound like Coach Fookes is going anywhere.

 

One more year.....again!