Lack. Of. Money.

...and when I say lack of money I mean it in multiple ways:

- Lack of Money for the hours you work as a Head Coach

- Lack of Money to hire and justifiably pay quality assistants

- Lack of Money for basic equipment needs

- Lack of Money for Facilities and their upkeep

- Lack of Money for giving kids that little extra (shirts, sweatshirts, cleats, ect...) to reward their commitment

 

A few schools have great boosters or great administrations that find a way around these money issues, but in about 85% of your schools in KY, the money-issue is the killer IMO. I would also attribute the turnover to the fact that more and more administrations are refusing to hire teacher/coaches for in-the-building jobs. When you don't do that, you leave the HC depending on para-pro's. Most teams practice from 3'ish - 6'ish...how many people out there have jobs where they're off by 3 and can come coach? Couple that with the fact that you have little to no-money to pay these guys and you have a lot of frustrated folks.

 

Maybe schools are doing exactly what they should be doing and that is putting their resources (money) into academics rather than athletics. Maybe administrators are actually hiriing the best educator and the best individual for "in buiding" jobs and not simply a guy who teaches as an avenue to coach. The pay for coaches and the problems of funding everything in a school district are not new issues. Certainly I am sure it can be frustrating, but it should not be a surprise.

Chief,

 

Firmly believe that this is happening. Reasons are multiple:

1. I think the win now mentality that goes on at college and pros.

2. I feel that the lack of support is a problem. What it takes to be successful, coaches in the building, time to develop a program. Look at the coaches that just played in the state finals and you will notice MOST have long tenures at their current school, or at least have been in that position for awhile. Look at Coach Haywood at Belfry and his assistants. They have been there forever and their program has been building for years. Coach McKee has been building it at Scott Co. for 17 years. I think this is important an so many old time coaches were hired to coach and teach and they had to coach many sports and were a staple in the community. Now coaches move around so much it is ridiculous.

3. Football like all high school athletics requires so much sacrifice that some coaches and players don't have that ability to do the JOB the way it needs to be done. Football has become year round, or almost year round especially if you do not have in school weights.

4. On the money issue, the disparity across this state is wide spread for head coaches but the big issue is assistant pay. Some of the schools I polled several years ago, the pay is way low compared to some programs. Also go out of state and you will see especially in the south are way different.

 

I would hope people understand that not everyone is going to be a champion and look at the body of work not just win/losses when it comes to these head coaches. Can we look at the difference the coach is making in a young mans life or have we become a win at all cost society. I feel the later is becoming more popular.

Maybe schools are doing exactly what they should be doing and that is putting their resources (money) into academics rather than athletics. Maybe administrators are actually hiriing the best educator and the best individual for "in buiding" jobs and not simply a guy who teaches as an avenue to coach. The pay for coaches and the problems of funding everything in a school district are not new issues. Certainly I am sure it can be frustrating, but it should not be a surprise.

 

Or statewide resources are being cut (education always takes the cuts because social programs must be funded-you know what I mean). If more money were going into education, our school district wouldn't have taken a 200,000 dollar cut in the budget...money is an educational issue across the country. Sorry to be off topic, but the money isn't being shifted, it's just not coming at all. That is a state and federal issue.

Or statewide resources are being cut (education always takes the cuts because social programs must be funded-you know what I mean). If more money were going into education, our school district wouldn't have taken a 200,000 dollar cut in the budget...money is an educational issue across the country. Sorry to be off topic, but the money isn't being shifted, it's just not coming at all. That is a state and federal issue.

 

Either way it is neither a new issue nor a a surprise.

Maybe schools are doing exactly what they should be doing and that is putting their resources (money) into academics rather than athletics. Maybe administrators are actually hiriing the best educator and the best individual for "in buiding" jobs and not simply a guy who teaches as an avenue to coach. The pay for coaches and the problems of funding everything in a school district are not new issues. Certainly I am sure it can be frustrating, but it should not be a surprise.

 

1. Your best coaches are usually some of the best teachers in the building...that's a pretty well known fact.

2. If you look at your highly successful athletic schools, there is a pretty direct correlation to them being highly successful in academics as well.

3. Who said it was a new or surprising issue?...neither is the national-debt, but that doesn't stop people on MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, and 50 other stations from debating and discussing it every single day. An old, time-tested problem, is still a problem.

4. If schools were doing "exactly what they should be doing" then we would be seeing dramatic, or at least semi-dramatic rises in average ACT/SAT scores...rather, we are in the bottom 50% of the country and are stagnated there...not saying a bunch of coaches in the building will fix this, but rather just debunking the notion that "schools are doing exactly what they should be doing".

5. I have found, in 11 years of education, that the more coaches that are in a building, generally, the better the school spirit, the better the school morale, and the better the general atmosphere of the school tends to be.

 

None of my observations are what I would call absolutes, but I do believe them to be accurate.

1. Your best coaches are usually some of the best teachers in the building...that's a pretty well known fact.

2. If you look at your highly successful athletic schools, there is a pretty direct correlation to them being highly successful in academics as well.

3. Who said it was a new or surprising issue?...neither is the national-debt, but that doesn't stop people on MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, and 50 other stations from debating and discussing it every single day. An old, time-tested problem, is still a problem.

4. If schools were doing "exactly what they should be doing" then we would be seeing dramatic, or at least semi-dramatic rises in average ACT/SAT scores...rather, we are in the bottom 50% of the country and are stagnated there...not saying a bunch of coaches in the building will fix this, but rather just debunking the notion that "schools are doing exactly what they should be doing".

5. I have found, in 11 years of education, that the more coaches that are in a building, generally, the better the school spirit, the better the school morale, and the better the general atmosphere of the school tends to be.

 

None of my observations are what I would call absolutes, but I do believe them to be accurate.

 

1. It isn't a fact it is an opinion. There are coaches who are outstanding teachers (Dale Mueller is one of the best at Highlands) and there are individuals that it is clear their goal is to coach and teaching is just the avenue.

2. I agree that there is much value in athletics. The cart can just never come before the horse.

3. I suppose you could know the negatives going into a situation and it still could be the reason you exit. Personally I would think the known is much less likely to drive me away than the unknown.

4. I have no clue what your point is.

5. All things being equal I would rather have my coaches in the building; however, all things are rarely equal and given the choice I would prefer the better teacher whether they coach or not should be irrelevant in my decision of who to hire.

Back to my earlier question. If the turnover percent is 20% is that higher than normal/expectations?

Maybe schools are doing exactly what they should be doing and that is putting their resources (money) into academics rather than athletics. Maybe administrators are actually hiriing the best educator and the best individual for "in buiding" jobs and not simply a guy who teaches as an avenue to coach. The pay for coaches and the problems of funding everything in a school district are not new issues. Certainly I am sure it can be frustrating, but it should not be a surprise.

While I agree with you in principle, the problem is most school districts are top heavy in administrations. The folks making an actual impact on the education of students (and I firmly believe extra curricular activities are an essential part of the educational process) are the ones getting short changed. Instead of having 10 assistant superintendents, funnel those salaries to the teachers/coaches/sponsors that are actually doing the work.

5. All things being equal I would rather have my coaches in the building; however, all things are rarely equal and given the choice I would prefer the better teacher whether they coach or not should be irrelevant in my decision of who to hire.

 

...and here is where you and I differ. If you give me a chance to hire a "great" teacher who does not coach/handle any extracurriculars vs. a "good" teacher who will coach/do extracurriculars; I'm hiring the "good" teacher everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Education is about more than academics.

...and here is where you and I differ. If you give me a chance to hire a "great" teacher who does not coach/handle any extracurriculars vs. a "good" teacher who will coach/do extracurriculars; I'm hiring the "good" teacher everyday of the week and twice on Sunday. Education is about more than academics.

Exactly. There are more classrooms then the ones that have desks and chalkboards.

Exactly. There are more classrooms then the ones that have desks and chalkboards.

 

Completely agree with you RAM, in fact some would say learning outside the classroom is more valuable at times.

Lots of big name programs available this year. Wow.

High school notebook: New coach brings familiar face, new identity back home to Danville | High school football | Kentucky.com

 

This is from Mike Fields at the beginning of 2013. To me, it seems like there is a lot of turnover when it comes to HS football coaches in the state of Ky, and has been for a long time. Already, there are a bunch of jobs open.

 

1- Do you agree? Is there a lot of turnover in Ky HS Football in regards to head coaches?

 

2- If you do agree, why is that the case?

 

Going into 2020.....

 

There are/have been 24 openings already and we are not even to the end of January. Some really good schools have and will change coaches.

 

What's everyone think.... is this alot? If so... why?

 

I know what I think and I will share toward the end, but I am curious to see what others think.

 

 

 

Along those lines, talked to one of my favorite HS football coaches in KY today. Told him I am not sure what they are paying him, but it's not enough. He is working like a mad man to keep the program going and help kids. Inspiring. He is tougher than nails. And, I know there are a bunch guys like him out there fighting the same battles.

Going into 2020.....

 

There are/have been 24 openings already and we are not even to the end of January. Some really good schools have and will change coaches.

 

What's everyone think.... is this alot? If so... why?

 

I know what I think and I will share toward the end, but I am curious to see what others think.

 

 

 

Along those lines, talked to one of my favorite HS football coaches in KY today. Told him I am not sure what they are paying him, but it's not enough. He is working like a mad man to keep the program going and help kids. Inspiring. He is tougher than nails. And, I know there are a bunch guys like him out there fighting the same battles.

 

The coaching environment is different than when I got into it 20 years ago. These kids are soft. They’ve spent their whole lives in a world of instant gratification. People have shielded them from the realities of life, and continue to do so.....coaching today requires a different mindset.

 

Unfortunately, most people coach the way they were coached. So if you were coached by a hard-nosed “grizzled” old veteran. You’re likely to become one yourself. That’s not to say that you have to abandon your values and principles, but today’s athletes almost REQUIRE a model based more on positive reinforcement.

 

Those coaches that don’t “get it” find themselves struggling and lacking fulfillment in their roles. They leave the profession altogether or job hop hoping they’ll find better subjects for their lessons at the next stop. The reality is: their lessons might just need to be tweaked a little to match today’s generation.

Going into 2020.....

 

There are/have been 24 openings already and we are not even to the end of January. Some really good schools have and will change coaches.

 

What's everyone think.... is this alot? If so... why?

 

I know what I think and I will share toward the end, but I am curious to see what others think.

 

 

 

Along those lines, talked to one of my favorite HS football coaches in KY today. Told him I am not sure what they are paying him, but it's not enough. He is working like a mad man to keep the program going and help kids. Inspiring. He is tougher than nails. And, I know there are a bunch guys like him out there fighting the same battles.

 

Make that 26...