What was French's attraction to SW?

 

He also lives in Lincoln County, in an area that probably wont be much further than his drive to Boyle.

 

He said it all in the paper, but Southwestern has tons of potential...they've proved that. They've always had a large amount of numbers for the most part. Always have had some very athletic kids. Their booster club I know rakes in the money like no other (talking in the high 5 digits per year, maybe even more). They also have a housboat down on Cumberland that has been there for several years.

 

Plus, Coach French builds. That's what he does. If you look at Lincoln, Boyle and Southwestern...he has come into these places who have had very solid football traditions (Boyle leading the pack in that category), but had fallen on hard times & got them back to where they belong.

 

Lincoln hadn't been to a Semi-Final game since '93, he took them back in '07. Boyle was coming off two sub-par seasons by their new standards, and the rest has been history.

 

Here is a guy who has taken all 4 schools he has been a head coach at to State Semis (Mercer County in 86, Meade, Lincoln and Boyle) or beyond (Meade County was State Runners Up in '91, and 2 State Championships at Boyle). I for one will be interested to see how he writes his Southwestern chapter in 'The Book of Larry'.

 

He and his son have a fan in me, that's for dang sure.

He also lives in Lincoln County, in an area that probably wont be much further than his drive to Boyle.

 

He said it all in the paper, but Southwestern has tons of potential...they've proved that. They've always had a large amount of numbers for the most part. Always have had some very athletic kids. Their booster club I know rakes in the money like no other (talking in the high 5 digits per year, maybe even more). They also have a housboat down on Cumberland that has been there for several years.

 

Plus, Coach French builds. That's what he does. If you look at Lincoln, Boyle and Southwestern...he has come into these places who have had very solid football traditions (Boyle leading the pack in that category), but had fallen on hard times & got them back to where they belong.

 

Lincoln hadn't been to a Semi-Final game since '93, he took them back in '07. Boyle was coming off two sub-par seasons by their new standards, and the rest has been history.

 

Here is a guy who has taken all 4 schools he has been a head coach at to State Semis (Mercer County in 86, Meade, Lincoln and Boyle) or beyond (Meade County was State Runners Up in '91, and 2 State Championships at Boyle). I for one will be interested to see how he writes his Southwestern chapter in 'The Book of Larry'.

 

He and his son have a fan in me, that's for dang sure.

 

Don't forget Meade County and Mercer County were building jobs as well.

 

Let's face it. Wherever he goes, he wins. Best of luck to you Coach French.

Don't forget Meade County and Mercer County were building jobs as well.

 

Right you are.

 

Meade had always been solid. They had some RB's back in the late 70's and early 80's that were absolute studs, but they, like Lincoln, Boyle and Southwestern had fallen off for a few years...then he came in and did his thing.

Hate To see Coach French leave great coach class act. I saw this coming ,but thought Chuck Smith would come back as replacement. Bet boyle fans and SMith both wish this had happened a month ago

SW now has arguably as good a combo of basketball and football coach as any school around between French and Steve Wright.

 

How many schools have a State Champion winning Coach at both sports?

There could be alot of change about to happen- Blair to PSW, Hester to MC, Goldsmith completely retired, Walker back to Ohio, C. Mason focus on Centre softball, etc. This is not good.

 

If this was to happen, and like you, it wouldn't shock me one bit...this alone could effect Boyle County more than anything.

 

Those that know the Boyle County program know that one of the large pieces to their puzzle has been their entire staff, which, IMO has been 2nd to none for several years.

 

It started with Larry, then you have Hester who did a great job at Garrard as the HC back in the mid-late 90's, then Goldsmith who was a proven and successful HC most notably at Lawrence County..he literally brought their program out of the gutters back in the late 80's and early 90's. They went from almost getting rid of the program to a state semi appearance vs. Mayfield in just a matter of a few years. Chris Mason could be a head coach at any program in the state (he has been at Boyle since 91 when they hired Chuck). Then you have Bill Mason who was the HC at Nelson County back in the early part of the 2000's and then Mercer County after Marty Jaggers retired. Bill was part of that '06 title team as an assistant. Last, but not least, you have Jerry Perry who is without a doubt the best defensive mind I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Coach Perry took his Garrard teams from '90-'96 to several region final appearances, before going back to Danville as the DC and winning more rings than he has fingers.

 

...talking about a staff that had their HC who is and will always be a legend in KY, then a staff where four were highly proven HC's and a longtime assistant who would have been a very successful HC had he ever taken the opportunity's.

 

This will be interesting.

I was told last week that Mason wouldn't be back regardless of what Larry done, I would think it all depends on who the new coach is as to where there is fall out or not. if its Hodge then I see the staff staying where they are, as for Chuck Smith I was told by a person who knows Chuck about a month ago that Chuck was interested in coming back if French left, but I don't see it happening now that he has accepted the MC job.

SW now has arguably as good a combo of basketball and football coach as any school around between French and Steve Wright.

 

How many schools have a State Champion winning Coach at both sports?

 

Trinity did it in football (2011), then in basketball (2012).

 

Scott County with Hicks and then McKee winning it this year.

 

Off the top of my head, that's all right now....

 

I can think of a few schools who have had state champion football coaches, and basketball coaches who have been to Sweet 16's, though.

I just have a hard time believing Chuck Smith didn't know this job was possibly going to be open. If he wanted it he would have waited.

I just have a hard time believing Chuck Smith didn't know this job was possibly going to be open. If he wanted it he would have waited.

 

I agree.