It has been reported in another thread (http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-boys-basketball/open-jobs-274190.html) that Bracken County will be looking for a new boys basketball coach for next season. That is true and the job was posted today.

 

Officially, this will go in the books as Chad Persinger resigning, but unofficially Coach Persinger wanted to coach the team next year and into the future. To make a long story short, he was given the option to resign or be given the pink slip. Like a lot of us would have done, he chose the former.

 

The decision to push Coach Persinger out the door has angered me to a degree that I normally do not reach. To begin with, Chad Persinger is a great friend of mine & has been for as long as I can remember. He is like a brother and we have shared some of our biggest moments in life with one another--weddings, baptisms, graduations, major medical issues, etc. Through thick and through thin, he has stood by my side and I have stood by his.

 

And I will continue to stand by him right now.

 

During Chad's 5-year tenure as head coach, the Polar Bears amassed a win/loss record of 76-75 (50.3%) and qualified for the 10th Region Tournament 3 of those 5 years (all as the 39th District Runner-up). To fans of other programs those numbers may not seem impressive. While I understand that, let me also show you what kind of program Coach Persinger inherited.

 

The 5 years prior to his hiring, the team amassed a record of 53-86 (38.1%) and did not qualify any of those years for the 10th Region Tournament. Additionally, there were 3 different coaches over that 5 year span.

 

Was this perhaps just a bad 5 years? No way.

 

The 5 years prior to those 5 years, the team amassed a record of 32-95 (25.1%) and qualified for the 10th Region Tournament 1 of those 5 years. And again, there were 3 different coaches during that 5 year span.

 

So in summary, during the 10 years prior to Chad's hiring, the school had 5 different coaches whose Win/Loss total was 85-181, which is a 31.9% winning percentage. And during those 10 years, just 1 appearance was made in the 10th Region Tournament.

 

While I fully realize wins and losses do not tell the entire story, any person with an ounce of common sense can see that the program has been elevated under Coach Persinger's watch. In fact, Bracken County has had 10 different coaching tenures since 1970. Just 2 of those 10 coaching tenures saw an above .500 winning percentage: David Hamilton (1970-80) and Chad Persinger (2009-14).

 

Now, before I say anything else, I want to add that not all of Bracken County's coaches have been awful. Some of them have losing records, but I believe did fine jobs--not all of them, but some of them. The fact of the matter is that Bracken County has not been a hotbed for boys basketball talent since World War II. Coaches have had to play the hand they were each dealt. Some of them did fine & others not so much. Chad Persinger, however, did a fine job and the numbers back him up.

 

However, he has now been let go. I cannot know with 100% certainty the rationale behind the decision to force Coach Persinger out. Granted, I have very strong suspicions, but that's not the primary purpose for starting this thread.

 

I am here, first and foremost, to defend my friend. He did a solid job as Bracken County coach, but now he has been unexpectedly and unfairly shown the door.

 

Secondly, I am here to say that I am thoroughly disappointed with my school. I also am a Bracken County alum (1996), but I am ashamed to be a Polar Bear right now. One of our own leads our program to more success than it has seen since the 1990's and this is how those efforts are repaid? Talk about eating your own.

 

And finally, I certainly do not wish any ill will toward whomever is selected to be the team's next head coach. The new coach will undoubtedly inherit a good, young nucleus of talent, including a young man who will easily go down as the school's best player ever. I have enjoyed watching the youngsters play this season & I hope the best for them.

 

Having said that, this decision by an absurd Administration is repulsive to myself and to others as well.

 

I have always been proud of my school, but right now I am simply ashamed of it.

Wow! Past that I'm speechless.

Were any of the previous coaches also fired or resigned to resign?

:eek: :eek: I was wondering what you was thinking about the matter

Very nice post Randy.

They say tigers eat their young.

 

I din't know the same could be said about polar bears.

Bummer. Love coach Chad. Did this have anything to do with some kids sitting on the bench in the regional tourney?

Who makes this decisión, the AD, Super or Principal?

 

You make a valid argument Randy.

Who makes this decisión, the AD, Super or Principal?

 

The Athletic Director is also the Principal in this instance.

Disappointed that they didn't reward Chad's loyalty and dedication to the program.

 

Has done a creditable job in a tough situation, and there seems to be potential for a brighter future.

 

Sometimes going in a different direction is down.

Disappointed that they didn't reward Chad's loyalty and dedication to the program.

 

Has done a creditable job in a tough situation, and there seems to be potential for a brighter future.

 

Sometimes going in a different direction is down.

 

Agree.

And almost always, "going in a different direction" is code for "a big shot is being a squeaky wheel".

There are very few things I admire and value more in life than loyalty and my man RP is one loyal cat.

There are very few things I admire and value more in life than loyalty and my man RP is one loyal cat.

No doubt.

Disappointed that they didn't reward Chad's loyalty and dedication to the program.

 

Has done a creditable job in a tough situation, and there seems to be potential for a brighter future.

 

Sometimes going in a different direction is down.

 

Yeah sometimes when coaches work hard to build a program people get enamored with pushing them out and bringing in some one else because rather than rewarding loyalty they think someone else is a better coach. In all your years in coaching Mustang I am certain you have seen that before?