I am assuming that this is Coach Nate Valentine who was Brian Lane's assistant at Transy.

Anyone confirm this?

 

56 just made a one sentence announcement at the end of the sports segment just now.

 

If it is accurate, congratulations to Nate. He will do a great job.

I'm a little surprised that the first coach they offered turned it down but Nate is a good hire too.

Who was the first guy they offered that turned it down?

not as much discussion on this hire as I would have thought since LCA has a lot coming back next season. I am also intrigued as to who turned them down........

not as much discussion on this hire as I would have thought since LCA has a lot coming back next season. I am also intrigued as to who turned them down........

 

I think Valentine is a good fit. He's a young guy who played at Transylvania and has coached there for a number of years as well. They had success with him heading up their recruiting, which tells me that he has a good presence and energy.

 

LCA has more than most realize coming up through their feeder programs, and I see them becoming an intense rival to Lexington Catholic over the course of the next decade.

 

Life is always tough in the 11th and, at best, they'll be another team who will be lucky to get out of region considering they'll be paired with your Scott Countys, Henry Clays, Lafayettes, Lexington Catholics, Madison Centrals, etc. Just too much parity in the region for any one team to dominate, but it wouldn't shock me in the least if we look back 10 years from now and they've made a trip or two to Rupp either.

I'm a little surprised that the first coach they offered turned it down but Nate is a good hire too.

 

 

I'm not really surprised at all.

 

If we're talking about Riley, Lexington is 2-3 times the distance from Bowling Green than what he's working with at Springfield, TN. I'd say that being a coach who won State in Kentucky carries a lot of weight down there as well, so you can bet he has some assurances on job security, etc.

 

Springfield may not be a huge city, but it's in the Nashville-Murfeesboro area and, on average, the county it is situated in has a higher median income than Fayette County (i.e., coming into play when we're talking pay scale, etc.). LCA probably has more in the way of boosters and donations, but they are also a private who likely wouldn't pay as much in the way of teaching salary, health benefits, retirement, etc. (especially for someone like Riley who probably has a number of years in the public systems). I don't know what he was offered, nor do I know what he makes at his current job (or even what he made at his previous ones), but I'd guess that it would have taken LCA really opening the checkbook and getting in a bidding war with his current school to really get the U-Hauls rolling, all things considered.

 

He's in the middle of his rebuild at the Tennessee school (who probably made him a very cushy offer considering he had last coached at the college level and the amount of success he'd had at a nearby Kentucky school), and I'm sure that played into things as well.

 

More than anything, I think if Riley were to leave where he is, it'd most likely be for a college program, not a "build" in the Lexington area where he had to compete with the rest of the Lexington schools like I'd mentioned in Post #5. I don't care how great you are, you won't go on a run to state like he went on at Warren Central playing in the 11th. Just too much parity.

 

 

Valentine will be a good coach, is a nice fit for the program, and really doesn't have nearly as much to lose. LCA wins the transaction because they get a young guy who is at least vaguely familiar with the local private scene from his experiences at Transy. More importantly, he'll also be there for awhile and has a chance to grow into the job. While Riley or maybe another couple of coaches who are a bit older but have a ring would have been more of a "home run" on paper, I think that Valentine could end up being the best fit if you look at the long term. Obviously, that isn't to say that he'd coach circles around Riley because he's still unproven and has a long way to go if he wants to match even half of Riley's achievements, just saying that his career is just getting started, much like the Eagles' sports programs are just getting off the ground and establishing their own traditions.

We have the Corbin connection established at LCA now. Even though Nathan played at South Laurel, he was born and raised in Corbin, plus Trevor Hill is a Corbin resident who transferred to LCA last year.

 

It's good to see Nathan get this opportunity.

If LCA has their expectations in the right place Nate will do well. Some of the fan base acts like they should win the state title next year, and have NEVER been out of the district! Not once.

Nate is a good coach and will do well if he has support.

Nate is a great hire for LCA. It is a tough job though because they basically are playing for the all A every year. I don't know if they ever even made the regional tournament. But I think it will serve him well to get the experience and someday return to coach the Pioneers.