And I would say that there coaching pay isn't very good either.

Anchorage school district is higher and Ft Thomas is about a 1000 behind.

 

Anchorage isn't higher (I just pulled it up and looked) and Ft. Thomas is close. Regardless, the district pay more than offsets the coaching pay in most districts. I just have a hard time believing there aren't enough quality coaches in Louisville to fill a high school staff.

Anchorage isn't higher (I just pulled it up and looked) and Ft. Thomas is close. Regardless, the district pay more than offsets the coaching pay in most districts. I just have a hard time believing there aren't enough quality coaches in Louisville to fill a high school staff.

 

What point are you trying to make? The teacher pay doesn't matter when they won't hire teacher coaches? Jefferson wants to make do with para-pros if they will hire you ant help, and they won't always do that. And I looked it up too. KDE backs up what I said. That's where I found it originally.

There are plenty of coaches in that city. Just not plenty that can get hired or plenty that will work with no support.

What point are you trying to make? The teacher pay doesn't matter when they won't hire teacher coaches? Jefferson wants to make do with para-pros if they will hire you ant help, and they won't always do that. And I looked it up too. KDE backs up what I said. That's where I found it originally.

There are plenty of coaches in that city. Just not plenty that can get hired or plenty that will work with no support.

 

Use the district websites. I would think that would be more accurate than KDE.

 

The point I'm trying to make is Jefferson County is a huge district that pays well. It's a very attractive place to work. You can teach at one school and coach at another. Eastern had a full staff before. Why not now? What changed? If you know how the district is beforehand don't be shocked when the same stuff continues to happen. I think he saw one more bad season coming and realized he was going to be let go and jumped early. He inherited a good team and put them in the tank in 2 years. Unless there is more to the story the coaching gripe sounds like a situation he created himself or is using as an excuse. I just don't think it says much about a coach that bails on a team this late in the year.

Other school districts I know have reduced staffs, just not to the 2 assistant level that I know of. Funding can get tight and I will be the first to admit I don't know a whole lot about JCPS and funding as it applies to sports. Just wondering. I have also been wondering what level of support does he have from the players, parents and community? Know a few in that district and they don't seem to be overly upset.

Use the district websites. I would think that would be more accurate than KDE.

 

The point I'm trying to make is Jefferson County is a huge district that pays well. It's a very attractive place to work. You can teach at one school and coach at another. Eastern had a full staff before. Why not now? What changed? If you know how the district is beforehand don't be shocked when the same stuff continues to happen. I think he saw one more bad season coming and realized he was going to be let go and jumped early. He inherited a good team and put them in the tank in 2 years. Unless there is more to the story the coaching gripe sounds like a situation he created himself or is using as an excuse. I just don't think it says much about a coach that bails on a team this late in the year.

 

They went 10-3, 6-5, 3-8 in the years before he was hired. Maybe the talent was drying up and he saw the writing on the wall.

They went 10-3, 6-5, 3-8 in the years before he was hired. Maybe the talent was drying up and he saw the writing on the wall.

 

As someone that is relatively close to this situation I can tell you this, many of you have hit the nail on the head. There are a bunch of reasons that this move took place. I believe what Ruckman said had merit. The position of Head Football Coach isn't held the same regards as it once was. This is especially true at Eastern. When Sexton left things started to decline where athletics are concerned. The administration did not promote the need to be successful on the field or on the court. A bunch of Head Coaches (14 or 15) left or retired within the first 2 years of the change in leadership. The former AD pretty much ran these programs into the ground. He had questionable hires and questionable work ethics. He no longer is employed there and a new AD is in place. Coach Ruckman took over a program that was on the rise. That was proven by his record the 1st year that he was in charge. However, I hear that there were less than 25 players that went through spring football and a few assistants not coming back. Hopefully, they can hire a HC that can work through the obstacles that he will surely come across. Eastern can be successful in athletics if the proper steps are taken to ensure success.

Thanks for sharing. I hate for any school to go through those things but I hope Eastern turns is around soon.

But he didn't start out that way. You can't tell me that was the situation his first year when they went 11-3. He only wins a few games the next season and then bails before year 3. Jefferson County far and away pays better than anywhere else in Kentucky. You can't tell me there aren't coaches in Louisville that wouldn't coach there. It sounds like he ran everyone off, had the program going in the wrong direction, and the admin didn't want to commit teaching positions to someone they knew was probably going to be let go after one more bad season.

 

I'm not doubting anything you say here. I can give you a little insight on his hiring. First, the AD told a very close friend of mine that when they hired this coach he was chosen over another very successful head coach (finalist) for the following reasons: The other coach rubbed the current principal the wrong way because after his interview ended he asked the AD at that time (who has since stepped down) if he could get his program organization packet returned. The AD at that time also informed the current principal that he had told this coach he would return this packet after the interview ended. For what it is worth the AD also says this coach was only chosen first by two of the committee members with one of those being the principal. This story is right from the former AD. Also, the principal liked the coach they hired because he had a really (yes I'm quoting here) "interesting web page". Nothing against the fellow that was hired and now has stepped down. But, I am not surprised by any of this info. And I agree with others that say going on the field with 60 players and 2 or 3 coaches is a nightmare. The board of ed that let's a situation get that bad should be held accountable for any injury etc. that can be attributed to lack of correct technique etc. being taught imo. My last point is this. Jefferson county pays better than most or everyone in Kentucky for teaching but it also pays worse than most everyone for coaching. That is also a fact. Quitting at this point in the summer for this reason is ridiculous. If it were for family or health I could understand but this sounds like little Johny got mad and wants to take his ball home and not play anymore.

As someone that is relatively close to this situation I can tell you this, many of you have hit the nail on the head. There are a bunch of reasons that this move took place. I believe what Ruckman said had merit. The position of Head Football Coach isn't held the same regards as it once was. This is especially true at Eastern. When Sexton left things started to decline where athletics are concerned. The administration did not promote the need to be successful on the field or on the court. A bunch of Head Coaches (14 or 15) left or retired within the first 2 years of the change in leadership. The former AD pretty much ran these programs into the ground. He had questionable hires and questionable work ethics. He no longer is employed there and a new AD is in place. Coach Ruckman took over a program that was on the rise. That was proven by his record the 1st year that he was in charge. However, I hear that there were less than 25 players that went through spring football and a few assistants not coming back. Hopefully, they can hire a HC that can work through the obstacles that he will surely come across. Eastern can be successful in athletics if the proper steps are taken to ensure success.

 

Agreed!