Don't see how they could justify hire a JR high coach or a guy that hasn't coached in years. Not dogging those guys out but just cant see them hire JR high coach or someone that has been out of the game that long.

Dennis has been very successful as Jesse Clark's Middle School coach. I would like to see him get a chance. With the lack of overall success of the previous hires I don't see what it could hurt. He led the SEC in sacks and played in the NFL. He knows the game and is a great motivator He would put together a staff of former college football players. Might also bring some of the old Harrodsburg people back in the program that have had nothing to do with it since the merger. Would be nice if you could get Jason Dunn on the staff also. Former Harrodsburg guy that played 10+ years in the NFL with Eagles and Chiefs.

 

Hiring a guy who was a great player with no high school coaching experience is no different than hiring a guy who wasn't a great player with no high school coaching experience. Not a great move either way.

Haha, and there is the problem!!!!!!!!

Johnson has been passed over for a couple of high school jobs in Lexington if I am not mistaken. I have seen schools who have hired a former middle school coach to take over a high school program..... it wasn't pretty, not saying it cant happen & work, but there was a steep learning curve for sure.

 

The middle school coaches in Lexington start when school starts & when the season is over, its over, they don't think about football until next August, not the case with high school coaches anywhere in America if you are even trying @ all to build a program.

Nothing against anyone who has had their name mentioned on here but if they want to improve they need to hire a proven winner imo. If they go with just who happens to apply and who fits a certain teaching position then the odds go way down for getting the right coach. If Mercer wants to win they should contact the people they want. Then give them what they need. That might be the plan from what I am hearing.

One of the biggest problems is that most of the "fans" of Mercer County still see Blue vs Red. ALL the students in the high school do not remember the two schools. But even on a post that is talking about hiring a new football coach for Mercer Central High people are talking about if that person has ties to Mercer or to Harrodsburg. They will not be become a good program until the "fans" let that go. For that reason and that reason only I feel they should hire someone with no ties to either school in any way.

Everyone is acting like we have Bill Parcells out there waiting. Our last 3 hires have been busts because none of them are here now and they all had prior coaching experience. We need stability and more important than experience is someone that will keep their word and stay here for a while. Every high school coach was a 1st year coach at some point in time. You don't think Dennis knows how to run a program when his dad ran a successful one for over 20 years and would help him if he gets a head coaching job.

Everyone is acting like we have Bill Parcells out there waiting. Our last 3 hires have been busts because none of them are here now and they all had prior coaching experience. We need stability and more important than experience is someone that will keep their word and stay here for a while. Every high school coach was a 1st year coach at some point in time. You don't think Dennis knows how to run a program when his dad ran a successful one for over 20 years and would help him if he gets a head coaching job.

 

 

:popcorn:

Everyone is acting like we have Bill Parcells out there waiting. Our last 3 hires have been busts because none of them are here now and they all had prior coaching experience. We need stability and more important than experience is someone that will keep their word and stay here for a while. Every high school coach was a 1st year coach at some point in time. You don't think Dennis knows how to run a program when his dad ran a successful one for over 20 years and would help him if he gets a head coaching job.

 

The point is not that he doesn't have head coaching experience it's that he doesn't even have any high school coaching experience at all. Hiring a first time head coach is one thing. Heck I am sure there are a lot of long time assistants who have never been head coaches would love to have this job. But you can't base an argument for hiring a head coach off of what they did as a player and expect to get the best results.

The point is not that he doesn't have head coaching experience it's that he doesn't even have any high school coaching experience at all. Hiring a first time head coach is one thing. Heck I am sure there are a lot of long time assistants who have never been head coaches would love to have this job. But you can't base an argument for hiring a head coach off of what they did as a player and expect to get the best results.

 

Agreed. We have hired the long time assistant twice and that hasn't worked either. I'm not saying he is a sure fire bet that he will 100% be successful but I would have rather he had a chance than some of the previous hires.

I thought Pardue did a good job there didn't he? Had a good playoff run one year didn't he? Hey public school football will always have its ups and downs unless you recruit! Hey if you want to be a head high school coach then you better become an asst high school coach.

Why did Rains leave there to go to Letcher Co? I have heard he had a pretty sweet gig @ LCC while there, was it better in comparison to what he had @ Mercer? What was he teaching @ Mercer Co? Was he made promises that they couldn't keep? Just asking because I have no idea.

Why did Rains leave there to go to Letcher Co? I have heard he had a pretty sweet gig @ LCC while there, was it better in comparison to what he had @ Mercer? What was he teaching @ Mercer Co? Was he made promises that they couldn't keep? Just asking because I have no idea.

 

I pretty sure that Rains left Mercer and went to Dunbar. I could be wrong and I know I have been before. But pretty sure he went to Dunbar if not isn't he their now?

Why did Rains leave there to go to Letcher Co? I have heard he had a pretty sweet gig @ LCC while there, was it better in comparison to what he had @ Mercer? What was he teaching @ Mercer Co? Was he made promises that they couldn't keep? Just asking because I have no idea.

 

Rains left Mercer for a better gig at Letcher, but then he realized he was just too far away from his kids in Richmond, Lexington & Louisville, which is why he made the move to Dunbar.

I pretty sure that Rains left Mercer and went to Dunbar. I could be wrong and I know I have been before. But pretty sure he went to Dunbar if not isn't he their now?

 

He's at Dunbar now. Was at Letcher for the '12 football season. He was at Mercer before that.