Great hire, who will be the next head in Greenville Stoval?

I wish him well. Here are my notes on his career:

 

"...graduated from Central City in 1972; was all-district and all-region player; went to Belmont College in Nashville; coached gals at Central City for 3 years; was assistant to Mike West at Daviess County for 3 years

First head coaching job was at Central City where he led the guys' program for that school's last 8 years ('83-90) with a 178-82 record and the 3rd region championship in 1989. When that became Muhlenberg North, he was the Stars’ coach for their first 5 years (1991-1995) with a 125-32 record; won the 3rd region in 1994 and was a state semi-finalist; in 1995 went 25-4 and resigned.

Was head coach at McLean County in 1998 and finished 3-22.

Head coach at Apollo 6 years (2005-2010) with a 116-68 record; won the 3rd region championship in 2006 and was state runner-up--losing championship game to Jeffersontown 48-61."

 

When Tony went back to Muhlenberg County as an assistant, most presumed that he would eventually be head coach there...and it happened...but without the desired results (41-49 in three seasons.)

 

Maybe Thomas Wolfe was right: You can never go home.

I wish him well. Here are my notes on his career:

 

"...graduated from Central City in 1972; was all-district and all-region player; went to Belmont College in Nashville; coached gals at Central City for 3 years; was assistant to Mike West at Daviess County for 3 years

First head coaching job was at Central City where he led the guys' program for that school's last 8 years ('83-90) with a 178-82 record and the 3rd region championship in 1989. When that became Muhlenberg North, he was the Stars’ coach for their first 5 years (1991-1995) with a 125-32 record; won the 3rd region in 1994 and was a state semi-finalist; in 1995 went 25-4 and resigned.

Was head coach at McLean County in 1998 and finished 3-22.

Head coach at Apollo 6 years (2005-2010) with a 116-68 record; won the 3rd region championship in 2006 and was state runner-up--losing championship game to Jeffersontown 48-61."

 

When Tony went back to Muhlenberg County as an assistant, most presumed that he would eventually be head coach there...and it happened...but without the desired results (41-49 in three seasons.)

 

Maybe Thomas Wolfe was right: You can never go home.

 

He did well at his first home....too bad that's gone.

South Warren needed a strong hire and they got it. Will that be enough to get them over the hump against Bowling Green and/or Warren Central? That remains to be seen. If they miss the opportunity this season, they'll likely take a step back before having another shot. 3 of their top 4 leading scorers from a year ago are back (with Marquise Walker back to Illinois), and both Dayton Gumm and Brandon Stacker averaged over 15 PPG. They lost quite a few role player seniors, but nothing huge that's irreplaceable. Jordan Buchanan is the most significant loss, and he had a really poor year last year, far off of what was expected (maybe the Walker effect?). Bowling Green is probably beyond them, but Warren Central lost a trio of D1-caliber players in addition to a few other seniors, and in total dropped their top four scorers. They might be vulnerable to getting pushed out if Hopper can bring everything together.

 

I know the JV was significantly below both Bowling Green and Warren Central and basically all levels still lag behind, so the time is now for South Warren, or else they'll have to get back to the building process.

Tony Hopper is a quality coach and competitor. He has his work cut out for him in the immediate future, though.

I expect Stovall to fill the vacancy at Muhlenburg County. I believe his son will be a senior on the basketball team. If Stovall is hired, the third region may have more, or as many, state championship coaches than any other region in the state??? (Drake, Stovall, Riley)

Great Hire, but a VERY tough High School to coach Basketball at.

Tony Hopper is not a good coach….he is a GREAT coach. South Warren has made a great hire.

Very good hire by South Warren.

Great Hire, but a VERY tough High School to coach Basketball at.

 

Don't know much about South Warren, so will ask...as to the bolded, why is that?

Don't know much about South Warren, so will ask...as to the bolded, why is that?

 

Same district as BG and Warren Central if I am not mistaken. They may surprise one of them every now and then but more often than not it will be BG vs. Warren Central in the district finals. If there is anything else going on besides that then Doubletake will have to answer that one. Overall South Warren seems to be a great school so far.

My assumption is that Doubletake was referring to the competitive disadvantages that PP92 just mentioned. Boys basketball is basically the only sport that Warren Central is not going to fade away in, and Bowling Green has built into the most dominant span they've had since the 1940s. South Warren has failed to defeat either one in their history so far, and from what I've heard, the lower levels from middle school up to JV are still favoring both of those programs against the Spartans. The school is a fantastic school that is successful in basically every sport except this one, and it's by and large due to being in the shadow of those two programs. Plus, there will be years that Greenwood and especially Warren East will pop up as well. That district is a pressure cooker. If you can get out of it, you can do some real damage in the region, as the 14th District has produced each of the last 14 title winners. But 13 of those titles belonged to either Warren Central or Bowling Green (Greenwood got the other). So while you're a real threat to win if you get out of the district, that's the problem - getting out. There's almost no year where you won't have to go through one of Bowling Green or Warren Central to do it (the two teams have been on the same side of the bracket only twice since seeding began, and only four times total in the last 31 years).

Same district as BG and Warren Central if I am not mistaken. They may surprise one of them every now and then but more often than not it will be BG vs. Warren Central in the district finals. If there is anything else going on besides that then Doubletake will have to answer that one. Overall South Warren seems to be a great school so far.

 

Ok, that makes sense. The way he stated it I thought maybe there were/could be internal school issues, policy issues or issues with athlete behavior. Yes, being in the same basketball district with BG and WC would keep any coach awake at night.

I'm just curious why he would leave Muhlenberg for this situation. Barring a major upset South Warren won't get out of the district in the foreseeable future and Muhlenberg plays in a 3 team district that favors them in most years. Did he get an administrative job? Was there a lot of pressure to force him to look for a way out at Muhlenberg? I'm familiar with both programs and to me Muhlenberg is the hands down better basketball program so it looks like a downward move to me. No disrespect intended for South Warren but that's just the way it looks to me.