At least my "agenda" is that the team has the best coach possible. My opinions and choices are not fueled by a selfish agenda of getting "my pick" in there so I have a position as an assistant coach or anything of that nature.

Yet you assume that all of these posters have personal agendas. It seems you are the only one banging the drum of personal agenda. The matter of who is the best coach is simply speculation at best. But you keep doing you.

Yet you assume that all of these posters have personal agendas. It seems you are the only one banging the drum of personal agenda. The matter of who is the best coach is simply speculation at best. But you keep doing you.

 

My opinion is not speculation. It is a conclusion based on my personal experience and direct observation. Based on the respect and love the players have for Coach Walter. Based on the intensity, patience, and insight I have personally witnessed in his coaching of our players. And maybe I hit the nail on the head with my "agenda" comment. It certainly seems to have hit a sensitive spot with you. At the end of the day, I hope administration makes the right choice and Coach Walter is named head coach of the Ashland Tomcat Baseball program. Enough said.

Ashland should hire the best baseball guy that applies period. If that happens to be Walter so be it. I have no agenda. I have no kids that play. My only interest is in the long term success of the school. My speculation is the administration created this opening with a plan and the plan failed. The opportunity to improve still exists I don't believe any industry should give someone a job because they have been there the longest. That is a recipe for disaster. Like I said the best candidate should get the job period.

Ashland should hire the best baseball guy that applies period. If that happens to be Walter so be it. I have no agenda. I have no kids that play. My only interest is in the long term success of the school. My speculation is the administration created this opening with a plan and the plan failed. The opportunity to improve still exists I don't believe any industry should give someone a job because they have been there the longest. That is a recipe for disaster. Like I said the best candidate should get the job period.

 

 

You failed to answer my question. Did you see a difference in the team for the few games that Walter coached when Wilcox missed a if you gained a couple years ago?

Ashland should hire the best baseball guy that applies period. If that happens to be Walter so be it. I have no agenda. I have no kids that play. My only interest is in the long term success of the school. My speculation is the administration created this opening with a plan and the plan failed. The opportunity to improve still exists I don't believe any industry should give someone a job because they have been there the longest. That is a recipe for disaster. Like I said the best candidate should get the job period.

 

So we agree....the best candidate should get the job. Not based on history with the program or years spent coaching within the system, but based on ability to inspire kids to perform beyond what is expected, based on a willingness to go above and beyond to help players improve (and not with paid private lessons either), based on a dedication to the program that can't be matched. We agree the best candidate should get the job. The best candidate by far is Dwight Walter.

I wasn't at those games if you are referring to the Greenup Tourney I had a friend whose son played and he felt they played better. I also know the Reds are undefeated against the Nationals this year and the Reds are not good. Baseball is a funny game only game where you have the ball on defense. Was their improved play directly related to Walter? I don't know. Could it have been? Sure it could have. I would have had to have been there to come to my own conclusion. Not a great answer but an honest one.

So we agree....the best candidate should get the job. Not based on history with the program or years spent coaching within the system, but based on ability to inspire kids to perform beyond what is expected, based on a willingness to go above and beyond to help players improve (and not with paid private lessons either), based on a dedication to the program that can't be matched. We agree the best candidate should get the job. The best candidate by far is Dwight Walter.

:lol2:

Based on this post he must know the other candidates and their resume. Wish I did.

I've been told from a pretty good source that Johnnie Lemaster will be named the new coach soon, and that Craig Ratliff will be his assistant. I really hate that for Coach Dwight Walter. Dwight's my 1st cousin, and we're very close, and I love him like a brother. I'm confident Dwight would have done a tremendous job as the head coach, and I'm sorry he won't get that opportunity. His love for the game, and for the Ashland Tomcats is unmatched.

Tough to compete with a guy with "12 years in the major leagues" on his resume'.

Tough to compete with a guy with "12 years in the major leagues" on his resume'.

 

Dwight acknowledged that Lemaster has a great resumé, and that he can't compete with it.

Tough to compete with a guy with "12 years in the major leagues" on his resume'.

 

Playing well enough to be in the major leagues does not always translate to coaching well. I think administration at Ashland would be fools to jump on a Father in law/Son in law combo shopping themselves around to everyone. If that coaching team is quality, then schools would be seeking them out. (Rumor is that Boyd County already passed on their sales pitch). From what I understand Lemaster did not do a very good job as Pikeville College's baseball coach where he had the ability to recruit. How will he do trying to coach and inspire a team of young players? I still think Walter is the best man for the job. Administration is making a huge mistake if this info about Lemaster is true.

No clue. But they could hire Buck Showalter and you'd think it was a mistake so,,

Wonder why Prestonsburg didn't jump on the Lemaster/Ratliff duo since they are from that area? Seems like a red flag...

I wasn't at those games if you are referring to the Greenup Tourney I had a friend whose son played and he felt they played better. I also know the Reds are undefeated against the Nationals this year and the Reds are not good. Baseball is a funny game only game where you have the ball on defense. Was their improved play directly related to Walter? I don't know. Could it have been? Sure it could have. I would have had to have been there to come to my own conclusion. Not a great answer but an honest one.

 

The players can tell you who made the difference. Ask any of them and they will tell you Coach Walter was the difference in winning those games. He has the ability to inspire players to work at unexpected levels of play to maximize and surpass talent levels.