Was all of this in the past and not a recent situation?

 

For the most part... which is why I am curious to see how people would view it in today's times where Kentucky is turning over Head Coaches at a record pace every off-season

Administration was the same during that timeframe

 

Then I would give a long leash to this coach. Now that doesn't mean that I wouldnt look into some program changes with perhaps asst coaches or doing some things differently. IMO the coaching carousel that has taken place the last 10 years or so has hurt way more programs than it has helped.

And to answer:

Participation was dropping slightly but still well above average

 

Yes, assistants are stable and loyal

 

Kids are on board

 

Kids are above par academically, some great students, some that struggle, otherwise all are getting the job done and the ones that do struggle are being challenged by the staff

 

The kids are definitely developing as leaders and humans

 

Feeder system is in place and above normal, but during this stretch it is a bit antiquated

 

IMO Head Coach of any sport in KY High School is about wayyyyyyyy more than just a state championship, so I tend to lean towards keep the coach.

I also want to introduce Coaching Resume B

 

This is a program that had not been an A-List program but had traditionally been a mediocre to good team prior to this Coach taking the job. No State Finals appearances, but the history of the program features lots of 1st and 2nd Round Playoff games. Team who has traditionally hovered around 6-4 regular seasons with some spikes and some lulls. The two seasons prior to this Coach arriving they were 6-5 and 3-8, FWIW.

 

The NEW Coach's first 7 seasons go like this:

6-5

7-5

7-5

7-4

7-4

4-7

5-6

 

43 Wins (54.4%)

36 Losses (45.6%)

 

2 First Round Playoff Wins in 7 Years

0 Wins Beyond the 2nd Round

 

After those losing seasons in years 6 and 7 what do you think happens in today's culture?

I also want to introduce Coaching Resume B

 

This is a program that had not been an A-List program but had traditionally been a mediocre to good team prior to this Coach taking the job. No State Finals appearances, but the history of the program features lots of 1st and 2nd Round Playoff games. Team who has traditionally hovered around 6-4 regular seasons with some spikes and some lulls. The two seasons prior to this Coach arriving they were 6-5 and 3-8, FWIW.

 

The NEW Coach's first 7 seasons go like this:

6-5

7-5

7-5

7-4

7-4

4-7

5-6

 

43 Wins (54.4%)

36 Losses (45.6%)

 

2 First Round Playoff Wins in 7 Years

0 Wins Beyond the 2nd Round

 

After those losing seasons in years 6 and 7 what do you think happens in today's culture?

 

I will ask my same question as before, administration changes during that time?

I will ask my same question as before, administration changes during that time?

 

No changes as far as I can recall

Not other team in the Region has more than one State Championship during that time.

 

I do not know the situation.

 

However, it looks like the team went to the Region Final (3rd round) 5 out of the last 7 years. However, only 2 of 4 the last 4 years. This is noted when they played 13 total games. Except for the first year it looks like they were 1 and 1 in the playoffs.

 

If you reach the Region Championship (3rd round) you can make the argument that that you are in the top 25% of your class. That is better than 75%. If you win one game in the playoffs you are in the top 50%. So the program is still tracking 'better than average' - at least mathematically.

 

The question I would still pose is - does changing the coach change the dynamic that keeps the program from winning its own Region against 7 to 9 other teams. If the 'blocker' to winning the region is the same team then a new formula - and maybe a new coach is part of that - should be looked at.

 

The pecking order in Kentucky football feels so, so static. Coaches are only part of what impacts that. In so many regions the two finalists feel pre-ordained. As examples - LexCath/Boyle (previous to recent changes), Highlands/CovCath, etc. LexCath and Boyle had a good, solid rivalry where each was winning. Highlands/CovCath - not so much.

No changes as far as I can recall

 

Keep the coach.

What are both coaches' standing with their respective AD's? Any issues there?

 

Are there any elements that these coaches may be 'past their time' or 'the game may have passed them by'?

Unless the coach is getting really, really old KEEP HIM!

What are both coaches' standing with their respective AD's? Any issues there?

 

Are there any elements that these coaches may be 'past their time' or 'the game may have passed them by'?

 

Coach A it could have been speculated in this instance as such

Coach B is young

If I am right, there was a pretty vocal portion of Coach A's own fan base that thought it was time to get rid of him. :popcorn:

Get the RE signs ready to plant in his yard, time to go from where I come from

If I am right, there was a pretty vocal portion of Coach A's own fan base that thought it was time to get rid of him. :popcorn:

 

:sssh:

THE REST OF THE STORY

 

COACH A

These 9 seasons outlined are between 1993 thru 2001.

 

This particular Head Coach came to a rural County School in 1984 and immediately found success. In only his second season he guided his team to the State Finals. He then returned them there his very next year and had a small community captivated. His program then leveled off a bit, victim to strong tams in their playoff path.They still continued to rack up regular season wins though.

 

In 1993 the talent pool took a lull combined with a brutal regular season schedule. The talent pool remained down and their playoff fortunes often came to rest with Bell County and Tim Couch's Leslie County Eagles in the Region. Nearing the turn of the Century enrollment began dropping putting the program as one of the smallest teams in their classification and ultimately dropping them down a class where Mike Holcomb's Breathitt County Bobcats became a major hurdle. With the emergence of the Air Raid Offense even this traditional run team found themselves 5 wide.

 

As @Watusi pointed out, grumbling began in the football crazed community. Some questioned if the game had passed the coach by and if he would ever get past his run of Regional Finals losses.

 

Then, things changed. As roads improved this small school began to reinvest in a Feeder System that had grown stagnant by playing each other and with dwindling numbers. Consolidation at the Middle School level allowed for a single Middle School team. The talent pool also began ebbing in the direction of the questioned coach.

 

After another disappointing Regional Final loss in 2002 to an eventual State Champion, another stroke of good fortune occurred. A RB with unbelievable good given strength and power had came up through the Feeder System and was set to star as a Junior, and joining him was a transfer RB with elite speed "ran off" by questionable actions of his previous coach. The two formed a dynamic tandem that would lead the Coach to his first and then second state Titles.

 

After that the tipping point had occurred. After some questioned if they would ever reach a Semi-Final again a streak of Semi-Finals began that with the exception of one year is still going to this day. Not content with the success of the revamped Middle School, they increased competition and also increased the grassroots levels of the feeder system. A brand new school and state of the art stadium, coupled with the success of the High School and strength of the feeder system just continued to gain steam.

 

In 2007, after a handful of near misses in the Semi-Finals, they returned to the Championship Game, then again once more in 2010. By now the program was one of the stronger ones in the State from top to bottom and with the newfound depth it allowed a program that once played nearly all 11 starters each way to start playing more and more guys, in particular underclassmen.

 

2011 they feel just short in the Finals to an opponent most believed to be superior. In 2012 it repeated, but the Middle School program took on a new level competing statewide and immediately bringing home the hardware. 2013 led by Freshmen from that group, the Varsity won their 3rd Title, the Middle School followed suit. In 2014 the trend continued, this time with the Varsity defeating the same team that had beat them in 4 previous Championships. Those Freshman were now Juniors and rolled to a State Title in 2014 and with it new heights.

 

Suddenly the coach that was once questioned was the Baron of the Bluegrass. A dominant team that was nearly entirely Juniors.

 

So if you entertained the thought that maybe that kind of record would not be acceptable at your school... just consider who you just fired in your head. The man with the Regional Final ceiling... Coach A... is none other than the most winningest coach in KY History and now the 5 time State Champion Phillip Haywood.