I didn't include Male or St. X on my list not because they aren't good jobs but the roadblocks that Trinity and Ballard present every year have to put a damper on their ceiling of success. I think that makes a difference in how good a job can be.

 

Very true. As an example: St. X has won at least 19 games in each of the past 6 seasons. It has won 23 games in two of those seasons. Yet it has not won a regional championship in any of those years. In four of those 6 years, St. X lost to Trinity in the Seventh Region tournament.

 

Look at the 2015-16 season. Male, with Alex Cook (now playing at Bellarmine), was 25-6. St. X, with Connor McKim (who had an outstanding freshman season at Rollins), was 25-10. Both lost to Trinity in the Seventh Region tournament.

I am not trying to debate the list because those are all great jobs. My question is what's the criteria? Like Ballard for instance that's a great job bc talent is there year in year out. But the region is loaded year in year out. I spoke with a very promenient retired coach he posed this question. Would u rather be in the 6,7, or 10th regions where it's a war? Or would u rather be in a region with lesser talent but much easier path to rupp???

Are we talking a job that you can win at or are we talking money? If we're talking wins then the jobs mentioned above definitely should be talked about. If we are talking money then it's a different ballgame. I know that Boyle County Ranks pretty high in the state as far as paying its coaches. I'm not talking a ton of money but the head basketball coach makes about an extra $9,000-11,000 a year to coach where in Louisville they make about $4,500 to 7,500. Most areas in the state pay close to the Louisville range.

 

http://www.boyle.kyschools.us/docs//district/approved%20extra%20service%20salary%20(09%2015%2016)%20%202016%20-%202017.pdf?id=4900

 

https://www.jefferson.kyschools.us/sites/default/files/forms/Salary%20Schedule%20Extra%20Service-Coaches.pdf

 

Those coaching salaries look kind of low for the amount of time they have to put in. Corbin pays really well compared to the numbers you have listed, with both the boys and girls basketball coaches making in the 16-18K range per year.

I am not trying to debate the list because those are all great jobs. My question is what's the criteria? Like Ballard for instance that's a great job bc talent is there year in year out. But the region is loaded year in year out. I spoke with a very promenient retired coach he posed this question. Would u rather be in the 6,7, or 10th regions where it's a war? Or would u rather be in a region with lesser talent but much easier path to rupp???

 

I think everyone's criteria is different.

 

To answer his question I'd rather be in a region like the 5th or 12th where there is an abundance of talent but the ability to put together an outstanding program with a chance at winning the region every year is a realistic goal. Ultimately winning region is every coach's goal. Choosing an easier path to Rupp while enjoying who you work for and enjoying the challenges of your job goes a long way for me.

 

The 6th, 7th and 11th would be the three hardest regions in my opinion because of the long standing traditional powers as well as the constant battles all season long. In the 11th the 43rd District is easily the toughest district in the state. LexCath, Dunbar, LCA, Lafayette and Tates Creek? Pure insanity. Especially right now. At the same time the experience that these coaches gain by being in this district is invaluable so taking on that challenge of the District of Death is something that would go a long way as well.

 

I see it both ways. Individual motivation is the main ingredient here.

1. Ballard

2. Covington Catholic

3. Scott County

4. Bowling Green

5. Trinity

6. Hopkinsville

7. Owensboro

8. Pleasure Ridge Park

9. Lexington Catholic

10. Mason County

11. Madison Central

12. Bullitt East

13. Newport Central Catholic

14. North Hardin

15. Doss

16. Warren Central

17. Graves County

18. Paul Laurence Dunbar

19. Henderson County

20. Covington Holmes

21. Henry Clay

22. Christian County

23. Male

24. Eastern

25. Paducah Tilghman

 

Others of note:

McCracken County, Madisonville, Fern Creek, DuPont Manual, Campbell County, GRC, Bryan Station, Pulaski County, Southwestern, South Laurel, Perry Central, Knott Central, Corbin

No one from the 8th region, I think Oldham Co is a top 25 program, and even though it is a young program Collins is right up there.

It seems to me from reading some of these responses that some of these top 25 jobs are at that level because of the coach leading the program. The coach at Cooper has done a phenomenal job, Ruthsatz at CC has taken a very good program and turned it into a great program, Hicks, Renner, & Szabo continue to turn out top teams each year. Not disagreeing on anything just thought this was a point that needed to be made. There are a few other programs that would have been viewed much higher a few years ago, but have gone through coaching changes and are no longer viewed as higher level programs/jobs.

It seems to me from reading some of these responses that some of these top 25 jobs are at that level because of the coach leading the program. The coach at Cooper has done a phenomenal job, Ruthsatz at CC has taken a very good program and turned it into a great program, Hicks, Renner, & Szabo continue to turn out top teams each year. Not disagreeing on anything just thought this was a point that needed to be made. There are a few other programs that would have been viewed much higher a few years ago, but have gone through coaching changes and are no longer viewed as higher level programs/jobs.

 

This is very true, for example is PRP a Top 25 program when Mabry leaves? He has been there a long time and the tradition has a chance to slide upon his departure. Open enrollment in Jefferson County has made who is coaching a particular program more important than the location of the school and what area of town a school had students mapped to. But some of those traditional programs (PRP may be like this when the time comes) will draw a very talented coaching pool of candidates when the legends from those schools retire.