Looks like Coach Shatzer will be leaving Shawnee to take over at Jeffersontown. He posted on the listserv earlier today that Jeffersontown was in need of assistant coaches, and had himself as the head coach in his signature.

 

Jeffersontown is filled. Shawnee is open.

It's a difficult job, to say the least. Their closest game was 35 points, in their first game. Didn't have a game with multiple TD's after week 3. Their team next year won't have a single player on the team who has won a game.

 

 

I try to think of positive things for every potential job, but, this one is hard. At least you won't have high expectations, is the best I can do.

What type of school is Shawnee? I know it is officially called "The Academy at Shawnee." It isn't a magnet school. Are there neighborhood kids at the school or do you have to be accepted?

Shawnee is 47-231 since 1990. That's a 20% winning percentage. I'm sure that's among the worst in the state. They were 6-5 in 2008. That's their only winning season in that time.

 

What is the problem at Shawnee? Is it impossible to win?

That's some rough stats.

 

I think their first order of business would be finding a way to not get the clock run on them in every game. Drive any distance to find teams you can beat. There's some bottom tier teams that I'd be trying to play, and if we couldn't beat them, at least you'd know you were the worst team.

I would go to a non region schedule if you could. Try and get as many competitive games on your schedule as you can and try and change the culture.

With all due respect to the school and it’s faculty, Shawnee may have the worst football program in the Metro Louisville area. A lot of factors are responsible for this situation. Location and enrollment are the 2 main reasons. The best solution is to have a non-region schedule and play teams closer to their level.

This program should have been shut down years ago.

This program should have been shut down years ago.

 

Why? Shouldn't the kids at the school who desire to play football be allowed to continue playing football? I know they aren't very good but they're fielding a team and giving kids extracurricular opportunities. It might be what has kept some kids in school and/or out of trouble.

Why? Shouldn't the kids at the school who desire to play football be allowed to continue playing football? I know they aren't very good but they're fielding a team and giving kids extracurricular opportunities. It might be what has kept some kids in school and/or out of trouble.

 

If someone makes a decision to shut down a program based on wins and loses, they're wrong. Period.

 

If you can't safely field a team (as in, you barely have 11 players) then that is when you start those discussions. At no other point in time should it be considered.

Shawnee has had to forfeit games in recent years because they didn't have 11 players eligible to dress for the game.

With all due respect to the school and it’s faculty, Shawnee may have the worst football program in the Metro Louisville area. A lot of factors are responsible for this situation. Location and enrollment are the 2 main reasons. The best solution is to have a non-region schedule and play teams closer to their level.

 

I don't know much about the situation. What are the other factors? What's bad about the location? Also, enrollment numbers shouldn't matter because Kentucky uses the class system.

 

If a coach committed to Shawnee for four years, could they be successful? I'm sure part of their failure has been due to instability at the head coaching position.

Shawnee is located in the heart of one of the least savory areas of town. It’s not an attractive option for lots of parents. Their first game last year was an away game. I saw a picture, they literally had no one in the stands to watch them and I really mean the stands were empty. Their AD was recently reassigned over questions about missing equipment.

Edited April 5, 20188 yr by Ram
Rule 9

Shawnee is located in the heart of one of the least savory areas of town. It’s not an attractive option for lots of parents. Their first game last year was an away game. I saw a picture, they literally had no one in the stands to watch them and I really mean the stands were empty. Their AD was recently reassigned over questions about missing equipment.

 

Are they looking for a new AD?

 

What's your opinion about the kids in the school/on the team? Is there something to work with there? Are there good athletes in the school and the lack of success is keeping them away?

Edited April 5, 20188 yr by Ram
Rule 14

50 years ago Shawnee had a very competitive program. But as the population in Louisville’s west end declined and moved to the eastern part of the county, so did the option of attending Shawnee. As the enrollment decreased, so did the numbers on the football team. Without the support of the neighborhood or any type of booster club, the whole athletic program suffers. I can recall years ago they had to postpone a game because all the copper wire had been stolen from the stadium lights. There was another time when several players couldn’t play in a game because none of them had knee pads. You have to respect the kids who make an effort to play in that program but for safety reasons something needs to be done to get their numbers up.