Guys, 

Coach James is a good guy, like any of us he is not perfect. I would say if you asked him he wishes he would have handled it different. Most likely he did apologize. Big thing I see, is you folks that post on here on behalf of Highlands need to humble yourself, your not helping your program, with your online antics. Your program is in disarray according to most of you, and when you didn't get your way today, you guys threw a tantrum. I imagine you guys would not want your kids or a coach  to act this way on the field ? But somehow it's commonplace with how you guys talk about coaches and admin at your school behind the computer. Good luck to you guys! We are tickled to death, to have our coach back. If you wanna play give us a ring. You guys are gonna find your guy, you got everything you need to do it right.... 

 

Highlands is a top 5 -10 football program in the state! The people in this thread who feel that the expectation at schools like this are too much are the reason Kentucky HS football is behind in many categories. 
 

The Trinity’s, Male, Boyle, Highlands, Beechwood, Belfry and few others. Have an expectation and I hope they keep it up! There is a reason Beatty won 15 titles in 21 years and why there are only 3 teams to dethrone him. Honestly if you don’t think that this is happening in any of the major football states of the country you’re wrong. I remember my time in Texas and leaving early for work and seeing middle school practice taking place at 6am showed how serious they are. Maybe one day we can be considered as a serious football state above basketball. 

I hope highlands finds someone who gets that back and going! Those expectations and that pressure is the same people who provide support and push kids to the next level! 
 

Good Luck to all parties involved! 

This move by Coach James reflects negatively on him, not on Highlands. Regardless of the reason he went back to Franklin County, there is nothing Coach James can say that takes the negativity in this move off of him. Unfortunate, but true.

 

I hate it for Highlands.  I personally couldn't believe he was leaving Franklin in the first place being his home school and getting so close this year.  Even if it was HHS.  He deserves the flak he's getting because he made a bonehead move.  Not the first to do it and won't be the last.  I sure he is sick about what has transpired over the last few days.  I don't think it was a move to sweetin his deal at Franklin, or to get his wife a better job or anything like that.  He's an ambitious coach and one of the premier programs in the state gave him the confirmation that he's doing things that people are noticing.  Hard to turn away from that. 

I believe the comments about the highlands faithful are also unfair.  If message board comments play any role at all in someone taking or leaving a job I doubt they will be a very good coach anyway.  They have a right to be upset about all of this.  I can't stand being in transition and I know a lot of others don't like it either.  BW is gone and you just want to get on with the business of the program getting pointed in the right direction and now you have to wait to see who's going to be the man to do it......again.  It's frustrating. 

7 minutes ago, BEChargers said:

I hate it for Highlands.  I personally couldn't believe he was leaving Franklin in the first place being his home school and getting so close this year.  Even if it was HHS.  He deserves the flak he's getting because he made a bonehead move.  Not the first to do it and won't be the last.  I sure he is sick about what has transpired over the last few days.  I don't think it was a move to sweetin his deal at Franklin, or to get his wife a better job or anything like that.  He's an ambitious coach and one of the premier programs in the state gave him the confirmation that he's doing things that people are noticing.  Hard to turn away from that. 

I believe the comments about the highlands faithful are also unfair.  If message board comments play any role at all in someone taking or leaving a job I doubt they will be a very good coach anyway.  They have a right to be upset about all of this.  I can't stand being in transition and I know a lot of others don't like it either.  BW is gone and you just want to get on with the business of the program getting pointed in the right direction and now you have to wait to see who's going to be the man to do it......again.  It's frustrating. 

Well said and agree 100%.

1 hour ago, Hard Work said:

Highlands is a top 5 -10 football program in the state! The people in this thread who feel that the expectation at schools like this are too much are the reason Kentucky HS football is behind in many categories. 
 

The Trinity’s, Male, Boyle, Highlands, Beechwood, Belfry and few others. Have an expectation and I hope they keep it up! There is a reason Beatty won 15 titles in 21 years and why there are only 3 teams to dethrone him. Honestly if you don’t think that this is happening in any of the major football states of the country you’re wrong. I remember my time in Texas and leaving early for work and seeing middle school practice taking place at 6am showed how serious they are. Maybe one day we can be considered as a serious football state above basketball. 

I hope highlands finds someone who gets that back and going! Those expectations and that pressure is the same people who provide support and push kids to the next level! 
 

Good Luck to all parties involved! 

Not to hi-Jack, but Kentucky HSFB when compared to states of similar population/demographics is dang good and then some.  
 

Kentucky never has been and never will be on a level w Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, etc purely due to those vast population and/or demographic differences.  
 

Schools here in KY practice/workout at 6:00am- largely in part due to the summer heat and having to navigate around all that red tape.  Some even continue it throughout the season due to the heat & Id say that’s why it’s done in Texas as well.

In regards to taking it seriously- Kentucky is a football state on the high school level compared to basketball in the talent/kids going to the next level(s) in comparison with the numbers- probably more so than ever and I see no signs of that ever slowing down.  
 

Highlands is a Top 5-10 job. You’re exactly right. 
 

Expectations aren’t the issue.  It’s expectations and not being given the resources to meet those expectations- that’s the issue (ie: coaching at most all schools, especially big time programs is a full time job).

Not lessening and/not allowing the HFC to be in a position to help them AND the program succeed. For example, in school strength and conditioning, coaching pay, extended days during the summer or lack of, assistant coaching pay/teaching positions for them, etc.

...not sure how much of that last paragraph is true at Highlands, but those are the cases for most of the state.  I do know Highlands doesn’t have in school strength/conditioning (like Boyle County and Belfry, amongst other powers have).  
 

Can completely understand why so many are upset. I wish both parties involved nothing, but the best!

3 hours ago, El Diablo said:

I guess I wouldn’t have had as much of an issue if he would have thanked Highlands and or apologized for wasting Highlands’ time. In his message he seemed oblivious to stepping on toes in the way he went about it. 
 

Does this happen often? A new coach having a press conference and then backing out? 

Did happen at Brossart right before Wiggins was given the job. 

It sounds like the pond looked much larger too the big fish, when he saw them at the parade.  I’ll cut him slack, Highlands needs to be more calculated this time.

30 minutes ago, John Anthony said:

Highlands needs to be more calculated this time.

The blame for this can’t be put on Highlands. James checked all the boxes, and then he got cold feet. 

21 minutes ago, TheDeuce said:

The blame for this can’t be put on Highlands. James checked all the boxes, and then he got cold feet. 

But why did he get cold feet?

18 minutes ago, John Anthony said:

But why did he get cold feet?

Who cares? Guy's gone. I'm turning the page. Ticked me off at first because that's how a normal person would react. There are plenty of just as qualified candidates out there. Hope Coach James gets to build on the state championship he won last year.

14 minutes ago, John Anthony said:

But why did he get cold feet?

Franklin County is his home.  He just took them to the state finals and was one play from coaching his alma mater to it's first ever state title.  Plus he returns a ton of talent.  I'd say that the guilt of leaving your home for one of the state pinnacles just got to him.  He's a young guy and maybe he thought that he still has plenty of time to make a move to another big name school in the years to come after he has notched Franklin a title or two.  I personally don't think he was afraid of the enormity of the job.  I think he got text after text from people who didn't even know he was vying for the HHS job and was announced with most of them not aware.  Then the parents and players of his own home town wished him luck, asked him to stay and whatever else you can imagine and it was too much to turn his back on. 

I will agree with one of the earlier posters.  He is a good man.  A man who made a BIG mistake.  Highlands has a right to be upset, and to think otherwise is ridiculous.  Also if you think this makes him untouchable you are also mistaken.  I probably wouldn't give him an interview for a couple of years but after they go deep in the playoffs several more times in the next few years there will be school lining up to make an overture. 

Also, if you didn't want to challenge HHS a few years ago, don't swell your chest up now that they are struggling a bit and you are playing with the big boys now.  I've personally listened to phone conversations of certain programs trying to find people to play and nobody wanting to give it a go.  They when you have a couple of down years the phone is ringing off the hook.  Be careful of what you wish for. 

The stuff I’m hearing about some players “parents” calling/texting Coach James already butt hurt because “his” golden child hasn’t received a call yet from James.....I’d run too. Those are the cancer of any program. Going to have that in any program I guess. Can’t wait till they’re gone. 

2 minutes ago, TEDFROMVILLAHILLS said:

The stuff I’m hearing about some players “parents” calling/texting Coach James already butt hurt because “his” golden child hasn’t received a call yet from James.....I’d run too. Those are the cancer of any program. Going to have that in any program I guess. Can’t wait till they’re gone. 

He was coach for like two days and they want to hear from him. Wow! If I was parent, I could care less since barely would even know the guy.

I can’t help but feel like a big message is being overlooked in all this.  The guy caved because of his loyalty to his home school.  At the same time, Highlands grads with deep loyalty to the program were overlooked in the hiring process.  No judgment, but something the interview committee needs to consider for future.