10 minutes ago, BillNye said:

Mark Clark took over a Hoptown program that was at its lowest in history in 2011 and did a good job of building it back up to respectable.  The past 5 years with Clayton returning have maintained that level.  It hasn't fallen nor has it risen.  The Hoptown job is a local to regional job at best.  They haven't really been relevant for at least 15 years.  With so many unknowns involving the consolidation there is probably limited interested at best other than local coaches. Not to mention the Tigers have played second fiddle to Logan County and/or Madisonville for most of the past 5 years and Christian County has fallen off a cliff since 2017.  Will be an interesting hire to say the least.

Clayton elevated the job in my opinion back to relevance. They went to a Regional Final in 17 & a state Semi-Final in ‘20. I wouldn’t call that playing second fiddle at all to Madisonville or Logan County. 

With the consolidation it isn’t as appealing of a job on the state level and do agree it’s going to be a local coach due to those factors you mentioned. 

11 minutes ago, WKY_Football said:

Clayton elevated the job in my opinion back to relevance. They went to a Regional Final in 17 & a state Semi-Final in ‘20. I wouldn’t call that playing second fiddle at all to Madisonville or Logan County.

Clayton led Hoptown teams the past 5 years were 2-5 against Madisonville and 3-5 against Logan County.  If that isn't second fiddle then there will be no convincing you.  Would a young offensive coach like Will Barnes at Caldwell entertain being the coach at consolidated Hoptown/Christian County?  That could be a very good fit.  

1 hour ago, KingDeuce said:

A different county, Hopkins County is Madisonville / Central Hopkins.

Well aware.

1 hour ago, BillNye said:

Clayton led Hoptown teams the past 5 years were 2-5 against Madisonville and 3-5 against Logan County.  If that isn't second fiddle then there will be no convincing you.  Would a young offensive coach like Will Barnes at Caldwell entertain being the coach at consolidated Hoptown/Christian County?  That could be a very good fit.  

Will Barnes does not leave Caldwell County.

16 hours ago, BillNye said:

Mark Clark took over a Hoptown program that was at its lowest in history in 2011 and did a good job of building it back up to respectable.  The past 5 years with Clayton returning have maintained that level.  It hasn't fallen nor has it risen.  The Hoptown job is a local to regional job at best.  They haven't really been relevant for at least 15 years.  With so many unknowns involving the consolidation there is probably limited interested at best other than local coaches. Not to mention the Tigers have played second fiddle to Logan County and/or Madisonville for most of the past 5 years and Christian County has fallen off a cliff since 2017.  Will be an interesting hire to say the least.

From what i remember, Clark took over a program that had some bad records against tough schedules. Then he arrived and they went winless for 2 years. They struggled mightily in 5A. They dropped down to an easier district in 4A and did well against a much easier schedule, but fell flat in the playoffs. Never got past the 2nd round. I don’t think he ever had a kid play Division 1 football. I can’t think of one big win he had his time at HHS. I know my Colonels went 5-1 against him and that wasn’t a great era for CCHS either.
 

Clark left town when a very talented group all left the team, a team that should’ve went much further. Clark would’ve had a losing record had he returned. I think the year Clayton arrived they had to replace all 11 offensive starters. Clayton immediately won a 2nd round game with a team with much less talent and experience and about took down a State title Franklin Simpson team when they went up 21-0 before some lights went out. Clayton’s era features the Jesse kid who went to UofL and now the Mercer kid has an offer from Miami Ohio.

Hoptown was a program that routinely beat Mayfield and BG. A program that could stand toe to toe with Male, Boyle, St. X, and those type of teams. That’s the type of program it can be and imagine what the 6A consolidated school could be.

Clark is a nice guy, but he has a 10 year track record of being around average. Which that isn’t bad, but I think this area needs a guy that can beat big boys. A guy that can do more with less.

Why did this thread about the open HOPTOWN job turn into a bashing of a Coach that  is nearly 6 years removed?? 

lots of mis information being spewed, namely leaving NO TALENT?

Both the Starting QB & Best all around athlete were Juniors in Clarks last year?  

Its very strange but sure looks  like a PERSONAL: problem with the Former Coach, all of which has nothing to do with the current Tigers search. 

 

8 hours ago, CoachHB said:

Why did this thread about the open HOPTOWN job turn into a bashing of a Coach that  is nearly 6 years removed?? 

lots of mis information being spewed, namely leaving NO TALENT?

Both the Starting QB & Best all around athlete were Juniors in Clarks last year?  

Its very strange but sure looks  like a PERSONAL: problem with the Former Coach, all of which has nothing to do with the current Tigers search. 

 

Not when that coach is trying to get the job currently. I wonder if the folks in Paducah know about his talks with Hoptown? This matters because once the schools combine, my colonels will be joined with the Tigers. It’s a 6A job and we need a big time hire.

And if you followed the basketball situation in Haworth’s last year, both of those players were out the door and were a big reason Tim didn’t play due to eligibility issues. Clayton inherited a bare roster. You’ll also see the strength of schedule is much tougher under Clayton. The program he inherited dominated weaker schedules, this current program can at least be on the same field as a team like Mayfield.

8 hours ago, Region2 Hype Man said:

Not when that coach is trying to get the job currently. I wonder if the folks in Paducah know about his talks with Hoptown? This matters because once the schools combine, my colonels will be joined with the Tigers. It’s a 6A job and we need a big time hire.

And if you followed the basketball situation in Haworth’s last year, both of those players were out the door and were a big reason Tim didn’t play due to eligibility issues. Clayton inherited a bare roster. You’ll also see the strength of schedule is much tougher under Clayton. The program he inherited dominated weaker schedules, this current program can at least be on the same field as a team like Mayfield.

Again you’re bashing a coach that did nothing but pull a hoptown program out of drowning water. Went toe to toe with south warren when SW had a 5A roster playing in 4A. You said that 5-1 Christian county era wasn’t good? You might want to check how D1 players they had during that time and the record. This post shouldn’t be about blasting a coach or assuming he has talks with another school. Hoptown will find the best fit for the job as the job has a lot of interest.

5 hours ago, Footballmania said:

Again you’re bashing a coach that did nothing but pull a hoptown program out of drowning water. Went toe to toe with south warren when SW had a 5A roster playing in 4A. You said that 5-1 Christian county era wasn’t good? You might want to check how D1 players they had during that time and the record. This post shouldn’t be about blasting a coach or assuming he has talks with another school. Hoptown will find the best fit for the job as the job has a lot of interest.

Not assuming, he’s interested and in talks. Several around the program are all talking about it. Friends in Paducah say he wants to get out before he’s pushed out.

That program wasn’t in bad shape when he arrived, Dixie Jones had solid rosters but just wasn’t a good offensive coach. The teams were talented, but not 5A talented. He came in and they lost all their games for 2 years. It was some of the worst football this area had ever seen. 

And they will find a coach, but in 2011 they waited until the last minute and got Clark. Never did I say he was a bad guy or didn’t work hard, I just think he’s not fit for the jobs in this area. And i saw at CCHS last year when a small group try to bring in a coach they can control, it does not work. I see the same happening at HHS. A few people know they can have more access and say so if they get in who they want. 
 

Sports in this area have been destroyed by parents and boosters trying to get coaches they can control rather than good coaches who push their kids.

I know facts don't matter in today's world, but here it goes.  Hopkinsville went 3-8 in 2009 and 3-7 in 2010 the last 2 years of the Dixie Jones era losing to the likes of Clarksville Tn (5-6), Madisonville twice (5-6), a 2-9 Ohio County, and a 1-9 Marshall County team.  The 2010 Tiger team did not even make the playoffs due to their loss to said 2-9 Ohio County team in the tough 5A district 1 (someone else's words).  It also coincided with Steve Lovelace becoming the coach at Christian County and promptly taking the Colonels to state Championship games in 2008 and 2010.  Needless to say, all the talent in town was flocking to Christian County by the time Clark arrived in 2011.  Clark did go win less in 2011, but the rebuild was on starting in 2012 going 3-8 and qualifying for the playoffs by beating Ohio County.  Clark finished the rebuild by going 10-2 in 2015 and 10-2 2016.  

So in short, Clark inherited a program in disarray in 2011 that bottomed out his first year and when he left the program after 6 years the Tigers had gone 20-4 his last 2 seasons.  I don't think anyone can argue that Coach Clayton inherited a much better situation than Coach Clark.

Hopkinsville hasn't been a program that "routinely beat Mayfield and BG regularly" in over 15 years and they haven't gone "toe to toe" with any state powers in those same 15 years.  Honestly, they haven't beaten anyone other than the usual western kentucky suspects since 2005.  As already stated, the Clayton era of 2017 - 2021 had losing records of 3-5 against Logan County and 2-5 against Madisonville in that tough 4A district 1 and also included a head scratching loss in 2020 to a Calloway County team that had a losing record. 

Clark had one D1 Signee during his tenure, Don Parker, that just finished a very productive career at Murray State.  Dixie Jones from 2005 - 2010 never had a D1 signee.  Craig Clayton from 2017 - 2021 never had a D1 signee.  The WR, Jesse, is a walk-on at UL.  

McCracken had a tough year in 2021, no doubt about it and McCracken was way over scheduled for the team they had coming back.  McCracken is a better job than a consolidated Hopkinville/ Christian County, but the dynamics of a school and football program are always changing and Coach Clark may be looking for a change.  I am surprised he would have interest in Hopkinsville, if that is true. 

I believe they should do what it takes to get a coach like Will Barnes at Caldwell or Derek Johns at Union County.  Both are successful coaches, teams play with discipline, and both would do a good job bridging the communities of the 2 programs.

1 hour ago, BillNye said:

I know facts don't matter in today's world, but here it goes.  Hopkinsville went 3-8 in 2009 and 3-7 in 2010 the last 2 years of the Dixie Jones era losing to the likes of Clarksville Tn (5-6), Madisonville twice (5-6), a 2-9 Ohio County, and a 1-9 Marshall County team.  The 2010 Tiger team did not even make the playoffs due to their loss to said 2-9 Ohio County team in the tough 5A district 1 (someone else's words).  It also coincided with Steve Lovelace becoming the coach at Christian County and promptly taking the Colonels to state Championship games in 2008 and 2010.  Needless to say, all the talent in town was flocking to Christian County by the time Clark arrived in 2011.  Clark did go win less in 2011, but the rebuild was on starting in 2012 going 3-8 and qualifying for the playoffs by beating Ohio County.  Clark finished the rebuild by going 10-2 in 2015 and 10-2 2016.  

So in short, Clark inherited a program in disarray in 2011 that bottomed out his first year and when he left the program after 6 years the Tigers had gone 20-4 his last 2 seasons.  I don't think anyone can argue that Coach Clayton inherited a much better situation than Coach Clark.

Hopkinsville hasn't been a program that "routinely beat Mayfield and BG regularly" in over 15 years and they haven't gone "toe to toe" with any state powers in those same 15 years.  Honestly, they haven't beaten anyone other than the usual western kentucky suspects since 2005.  As already stated, the Clayton era of 2017 - 2021 had losing records of 3-5 against Logan County and 2-5 against Madisonville in that tough 4A district 1 and also included a head scratching loss in 2020 to a Calloway County team that had a losing record. 

Clark had one D1 Signee during his tenure, Don Parker, that just finished a very productive career at Murray State.  Dixie Jones from 2005 - 2010 never had a D1 signee.  Craig Clayton from 2017 - 2021 never had a D1 signee.  The WR, Jesse, is a walk-on at UL.  

McCracken had a tough year in 2021, no doubt about it and McCracken was way over scheduled for the team they had coming back.  McCracken is a better job than a consolidated Hopkinville/ Christian County, but the dynamics of a school and football program are always changing and Coach Clark may be looking for a change.  I am surprised he would have interest in Hopkinsville, if that is true. 

I believe they should do what it takes to get a coach like Will Barnes at Caldwell or Derek Johns at Union County.  Both are successful coaches, teams play with discipline, and both would do a good job bridging the communities of the 2 programs.

Hopkinsville also beat Henderson County whom I don’t think Clark has beaten the last few years at McCracken. Not to mention beating John Hardin in the 2020 season advancing to the state Semi-finals. Hopkinsville also beat Paducah this year and beat McCracken fully healthy in a scrimmage.

The Hopkinsville/Christian County consolidated job is by far a better job than McCracken County as most people would agree. You will have the same facilities as McCracken with far better athletes. 
 

Clark is a good football coach. I would be surprised if he left McCracken to go to Hopkinsville to be the Tigers coach. If he were promised the consolidated job then I could see it. 
 

Will Barnes and Derek Johns would not be interested in the consolidated school job and I don’t think the consolidated school would be interested either. That consolidated school will go for a big name hire if all the rumors are true. 
 

Dixie Jones did have a D1 signee off of that 2010 team. A DB that signed with EKU named Deno Montgomery. 

Barnes has never won a big game has he? Johns would be an interesting pick as he has done a good job at Union. I am sure the best candidate will get this job and I assume several top coaches will apply. 

2 hours ago, BillNye said:

I know facts don't matter in today's world, but here it goes.  Hopkinsville went 3-8 in 2009 and 3-7 in 2010 the last 2 years of the Dixie Jones era losing to the likes of Clarksville Tn (5-6), Madisonville twice (5-6), a 2-9 Ohio County, and a 1-9 Marshall County team.  The 2010 Tiger team did not even make the playoffs due to their loss to said 2-9 Ohio County team in the tough 5A district 1 (someone else's words).  It also coincided with Steve Lovelace becoming the coach at Christian County and promptly taking the Colonels to state Championship games in 2008 and 2010.  Needless to say, all the talent in town was flocking to Christian County by the time Clark arrived in 2011.  Clark did go win less in 2011, but the rebuild was on starting in 2012 going 3-8 and qualifying for the playoffs by beating Ohio County.  Clark finished the rebuild by going 10-2 in 2015 and 10-2 2016.  

So in short, Clark inherited a program in disarray in 2011 that bottomed out his first year and when he left the program after 6 years the Tigers had gone 20-4 his last 2 seasons.  I don't think anyone can argue that Coach Clayton inherited a much better situation than Coach Clark.

Hopkinsville hasn't been a program that "routinely beat Mayfield and BG regularly" in over 15 years and they haven't gone "toe to toe" with any state powers in those same 15 years.  Honestly, they haven't beaten anyone other than the usual western kentucky suspects since 2005.  As already stated, the Clayton era of 2017 - 2021 had losing records of 3-5 against Logan County and 2-5 against Madisonville in that tough 4A district 1 and also included a head scratching loss in 2020 to a Calloway County team that had a losing record. 

Clark had one D1 Signee during his tenure, Don Parker, that just finished a very productive career at Murray State.  Dixie Jones from 2005 - 2010 never had a D1 signee.  Craig Clayton from 2017 - 2021 never had a D1 signee.  The WR, Jesse, is a walk-on at UL.  

McCracken had a tough year in 2021, no doubt about it and McCracken was way over scheduled for the team they had coming back.  McCracken is a better job than a consolidated Hopkinville/ Christian County, but the dynamics of a school and football program are always changing and Coach Clark may be looking for a change.  I am surprised he would have interest in Hopkinsville, if that is true. 

I believe they should do what it takes to get a coach like Will Barnes at Caldwell or Derek Johns at Union County.  Both are successful coaches, teams play with discipline, and both would do a good job bridging the communities of the 2 programs.

I’ll rephrase, FBS D1 signing. And don’t give me that about Jesse. He’s a preferred walk-on at UofL, but had offers to Uk and many other places. He’s at his dream school, not some walk on. And Mercer is going to sign soon.
 

3-7 in 5A while losing to teams like Franklin Tennessee, Christian County (made state), etc is different than 0-10 losing to Warren East. Dixie Jones went 3-8 in 2009, but you’ll see they beat 3A champion Paducah Tillman, beat them again in 2010. 
 

In Jones last year, they lost to Owensboro, Madisonville, and Ohio County all by less than 1 score in district games. One was like a missed extra point. 3 1 score losses and plays, flip that around and it’s 6-4 and the 2 seed. That’s a team that just couldn’t execute, better coaching and luck wins. Poor offensive play calling too. Some bad losses, but a much tougher schedule.

A team that is 1 play away in 3 games isn’t a team in shambles, a team that should go winless for 2 years. Every game was a running clock. Thats not inheriting some mess. Thats coming in and running everyone off the team. 

Clark’s wins over his 6 years at Hoptown? Since you want facts.

Allen/Scottsville, Apollo, Ohio, Greenwood, West Creek TN, Calloway, Warren East, a 4-8 Christian County, Graves County, Murray, Madisonville, Logan, Hopkins Central, Logan, Graves, Fort Campbell

In his 6 years, he had 2 wins against teams with a winning record. A 7-5 Murray and a 6-5 Graves County. 
 

Clayton’s 5 years?

Paducah, Calloway, Hop Central, Logan County, Greenwood, Warren East, Caldwell, Kenwood, Henderson, Christian, Madisonville, John Hardin

Let’s not even get into that Clayton’s first year he had 11 starters to replace on offense, he took undefeated regular season Christian County to the last drive and had State bound Franklin Simpson down 20-0 in the 4th. All that in a year he had a player tragically die. Or that in year 2 his starting QB and backup QB both go down with season ending injuries and had to run a WR at QB or this year he had ti convert a punter to QB an go against Mayfield and BG like that. 
 

It’s just an eye test. In 2019, Hoptown lost 22-27 to a strong Mayfield team. Or you like to talk Madisonville and Logan, but you don’t mention how they both weren’t very good during the Clark years and had top 4A teams during this Clayton run, historic teams by their standards. 
 

Clark had a great team in 2016 and fell short. That was one of the most talented groups in HHS history, but only beat one team with a winning record. The group left, he cut out of town. Has done pretty much the same at McCracken. He is what he is, but he’s not Craig Clayton.
 

This isn’t to down Clark, but it’s to show that Clayton even in older age, has this program at a higher level. He didn’t inherit much and has kept them doing well, even during a time that Madisonville and Logan had become great programs.

1 hour ago, WKY_Football said:

Hopkinsville also beat Henderson County whom I don’t think Clark has beaten the last few years at McCracken. Not to mention beating John Hardin in the 2020 season advancing to the state Semi-finals. Hopkinsville also beat Paducah this year and beat McCracken fully healthy in a scrimmage.

The Hopkinsville/Christian County consolidated job is by far a better job than McCracken County as most people would agree. You will have the same facilities as McCracken with far better athletes. 
 

Clark is a good football coach. I would be surprised if he left McCracken to go to Hopkinsville to be the Tigers coach. If he were promised the consolidated job then I could see it. 
 

Will Barnes and Derek Johns would not be interested in the consolidated school job and I don’t think the consolidated school would be interested either. That consolidated school will go for a big name hire if all the rumors are true. 
 

Dixie Jones did have a D1 signee off of that 2010 team. A DB that signed with EKU named Deno Montgomery. 

I remember Deno’s is close or related to a legendart Colonel when i was in school at CCHS. Tony McCombs. We thought he was gonna move and enroll at CCHS in 2010 to play with the Hickey team, but it did not work out.

But I’m sorry I need to clarify D1 FBS rather than FCS. The last HHS FBS signee was Pulley in Clayton’s last year, then the next one was Jesse last fall.

I think they will get a proven coach that has coached at a high level 5 or 6 A and has won at a consistent rate. No way will this new school settle for a lower class 2 or 3 A unless they have several Rings? With all of the talent in that district they should be in the finals on a regular basis!