Amazing how far this discussion went from who the coach at the new school should be. In an effort to refocus, how about Hillard Howard from Letcher Central? He has state title experience (Pikeville) and experience merging smaller schools into a consolidated venture. In addition, as he is a bit long in the tooth, he may be receptive to keeping an Eric Perry as DC and Jacob Saylor as OC that are already in place, which would make for a smooth transition. Just a thought...

Howard hasn't got the job done at Letcher yet.

Succinct and on the money as usual HDE, but I think you will see progress at Letcher under the new alignment (no Rock or Bell)...a district that Harlan Co. hopes to be in perhaps...might be a good way for Harlan County to help itself and weaken a future opponent at the same time...again, I'm not banging a drum for the guy (never met him), just tossing out an idea for discussion that doesn't include ADA contracts, alleged misuse of money, governmental red tape nor school vouchers...all of which makes great reading but doesn't get us to what we really want to know as to whom the new coach should be or is going to be.

 

What we NEED HDE is a little, how shall we say?...investigative reporting my good fellow. Crack this story and you might win the Roy Moore Award (the Harlan County Pulitzer).

Succinct and on the money as usual HDE, but I think you will see progress at Letcher under the new alignment (no Rock or Bell)...a district that Harlan Co. hopes to be in perhaps...might be a good way for Harlan County to help itself and weaken a future opponent at the same time...again, I'm not banging a drum for the guy (never met him), just tossing out an idea for discussion that doesn't include ADA contracts, alleged misuse of money, governmental red tape nor school vouchers...all of which makes great reading but doesn't get us to what we really want to know as to whom the new coach should be or is going to be.

 

What we NEED HDE is a little, how shall we say?...investigative reporting my good fellow. Crack this story and you might win the Roy Moore Award (the Harlan County Pulitzer).

 

 

Does this make three or four coaches that you have not been banging a drum for? RUM PA PM PM !

Only one person knows the answer, and I don't know if he's decided yet.

Ok, here's my top five. Tim Saylor is Superintendent so he can not be in the mix. This is in no particular order.

 

1. Dudley Hilton

2. Mike Holcomb

3. Jim Matney

4. Eric Perry (why not, lets see what he can do at Cawood, might be a diamond in the ruff)

5. Chuck Smith He might want to turn down the big bucks and come back to the high school level and build another program.(wishful thinking but Walt Disney says to wish)

I know it is a long shot, but has anyone thought about Ken Roark from Middlesboro? I know he has an established program down there but he seems to not be getting the talent year in year out that he used to. He has a ring... who knows? I think he deserves a look anyway.

Most of the coaches on here are big name coaches, and some legends in their communities. Besides luring one in with a ton of money, what exactly would lure a big name coach to a new school, with a brand new team starting from scratch? For their sake, I would love to see a big name coach take this program over, but for a big name coach still in the buisness, there seems to be much more to lose than gain in taking this job.

 

This could be interesting, and I'd enjoy reading what some had to say about this. If any of you were on a hiring task force, and were chasing a big name coach for the new school, what points would you try to sell him to get him to take the bait?

Well again i will have to disagree. The statement about living within one's means was directed only about kids and boundaries. I have never seen were the county has wanted to take kids within the city district. Those are kids for the city to educate. Likewise, kids who live within the county are kids for the county to educate. So from that perspective the county has and is living within their means. The statement about my tax dollars and my choice of were to send my child is something that sounds very good and is something that looks great on paper. However, as of right now thats not how our system is set up. With school choice and Vouchers gaining popularity maybe sometime in the near future your wish may come true but as for now thats not the way it works. I think as of now that both districts do a good job of educating our youth and there is not a need to cross lines. Each district has its strong points and each district has things they need to work on. If for some reason you feel that Wallins is better for your child you have several choices. You need to move into the county district or you need to fit the bill yourself. As far as each district fitting the bill as mentioned earlier those days are long gone. Finally, i would like to add that test scores are just one of many factors you should look at in determining a schools success or failure. They are many many things that make up a quality school and scores are only one of them. Like i said before i understand that both sides have very good points so this is my last post about this. Again we can agree to disagree. Hey, we can make the school big enough for you all also (LOL)

You never know.... of course being a lifelong Green Dragon, I'm hoping we continue to find a way to keep the doors open. I'll hush on the issue too,,,,probably.lol

1. County tradition

2. Challenge

3. facilities

4. Football pro administration

5. competive district

6. money

 

all these things gives a chance to build something great. Great coaches love a good challenge as long as they have the resources to get the job done.

Brain, just like lungbuster said, great coaches love a challenge. Who had ever heard of Boyle County before Smith took over. Hilton put Bell County football on the map. Matney put Johnson Central on the map and so forth. Some coaches love to build programs and what better place to build a program than Harlan County High School like lungbuster said with the challenge being there, a pro football administration, facilities and money. What more can a coach ask for.

1. County tradition

2. Challenge

3. facilities

4. Football pro administration

5. competive district

6. money

 

all these things gives a chance to build something great. Great coaches love a good challenge as long as they have the resources to get the job done.

 

 

Good post, and you bring up some great points. I think that a football pro administration can, and in the new school's case, will go a long way. Well said

Cawood used to go out and get coaches.

They hired Boyd Fox from Tennessee and made it to the state final four in 3A. Jim Cullivan, from western Tennessee, had a tremendous run in the 1980s and Tim Saylor followed with one great team and several good ones in the 1990s.

 

In basketball, they didn't have to go far to find John D. Wilson, then brought in Bob Sweeten from Ohio, then Kirk Chiles from Lexington with Mike Jones as an assistant, before he took over as head coach.

Speaking of old days, would there be a chance that Tom Larkey (former Cullivan assistant) might return? I know that like Holcomb, Matney, Hilton and Roark, he is entrenched as a favorite son where he is, but with the factors mentioned above, maybe he could be lured away. I've never heard anything bad about him, and Cawood and many others used to own Rockcastle before he arrived in Mt. Vernon.

Coach Larkey has had some health issues in the past that might impact a decision to take over a start up program, but a great coach none the less.

Another coach from the same staff at Cawood during Culley's run that has Harlan Co. ties is Bill Musick, great coach who really put Johnson Central on the map during his time in Paintsville. He is now in administration at Fairview Ind.