The Harlan County schools have barely been able to field JV teams the past five or 10 years and often play only four or five games with 15 to 20 players. There's very little chance that any players with any ability at all will be left out of playing time. Harlan County simply does not have that kind of talent at this point. Someone who doesn't get playing time for Harlan County is not going to get it at Bell County, at least not at the start.

 

The ideal situation, especially in a 5A school, would have a two-platoon system which would allow 22 starters, even though I'm sure there will be a few guys who will play both ways. You may be able to have some of the younger guys on special teams and have JV and freshman teams.

 

I don't think it's going to be Hilton or Halcomb, two great coaches who I expect to stay where they are.

Corbin fans think Steve Jewell would be a good candidate for this job.

I have heard that the powers to be want Coach Jewell to come to the new school also. Maybe just rumors but I have heard his name mentioned as a possible coach for the Black Bears.

You guys have mentioned three (3) really good coaches in Hylton, Holcomb, and Saylor. Someone also mentioned Donahue the coach at Harlan High. He has had 3 or 4 good seasons, but his overall record is 83-71 in 14 or 15 years which is just above 500. I would not consider Donahue being a "big" name coach at this time. This is not any disrespect towards Donahue and Harlan, but I do not think posting a overall record like this puts him on that big name level.

 

My comment on Donahue was only in regard to potential transfers...in no way saying that he would go or be a good fit, just that if any Harlan Independent kids were to consider transferring for football, the coach would need to be at least a more respected name than Donahue.

 

Again, though, off the topic of Harlan County High, Donahue averaging 6-5 every season (based on the above stats - I didn't confirm) at Harlan with the lack of money, facilities, player numbers and usual Class A cycles of talent (no disrespect to Harlan intended) over 15 years is quite impressive. I would think his record would be that much better in a bigger, better program.

I am not sure on that career record, but Harlan has had well above 500 level talent. Again, back to the main topic of Harlan County, HDE what names have you been told?

WHat is the timetable for consolidation and when would the new team take the field?

WHat is the timetable for consolidation and when would the new team take the field?

 

I have heard many majority opinions that the fall of 2008 will be school opened and Black Bears on the field. I have heard one or two minority opinions that 2008 is not guaranteed due to financial and construction pitfalls with the new school building.

I am not sure on that career record, but Harlan has had well above 500 level talent.

 

I'm not banging a drum for the guy, just trying not to be misconstrued. This year and several years, sure...talent >.500...several years out of his tenure, though, he's had 2-8 talent and still managed to be 4-6, 5-5, 6-4, respectable and competitive. That's ALL I'm saying on this, I promise.

No school opening date is guaranteed because there are often delays for one reason or another. The company building Harlan County High School, from what I've heard, has a good record for being done on time, and the school is certainly on schedule, if not ahead of schedule, at this point with 17 months to go before the scheduled completition date.

 

I've heard all the names mentioned above

I don't see Jewell leaving Corbin unless he is forced out. I also don't see Hilton leaving Bell with the young talent he has coming up. I don't have a clue who will be coaching the Black Bears in '08 but I would say that the money will be there to hire a big name coach. They are paying 3 head coaches right now and when they are able to pool the money together for one coach I would say that it will be a nice chunk of change.

Whyme, you totally missed what I was talking about, to hire a NAME coach they generally want to bring some of their own coaches with them. What I was saying is that it would be hard to get teaching jobs when you are going to place three schools into one. Futhermore do not try to put a negitive spin on my comments, as UNLIKE you I do live here and want the new school to be a shinning success on and off the playing fields.

I woould hope that Harlan Co. wouldn't settle for 4-6 and 5-5 seasons. That is why you go hire a Hilton and pay the man big money. He will win, and will be top in the state. Harlan could be like a small college program, if the right person is hired. Someone mentioned Hensley, better check out his record at a big school like Dunbar.

My thinking exactly Coach T. I really don't think that Tim Saylor will settle on hiring a coach that has a .500 record. Unlike Mountain Pride 10, I have confidence that Saylor will not settle on an average coach, that he will go after a "name" coach no matter if he want to bring 5 coaches with him. Absolutely no disrespect Mountain Pride 10, I figured that if you say that you "want the new school to be a shinning success on and off the playing fields" it just suprised me that you would be a pessimistic on getting a name coach and kids "BOLTING" to Harlan High and Bell, so I guess I took that wrong, my apolagies. Guess I just misunderstood you.

Coach Hensley had a very good record at East Jess. which is about the same size as the new school will be. Also (whyme) I did not mean to suggest that Mr. Saylor would settle for a .500 coach but that it would be difficult to pull that off under the conditions that are facing this district.

Whyme I have been misunderstood for most of my life, and apolagie accepted.