Well Chad Niedert is leaving the building.  He is pursuing a total different career path outside of education which in turn does not allow him to devote the time necessary to continue to be the Head Coach of HIghlands High School.

These have been 5 strong years under his leadership compiling an 83-26-9 record, 2018 State Runner Up and 2019 losing in the Qtrs (in PKs) to eventual State Champion Henry Clay.  Those were the 2 years obviously that they won the 9th Region under Chad.

Highlands returns leading scoring Colin Pieper who will be a Senior and going to be JR Chad Gesenhues who had 10 goals and 4 assists.

Highlands will be a Top contender in the 9th Region next year......

Now whose going to lead them????

GO BIRDS!!!!!

PS....still bitter!

cc: @The Double Deuce

I think Jeremy Robertson is a very interesting name to watch here.  

The picture I have in my head is a lot of AD's calling up their Boys Soccer coach saying "Don't you do it" "Don't do it"........

3 weeks later "Dang it, you did it!!!!"

How about Alex Dean for this job?

On 3/30/2022 at 5:52 PM, Jack of all Trades said:

How about Alex Dean for this job?

My understanding is that he's an assistant at Dixie now.

On 3/30/2022 at 4:11 PM, The Double Deuce said:

I think Jeremy Robertson is a very interesting name to watch here.  

Lots of smoke about this still, and while it may be nothing, it feels at least somewhat real.

Any chance Mike Welker makes the jump from Moeller? Lives in town. Wife was a phenomenal soccer player at HHS. Chances of winning a title in KY are far higher than winning in OH. Could be a long shot but would also be a huge hire and I know that him and Niedert are close friends. 

On 4/22/2022 at 8:46 PM, Kenny Powers said:

Any chance Mike Welker makes the jump from Moeller? Lives in town. Wife was a phenomenal soccer player at HHS. Chances of winning a title in KY are far higher than winning in OH. Could be a long shot but would also be a huge hire and I know that him and Niedert are close friends. 

That would be the grand slam of home run hires -- but I can't believe Mike would leave Moeller for Highlands, even with the other factors that are in play.  Holy Cow, that would be the absolute BEST case scenario for The Birds!!!  He is special, and I don't throw that word around lightly.

This process (hiring a coach at Highlands) once again is taking way to long for my sanity.

 

 

4 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

This process (hiring a coach at Highlands) once again is taking way to long for my sanity.

 

 

Do you think they are trying to "get it right" or do you think there is an issue?

Just now, theguru said:

Do you think they are trying to "get it right" or do you think there is an issue?

I am hoping its the "let's get it right" than there being an issue.  I don't see (or have heard) of what an issue there might be.  I was about to elaborate on my statement by saying this as well:  Time is of the essence.  Tryouts for "club soccer" are earlier this year then in years past.  So for the sake of those "elite" players at Highlands (which they have a few) that might be getting nervous on who they pick might just say "the heck with it" I am committing to all year round "club soccer" which would really put a damper on getting the right hire if it isn't a timely one.

Just my 2 cents to think about......

7 hours ago, The Double Deuce said:

That would be the grand slam of home run hires -- but I can't believe Mike would leave Moeller for Highlands, even with the other factors that are in play.  Holy Cow, that would be the absolute BEST case scenario for The Birds!!!  He is special, and I don't throw that word around lightly.

I completely agree with you. He would be the definition of a home run hire. I am probably shooting for the stars but it sure would be cool to see him coach his boys where he lives and where his wife grew up.  

I know I mentioned his name last year when Highlands girls was looking for their coach BUT I will repeat it for the Highlands boys program. 

Eric Busener - He was/is Suli's Assistant coach at NDA, so he just got a shiny nice State Championship ring this past year.  He has coaching experience at both NKU and Thomas More.  He was heavily involved with coaching/training for NKSA club and now Kings Hammer.  He is a 2006 Thomas More alum who excelled on the soccer team there being a 2 time MVP on the team.

In my interactions with Eric he has displayed a great demeanor with the players, parents, officials, etc.

Don't know if @Big Red would concur with how he liked Eric as part of the NDA staff...  Maybe he has too much on his plate and that's why he jumped on NDA's staff as just an assistant.  Not aware of any skeletons in his closet.....

Who knows.....

16 minutes ago, FrankNicodemus said:

I know I mentioned his name last year when Highlands girls was looking for their coach BUT I will repeat it for the Highlands boys program. 

Eric Busener - He was/is Suli's Assistant coach at NDA, so he just got a shiny nice State Championship ring this past year.  He has coaching experience at both NKU and Thomas More.  He was heavily involved with coaching/training for NKSA club and now Kings Hammer.  He is a 2006 Thomas More alum who excelled on the soccer team there being a 2 time MVP on the team.

In my interactions with Eric he has displayed a great demeanor with the players, parents, officials, etc.

Don't know if @Big Red would concur with how he liked Eric as part of the NDA staff...  Maybe he has too much on his plate and that's why he jumped on NDA's staff as just an assistant.  Not aware of any skeletons in his closet.....

Who knows.....

There was a pretty significant issue that ended his tenure with Thomas More, not unforgivable, to be sure, but something that a high school will have to be comfortable with.  I think Eric is a nice guy, he did a great job in many years at NKSA before their merger with Kings, and he has done a very good job with Kings / Corporex since the merger.  

Heck, I think Suli AND Eric could be candidates at Highlands, and I still hear from people I trust that Jeremy Robertson is still live for this job.  

7 minutes ago, The Double Deuce said:

There was a pretty significant issue that ended his tenure with Thomas More, not unforgivable, to be sure, but something that a high school will have to be comfortable with.  I think Eric is a nice guy, he did a great job in many years at NKSA before their merger with Kings, and he has done a very good job with Kings / Corporex since the merger.  

Heck, I think Suli AND Eric could be candidates at Highlands, and I still here from people I trust that Jeremy Robertson is still live for this job.  

I literally was going to type:  the only thing that has me wondering if there "is" some skeletons is the fact that he jumped around from TMU to NKU to TMU to NDA in a 8-10 year span.....something just smelled funny but I took it as him just trying to find that right fit in his early coaching career.....

O well.....I also was thinking the same thing with Suli....  I know their interactions on the pitch have been somewhat heated this past year when NDA and Highlands has played but I think off the field there is a friendship there....Chris at least stated that he was the one that highly recommended Suli for the Boone County job when Chris left....you don't do that for a guy you hate.  Therefore, if Chris has Wes's (AD at HHS) ear he might be chirping in it saying pull the trigger, but he might also be saying the same thing about Jeremy who Chris was an assistant with at Cov Cath.  A lot of connections to say the least.

I am going to be interested to see how these chips fall.....