This thread will be used for tracking all open coaching jobs, and all of those jobs as they are filled. If anyone has information on a new job coming open, any updates on an ongoing coaching search, or finds out a job has been filled, please feel free to start a new thread on the opening/filled position. If there is a thread already out there, don't hesitate to add your info. We're all glad to hear it.

I will link the thread for each open/filled job to streamline your searching.

OPEN:

1.) Adair County - FILLED
2.) Anderson County - FILLED
3.) Beechwood - FILLED
4.) Bellevue - FILLED
5.) Berea - FILLED
6.) Bethlehem - FILLED
7.) Bourbon County - FILLED
8.) Bracken County - FILLED
9.) Butler - FILLED
10.) Caldwell County - FILLED
11.) Casey County - FILLED
12.) Caverna - FILLED
13.) Christian County - FILLED
14.) Danville - FILLED
15.) Doss - FILLED
16.) Eastern - FILLED
17.) Elizabethtown - FILLED
18.) Frankfort - FILLED
19.) Fort Knox - FILLED
20.) Grant County - FILLED
21.) Graves County - FILLED
22.) Greenup County - FILLED
23.) Lexington Catholic - FILLED
24.) Ludlow - FILLED
25.) Lynn Camp - FILLED
26.) Madison Central - FILLED
27.) Manual - FILLED
28.) McCreary Central - FILLED
29.) Moore - FILLED
30.) Murray - FILLED
31.) Nicholas County - FILLED
32.) North Bullitt - FILLED
33.) North Oldham - FILLED
34.) Oldham County - FILLED
35.) Scott - FILLED
36.) Somerset - FILLED
37.) South Oldham - FILLED
38.) Taylor County - FILLED
39.) Warren East - FILLED
40.) WEB DuBois - FILLED
41.) Webster County - FILLED
42.) Western - FILLED
43.) Western Hills - FILLED
44.) Whitley County - FILLED



FILLED:

1.) Adair County - Steve Stonebraker
2.) Anderson County - Dave Buchanan
3.) Beechwood - Jay Volker
4.) Bellevue - Chad Montgomery
5.) Berea - Jon Thomas
6.) Bethlehem - Keith Graham
7.) Bourbon County- Bret Baierlein
8.) Bracken County - Steven Tarter
9.) Butler - Jake Reynolds
10.) Caldwell County - Aaron McClung
11.) Casey County - Levi Rogers
12.) Caverna - Trevent Hayes
13.) Christian County - Zachary Self (Interim)
14.) Danville - Frank Parks, Jr.
15.) Doss - Paul Mandeville
16.) Eastern - Ken Whalen
17.) Elizabethtown - Alfredo Silva (Interim)
18.) Frankfort - Stephen Davis
19.) Fort Knox - Merrill Walter
20.) Grant County - Josh Cole
21.) Graves County - Lance Gregory (Interim)
22.) Greenup County - Travis Jones
23.) Lexington Catholic - Nick Baisch
24.) Ludlow - Woody McMillen
25.) Lynn Camp - Darrell Hendrix
26.) Madison Central - William Blair
27.) Manual - Josh Gillispie (Interim)
28.) McCreary Central - Sam Marple
29.) Moore - Mekale McKay
30.) Murray - Melvin Cunningham
31.) Nicholas County - Simon Clouse
32.) North Bullitt - Alex Carbello
33.) North Oldham - Brock Roberts
34.) Oldham County - Sean Little
35.) Scott - Steve Hensley
36.) Somerset - Clay Clevenger
37.) South Oldham - Cain Sams
38.) Taylor County - Scott Parkey
39.) WEB DuBois - George Durant, Jr.
40.) Warren East - Tanner Hall
41.) Webster County - Edward Milum
42.) Western - Michael Crowe
43.) Western Hills - Simon Vanderpool
44.) Whitley County - Matt Rhymer

 

Open Jobs/Filled Jobs 2014-2015

Open Jobs/Filled Jobs 2015-2016

Open Jobs/Filled Jobs 2016-2017

Open Jobs/Filled Jobs 2017-2018

Open Jobs/Filled Jobs 2018-2019

Open Jobs/Filled Jobs 2019-2020

Open Jobs/Filled Jobs 2020-2021

Open Jobs/Filled Jobs 2021-2022

December 8th and we're up to 10 open jobs. That's roughly average for this time of year, maybe a little bit below.

This has been a pleasantly slow year for coaching changes.

At this point last year we had 36 jobs that had come open, compared to the 18 jobs we currently have opened.

I do a tally comparison on February 14th each year, which is a little more than 2 weeks from today. The average over the last eight years has been 29 jobs that have turned over by Feb 14th, and the lowest we've had come open in the last eight years was 22 jobs turned over by Feb 14, 2018.

February 14, 2015: 42 jobs in the state that had come open, and 24 of them had been filled already. State-wide there was a total of 54 jobs that turned over that year.

February 14, 2016: 24 jobs in the state that had come open, and 12 of them had been filled already. State-wide there was a total of 43 jobs that turned over that year.

February 14, 2017: 25 jobs that had come open, and 17 of them that had been filled already. State-wide there was a total of 40 jobs that turned over that year.

February 14, 2018: 22 jobs that had come open, and 10 of them that had been filled already. State-wide there was a total of 35 jobs that turned over that year.

February 14, 2019: 27 jobs that had come open, and 20 of them had been filled already. State-wide there was a total of 41 jobs that turned over that year.

February 14, 2020: 30 jobs that had come open, and 19 of them had been filled already. State-wide there was a total of 37 jobs that turned over that year.

February 14, 2021: 23 jobs that had come open, and 13 of them had been filled already. State-wide there was a total of 43 jobs that turned over that year.

February 14, 2022: 41 jobs that had come open, and 29 of them had been filled already. State-wide there was a total of 43 jobs that turned over that year.

February 14, 2023: 23 jobs have come open, and 14 of them have been filled already.

On 12/3/2022 at 11:20 PM, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

This thread will be used for tracking all open coaching jobs, and all of those jobs as they are filled. If anyone has information on a new job coming open, any updates on an ongoing coaching search, or finds out a job has been filled, please feel free to start a new thread on the opening/filled position. If there is a thread already out there, don't hesitate to add your info. We're all glad to hear it.

I will link the thread for each open/filled job to streamline your searching.

OPEN:

1.) Adair County - FILLED
2.) Beechwood
3.) Bellevue
4.) Berea
5.) Bourbon County
6.) Butler - FILLED
7.) Casey County - FILLED
8.) Danville - FILLED
9.) Eastern - FILLED
10.) Fort Knox
11.) Grant County - FILLED
12.) Greenup County - FILLED
13.) Madison Central - FILLED
14.) Moore
15.) North Oldham
16.) Oldham County - FILLED
17.) Scott - FILLED
18.) Somerset - FILLED
19.) Warren East
20.) WEB DuBois
21.) Western
22.) Western Hills - FILLED
23.) Whitley County - FILLED



FILLED:

1.) Adair County - Steve Stonebraker
2.) Butler - Jake Reynolds
3.) Casey County - Levi Rogers
4.) Danville - Frank Parks, Jr.
5.) Eastern - Ken Whalen
6.) Grant County - Josh Cole
7.) Greenup County - Travis Jones
8.) Madison Central - William Blair
9.) Oldham County - Sean Little
10.) Scott - Jake Owens
11.) Somerset - Clay Clevenger
12.) Western Hills - Simon Vanderpool
13.) Whitley County - Matt Rhymer


 

Moore has been filled for about a month. Not sure of the name of the coach. I think he is a former Moore player. 

Bourbon County has also been filled. 

Currently 5 coaching openings:

Beechwood
Bethlehem
North Oldham
Warren East
Western

Lex Cath is now open

Currently 4 coaching openings:

Beechwood
Lexington Catholic
North Oldham
Western

2 hours ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Currently 4 coaching openings:

Beechwood
Lexington Catholic
North Oldham
Western

Already back up to 5 open jobs with Anderson County opening up:

Anderson County
Beechwood
Lexington Catholic
North Oldham
Western

15 hours ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

Already back up to 5 open jobs with Anderson County opening up:

Anderson County
Beechwood
Lexington Catholic
North Oldham
Western

Nice to see the number of openings running less this year, although Beechwood, Lexington Catholic, and maybe even the other three could topple dominos in other places if the right person is hire.

12 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

Nice to see the number of openings running less this year, although Beechwood, Lexington Catholic, and maybe even the other three could topple dominos in other places if the right person is hire.

Looking at the list of new hires, it appears that most were assistant coaches that moved up in the ranks. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, necessarily. On one hand a lot of guys are moving up in the ranks, and on the other hand a lot of guys are calling it quits or getting canned.

8 hours ago, TylerDurden said:

Looking at the list of new hires, it appears that most were assistant coaches that moved up in the ranks. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, necessarily. On one hand a lot of guys are moving up in the ranks, and on the other hand a lot of guys are calling it quits or getting canned.

I'd say the state average age of Head Coaches is going to drop significantly in the upcoming years. 

10 hours ago, TylerDurden said:

Looking at the list of new hires, it appears that most were assistant coaches that moved up in the ranks. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, necessarily. On one hand a lot of guys are moving up in the ranks, and on the other hand a lot of guys are calling it quits or getting canned.

Usually how it goes and always has. It's not really anything new.

Coaches at good jobs usually don't leave for other good jobs, and if jobs average a turnover rate of every 2-4 years, then there are usually reasons why that's the case too.

You ver seldom see head coaches play leap frog these days and if they do it's likely because they have a chance to go from:

1) A good job to a great job

2) they have some ties to the school (their alma mater, their spouse, family there, etc.)

3) In an area where they don't have to move (Jeff Co, Fayette Co, NKY, etc. among others, even more rural parts of the state and a next county over and it's just time for a change) and it's a better job, be it football and/or their day job

Exceptions to those rules? Always, but few and far between. These are some that come to mind over the year and even this year, in no particular order, that fit in one or even all of the above:

Sean Thompson- Crittenden County to Paducah Tilghman. Not a far move, both in WKY, Crittenden is a good job, Tilghman though? The town, resources, athletes, tradition, and I'm sure even the pay?

Kevin Wallace- Bowling Green to St.X. Hit the needed years for KTRS, then able to double dip in the private side and also being another Powerhouse? Makes all the sense.

Justin Haddix- Perry Co. Central, after a few years and a couple playoff wins? Corbin and then to Boyle. Great job to an even Greater job.

Steve Stonebraker- back to Casey County several years ago for a 2nd stint there, and a couple months ago to neighboring Adair County.

David Buchanan- First stop at Paris, then to Mason County for almost 20 where I'm sure is considered a "home", only job he would have left for? His home/alma mater, Mercer County.

Craig Yeast- The criteria above is even for those in college. Leaves a head job at KWC for where? His home Harrodsburg/Mercer County to replace Buchanan after retiring.

Frank Parks- Lexington/Richmond area of central Kentucky guy. Resigns/let go at Bryan Station, assistant for a year at Madison Central, takes head job just a few miles down the road at Berea, leaves for a better job and relatively close by Danville.

Brian Weinrich- longtime assistant/alum of Highlands, then gets the head job, unfortunately let go and then to Newport for a year, then to Campbell County. All three of which within the same county.

Spencer Crutchfield- Lincoln County to a few short miles up the road to Garrard County, his alma mater.

Josh Jaggers- LaRue County, a home. Back to where? Lincoln County, another home.

Mark Clark- Hopkinsville head coach, to relatively upstart McCracken County in Paducah and then back to Hopkinsville. Clark is from? Nearby Logan County.

Jason Chappell- Pineville to North Laurel. I believe lived and maybe still lives in and around nearby Corbin, either way- home area. Also previously HC at South Laurel, then for a year which was I'm sure a big move in going to Campbellsville in 2009.

John Edge- Longtime Owensboro Catholic coach, then makes a change right across the river into Indiana, then back to Owensboro Apollo.

Doug Preston- after leaving Bullitt East, he goes to Franklin-Simpson (good job for a better one), but his oldest daughter also had started attending WKU. After she graduates and son graduates/finishes playing at Franklin Simpson, he enrolls at UofL. What's another good job, in a good town (E-town), facilities, rich history, but also much closer to UofL? John Hardin.

Mark Dixon- Hazard to Perry County Central. Same county. Football history between the two the same? No.  Could be? Certainly. Day job more lucrative? Absolutely.

Mark Palmer- Anderson County. Retires from Virginia, I'm not sure if any family ties to the Anderson County area, but see Kevin Wallace. Financially very lucrative- able to draw full retirement benefits from Virginia Public Schools + start a new in Kentucky with those years of completed experience.

David Jones- Phelps, to Bourbon County, to Mingo Central (WV). Played at Belfry in Pike County & then onto UK & from Mingo County (WV). Takes first job in Pike County at Phelps, then to Bourbon County (short drive up the road from college years), back to Mingo County and Mingo Central a month or so back.

Ethan Atchley- LCA to Bullitt East. Good jobs, but one had/has a lot better pay in Bullitt County + the KTRS benefits. Then to Frankfort High, nearby Lexington. Not positive, but maybe originally from the Lex/Frankfort I-64 area?

Hunter Cantwell- Carroll County for three years, and by the standards of some on here, probably wasn't seen as a doing a good job (one winning season, one playoff win and a win percentage of 44%) but people that actually know football, especially in this state, know how hard it is to have any type of success at some of these more rural county schools. CAL comes open? Football wise no brainer. The rest has been history.

Jason Foley- Taylor County to Southwestern.  He was also the former longtime head coach at Northern Pulaski, played high school football and neighboring Russell County and college days at Campbellsville University (Taylor County).

Coach Lickert- Dayton, then Holmes, then Campbell County and then Newport Catholic. Same county.

Jep Irwin- He was the head coach at South Laurel maybe in the late 90's, early 2000's and then goes to Georgia. Comes back a few years ago to Whitely for a year, then to South Laurel for a year before becoming their AD.

Moral of the story, is there almost always a rhyme to a reason for if and when a current head coach plays leap frog to another school or schools, and more times than not it's not to traditional powerhouses, because those jobs seldom come open. When they do? It's usually internal hires, at least at first.

Mayfield has hired internally the last 40-50 years between Jack Morris, Coach Leahy and now Coach Joe Morris.  

Highlands hired alum Dale Muller, that job only came open because he decided to fully retire and then they hired another alum in Weinrich.

When Kevin Wallace retired from Bowling Green, they promoted Mark Spader who had been a long time assistant (Kevin Wallace was a BG alum that was promote as well before the '96 season, after spending 10 of the previous 11 seasons as the head coach at Warren East where he had, by the opinions of many on here, as not a very good resume- no winning seasons, no playoff wins, some 15-20 games below .500 in that time).

The late Robbie Lucas was promoted from within at Somerset after Jay Cobb left.

Lexington Catholic has done the same.

Lexington Christian has as well on multiple occasions.

Owensboro Catholic is another one, when they hired Jason Morris who had been there as an assistant for a couple years, after he resigned at McLean County where his W/L resume was less than stellar in the eyes of many.  

South Warren promoted Brandon Smith after he was an assistant under Mark Nelson who started the program and had been a very successful coach In Tennessee (successful playing career at WKU in college). Obviously, Brandon has taken them to the next level. Very successful high school and college QB. Played under legend Chuck Smith, then went and learned from another in Mark Nelson.

Owensboro recently? Within.

Glasgow did the same after Rick Wood retired.

Hazard did after Dixon went to Perry County Central.

Frederick Douglass did with the hiring of Nate McPeek.

Elizabethtown had been on a roll since hiring Mark Brown, he retires and the reigns are handed over to his son, Ross who took them to a 3A State Final Appearance in his first season in 2020.

Chris McNamee was promoted as Head Coach at Pikeville after he went back there to be an assistant after spending a few years as the HC of Pike County Central (see similar results as Cantwell at Carroll, Morris at McLean, Wallace at Warren East). McNamee is also a Pikeville alum. The rest is history.  

Ashland recently promoted from within after their State Title win & I think they have done so with their last two coaches?

Trinity comes open two years ago, what do they do? Hire from within.

Boyle County essentially did the same on two different occasions with hiring Chris Pardue after Chuck Smith resigned to go to UK, and then hired Coach Smith back after Coach Larry French left to go to Southwestern.

Those are just to name a "few" and a little rhyme/reasons to explain moves that are made from current head coaches.