8 hours ago, Royal Blue said:

Listerman had a transcendent player named Vinson save his job. He was terrible and had a sub .500 record prior. We’ll see how he does going forward. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon. But, the basketball team still makes a lot of head scratching decisions most nights. Coach Flynn probably still would’ve won state with Vinson and that team. 

It’s amazing to me how quickly we blame coaches for failures but refuse to acknowledge accomplishments.  Flynn’s last few years were a train wreck, the program was a mess, and I remember Listerman CHASING kids down in hallways to come to offseason work when he started.  He built a culture and DEVELOPED his program including Sam.  If he wasn’t there Vinson could have ended up at NCC or CovCath (see Ben Weyer).

Also, the list of “transcendent” KY basketball players to NOT win state is much longer than the ones who have, so don’t give me that.  Starting with one Reed Shephard who we all think will have a major role at UK this year.

Let's hold coaches accountable that should be and NOT discredit coaches who have success, my goodness….

It is disappointing that the kids have not matured as rapidly as I believe should happen BUT this is not the world I grew up in either.  The Homer Rice era where the coach walked into the gym and the players automatically shut up, put their toes on the white line, and really listened is no longer the one in which we live. (Although I wish it was.)  The current coach needs to be given the benefit of the era in which he is coaching.  Highlands has the talent to be Highlands again IF they can learn the behavior where they 1) play within their ability, 2) develop a can do attitude, and 3) don't do something they shouldn't and beat themselves.

29 minutes ago, Bluebird said:

It is disappointing that the kids have not matured as rapidly as I believe should happen BUT this is not the world I grew up in either.  The Homer Rice era where the coach walked into the gym and the players automatically shut up, put their toes on the white line, and really listened is no longer the one in which we live. (Although I wish it was.)  The current coach needs to be given the benefit of the era in which he is coaching.  Highlands has the talent to be Highlands again IF they can learn the behavior where they 1) play within their ability, 2) develop a can do attitude, and 3) don't do something they shouldn't and beat themselves.

I know times have changed but I don’t put much of it on the players. Coaches should demand respect and accountability. If they’re telling these boys one thing and they’re doing another, then they are failing as coaches. And to be clear, I am not laying this all at the feet of Bob despite the title of the thread. We don’t know how much is delegated to staff members. But Bob, or any HC, is going to be the head on the chopping block for the actions of his assistants. 
 

It’s been pretty well documented that the assistant coaching pool wasn’t what he thought it was going to be upon arrival. So he brought on people he met via the hiring process, dads of players, and career junior league coaches. And one that never should have gotten away, Scott Wiggins, only lasted a year. He’s an exceptional coach and would have been great for the program. 

Let’s see how it all plays out. That’s all we can do. 

3 minutes ago, 1959 said:

I know times have changed but I don’t put much of it on the players. Coaches should demand respect and accountability. If they’re telling these boys one thing and they’re doing another, then they are failing as coaches. And to be clear, I am not laying this all at the feet of Bob despite the title of the thread. We don’t know how much is delegated to staff members. But Bob, or any HC, is going to be the head on the chopping block for the actions of his assistants. 
 

it’s been pretty well documented that the assistant coaching pool wasn’t what he thought it was going to be upon arrival. So he brought on people he met via the hiring process, dads of players, and career junior league coaches. And one that never should have gotten away, Scott Wiggins, only lasted a year. He’s an exceptional coach and would have been great for the program. 

let’s see how it all plays out. That’s all we can do. 

Amen to that. 

5 minutes ago, 1959 said:

I know times have changed but I don’t put much of it on the players. Coaches should demand respect and accountability. If they’re telling these boys one thing and they’re doing another, then they are failing as coaches. And to be clear, I am not laying this all at the feet of Bob despite the title of the thread. We don’t know how much is delegated to staff members. But Bob, or any HC, is going to be the head on the chopping block for the actions of his assistants. 
 

It’s been pretty well documented that the assistant coaching pool wasn’t what he thought it was going to be upon arrival. So he brought on people he met via the hiring process, dads of players, and career junior league coaches. And one that never should have gotten away, Scott Wiggins, only lasted a year. He’s an exceptional coach and would have been great for the program. 

Let’s see how it all plays out. That’s all we can do. 

I missed that part of thie story in my neck of the woods. What happened with the coaching pool?

11 minutes ago, TylerDurden said:

I missed that part of thie story in my neck of the woods. What happened with the coaching pool?

A handful of the previous staff members followed BW to Newport and now to CC. Others got out of coaching completely; similar to a number of coaches since Coach Sphire has taken over at HHS. I have also heard that paid positions dried up. 

With all that said, I think if you asked any coach around, they would tell you that there are not many people knocking on the door looking to coach. That leaves you to do the best with what you can. 

Highlands is fine and has improved every year since Coach Sphire took over for the “2-day coach”. They have a decent shot at winning 5A this year. Can things be better? Every program in KY except Boyle Co, who is highly likely to pull off a 4 and 5-peat, would say yes. Humans are involved and we all make mistakes. I expect the Birds to have a great year. 

16 minutes ago, Kenny Powers said:

With all that said, I think if you asked any coach around, they would tell you that there are not many people knocking on the door looking to coach. That leaves you to do the best with what you can. 

No question. However there have been some significant “misses”, and also snafus as far as letting the wrong guys go. I would say Bob has been receiving poor advice from people who he probably trusts, or who hired him, since day 1. 

Highlands will be ok and when they make a playoff run the sun will shine bright in the big FT. Quite often a state championship happens when everything falls into place.....no key injuries, a good bounce of the ball, or unfortunately an opponent suffering injuries or illness of good players. It's a long season and it amazes me that people are even starting this conversation. I think the once feared Birds are not there anymore. I know this will upset the faithful, but during Coach Mueller's run it was quite obvious his teams were much more talented than the opposition. Has not been the case recently.

3 hours ago, StraightShooter said:

Highlands is fine and has improved every year since Coach Sphire took over for the “2-day coach”. They have a decent shot at winning 5A this year. Can things be better? Every program in KY except Boyle Co, who is highly likely to pull off a 4 and 5-peat, would say yes. Humans are involved and we all make mistakes. I expect the Birds to have a great year. 

Awww, Still missing the Franklin County coach I see! LOL

1 hour ago, 9068 said:

Highlands will be ok and when they make a playoff run the sun will shine bright in the big FT. Quite often a state championship happens when everything falls into place.....no key injuries, a good bounce of the ball, or unfortunately an opponent suffering injuries or illness of good players. It's a long season and it amazes me that people are even starting this conversation. I think the once feared Birds are not there anymore. I know this will upset the faithful, but during Coach Mueller's run it was quite obvious his teams were much more talented than the opposition. Has not been the case recently.

I hear ya, but they were routinely winning titles well before Dale showed up. Highlands amassed 23 state championships in 54 years from 1960-2014. During that stretch, there was only one gap close to what we’re experiencing now. A 6 year drought in the 80s, which lead to the hiring of Duffy, who immediately won. Outside of that window, and the current, nearly everyone who has played 3 years of football at Highlands got a ring. That’s not luck or the ball bouncing their way. We’re in uncharted territory here, and folks have the right to be anxious, and critical. This is year 9.

I've known Bob since he was the head coach at Knott County Central. Still remember making the drive from Paris as an assistant to pick up a VHS tape on Hazard.  Can see him sitting on his front step, early in the morning, holding that VHS cassette.

I watched him build LexCath. When they kicked our tails (Paris 1994) it was a tough night.  We see Lex Cath as it is today. Getting it started... a whole different story. 

Bob has a swagger that can rub some folks the wrong way, but Bob is his best when he is being Bob.  One day at the AFCA Convention, I hear a HS coach getting after the AFCA President. It was Bob! I hope he never changes.  He is good for kids and KY HS Football. 

The Bluebirds have an excellent and experienced coach who will work like a mad man to win. As an old guy, yes, I am biased, but EXPERIENCE is vastly underrated. 

None of us as head coaches are perfect. Far from it. We will all have our quirks & weaknesses. 

But, not many guys have got the skill set to get the Bluebirds where they want to be. Bob does. 

Beat Cov Cath

Win State

You only gotta do two things at Highlands. How you do them isn't that important. Just get them done. If not, they won't tolerate you for long. So far, it doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. 

4 hours ago, 1959 said:

I hear ya, but they were routinely winning titles well before Dale showed up. Highlands amassed 23 state championships in 54 years from 1960-2014. During that stretch, there was only one gap close to what we’re experiencing now. A 6 year drought in the 80s, which lead to the hiring of Duffy, who immediately won. Outside of that window, and the current, nearly everyone who has played 3 years of football at Highlands got a ring. That’s not luck or the ball bouncing their way. We’re in uncharted territory here, and folks have the right to be anxious, and critical. This is year 9.

And during that six year gap the same thing was happening as now. Better teams, better players, and more opponents were not intimidated.

 

Let's compare this to a home.   Highlands was always a good solid house.   Fans seem to think the house has fallen into disrepair over the last decade.   The house isn't renovated just because the new family moves in.   It takes time.   If you aren't willing to allow for the renovation, move out of the neighborhood.