I had Coach Ken Whalen confirm to me today that he has stepped down as head football coach at Eastern. I've gotta think he has his eyes on retirement after 24 years teaching at Eastern.

He took over as head football coach back in 2004. I couldn't even guess at the last football coach who spent two decades as head football coach at one single school in JCPS.

16 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I had Coach Ken Whalen confirm to me today that he has stepped down as head football coach at Eastern. I've gotta think he has his eyes on retirement after 24 years teaching at Eastern.

He took over as head football coach back in 2004. I couldn't even guess at the last football coach who spent two decades as head football coach at one single school in JCPS.

Coach Whalen was head coach at eastern from 2004 to 2011, but just recently took the head coach job again in 2023.

20 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I had Coach Ken Whalen confirm to me today that he has stepped down as head football coach at Eastern. I've gotta think he has his eyes on retirement after 24 years teaching at Eastern.

He took over as head football coach back in 2004. I couldn't even guess at the last football coach who spent two decades as head football coach at one single school in JCPS.

Bob Redman is the only one I know of, and his was 19 years at one school. He left Waggener for Male in ‘91-‘09 seasons I believe? That and if my math is mathing.

16 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I had Coach Ken Whalen confirm to me today that he has stepped down as head football coach at Eastern. I've gotta think he has his eyes on retirement after 24 years teaching at Eastern.

He took over as head football coach back in 2004. I couldn't even guess at the last football coach who spent two decades as head football coach at one single school in JCPS.

One of the tougher jobs in all of 6A IMO.  Just look at the good nearby teams T, X, H, Manual, Ballard.  Bullitt East, Fern Creek and Oldham County are pretty good football teams too.  24 years is a significant stint of service to any school.  Congratulations Coach Whalen on your next chapter!

2 minutes ago, Builder1214 said:

Coach Whalen was head coach at eastern from 2004 to 2011, but just recently took the head coach job again in 2023.

Oh, good call....I completely forgot about that.
 

 

This makes Coach Cobb the "Dean of Head Coaches" in the fifth district of 6A!

4 hours ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I had Coach Ken Whalen confirm to me today that he has stepped down as head football coach at Eastern. I've gotta think he has his eyes on retirement after 24 years teaching at Eastern.

He took over as head football coach back in 2004. I couldn't even guess at the last football coach who spent two decades as head football coach at one single school in JCPS.

As it currently sits, Chris Wolfe is the longest tenured, but I consider Male, although part of JCPS, to be a bit different.  Next I think it’s Josh Abell at Fern Creek who just completed his 11th year.  After that, Marvin Dantzler at Central & Louis Dover at Fairdale just completed their 8th years.

Eastern is either the largest or second largest high school in JCPS along with Moore (around 2,030ish). Ballard, Male, and Manual sit behind them with similar numbers (close to 2k).

Haven't had a winning season since 2012 (11-3). Went 10-3 in 2011.

A very tough job to be sure. Especially with the big dogs of Trinity, Male, Manual, and St. Xavier taking uo most of the oxygen as far as 6A in Louisville is concerned. Ballard and Fern Creek also competitive and had really good years as of late. Same is true of those within arms reach across county lines in Bullitt East and Oldham County.

1 hour ago, St. Matthews Boy said:

Eastern is either the largest or second largest high school in JCPS along with Moore (around 2,030ish). Ballard, Male, and Manual sit behind them with similar numbers (close to 2k).

Haven't had a winning season since 2012 (11-3). Went 10-3 in 2011.

A very tough job to be sure. Especially with the big dogs of Trinity, Male, Manual, and St. Xavier taking uo most of the oxygen as far as 6A in Louisville is concerned. Ballard and Fern Creek also competitive and had really good years as of late. Same is true of those within arms reach across county lines in Bullitt East and Oldham County.

Eastern is the largest high school in JCPS (Moores enrollment includes their middle school) and I believe the 2nd or 3rd largest in the state behind Lafayette & possibly Madison Central I believe.  

1 hour ago, St. Matthews Boy said:

Eastern is either the largest or second largest high school in JCPS along with Moore (around 2,030ish). Ballard, Male, and Manual sit behind them with similar numbers (close to 2k).

Haven't had a winning season since 2012 (11-3). Went 10-3 in 2011.

A very tough job to be sure. Especially with the big dogs of Trinity, Male, Manual, and St. Xavier taking uo most of the oxygen as far as 6A in Louisville is concerned. Ballard and Fern Creek also competitive and had really good years as of late. Same is true of those within arms reach across county lines in Bullitt East and Oldham County.

Also have CAL few miles down Shelbyville Rd. Probably a lot of kids that live in their reside area wind up at Trinity, CAL, and St. X. Maybe KCD to a lesser degree. 

I hear an announcement may be made today. The name mentioned is a quality candidate with former head coaching experience. 

On 12/5/2024 at 6:30 PM, St. Matthews Boy said:

Eastern is either the largest or second largest high school in JCPS along with Moore (around 2,030ish). Ballard, Male, and Manual sit behind them with similar numbers (close to 2k).

 

On 12/5/2024 at 7:44 PM, Unrivaled97 said:

Eastern is the largest high school in JCPS (Moores enrollment includes their middle school) and I believe the 2nd or 3rd largest in the state behind Lafayette & possibly Madison Central I believe.  

Eastern's male enrollment for the 2023-24 school year was 1,007. There were seven schools with more:

• Ballard - 1,038
• Bryan Station - 1,044
• Ryle - 1,066
• St. Xavier - 1,076
• Madison Central - 1,169
• Lafayette - 1,200
• Trinity - 1,261

1 minute ago, gchs_uk9 said:

 

Eastern's male enrollment for the 2023-24 school year was 1,007. There were seven schools with more:

• Ballard - 1,038
• Bryan Station - 1,044
• Ryle - 1,066
• St. Xavier - 1,076
• Madison Central - 1,169
• Lafayette - 1,200
• Trinity - 1,261

I was going with overall enrollment numbers.  I didn't break down male & female.

3 minutes ago, Unrivaled97 said:

I was going with overall enrollment numbers.  I didn't break down male & female.

No worries. It's really six of one, half a dozen of the other. What's more interesting is why among this group there are five excellent programs and then Eastern and Lafayette who have been at or near the bottom of the class for years now.

7 hours ago, gchs_uk9 said:

No worries. It's really six of one, half a dozen of the other. What's more interesting is why among this group there are five excellent programs and then Eastern and Lafayette who have been at or near the bottom of the class for years now.

Lafayette has been to the dance within the last 10 years. Lost to male in 2015.