34 minutes ago, TheBallCoach said:

Not as familiar with EKY/NKY history but I do know Wallace didn’t get hired after his stint with Warren East; he was apart of the Bowling Green staff for a couple of years under the late great Dan Haley before he took the helm. I’d even argue that he learned more in those 2 years on how to sustain a winning culture than he did by himself in those 10 years at his Alma mater. I’m not judging the man for his W/L record as much as I’m questioning whether or not he knows what it takes to be great because the resume doesn’t give the impression that he does because he simply hasn’t. I’ll gladly be wrong in my opinion of it being a hand out sort of hire, but no one can argue that his resume warrants an opportunity to coach at Owensboro. Since ol Warren East was mentioned I’ll add that they just hired a coach 2 years ago who had no coordinating experience nor HC experience, I don’t look at the two programs as equals but similar hiring process I suppose they’re not too far apart, which you and I know that is far fetched. Just expected more from Owensboro quite frankly.

Correct, his last season at W.E was in ‘93, then as an assistant at BG in ‘94-‘95 before taking over late in the summer of ‘96.

No doubt he learned some things from everything great that Coach Haley was, but what he also realized is that there is a reason why “Mules don’t run in the Kentucky Derby.”

Nick Saban himself in a reason interview on the Pivot Podcast made the comment that:

“I realized real quick early on that I wasn’t very good at coaching bad athletes to be good players”. (I love this even more real, candid, retired Nick Saban more than the always Coachey McCoacherson version. Things he’s obviously always felt/knew, but probably couldn’t say outright to the public).

I think the biggest question in regards to hiring process is who all actually applied? Very seldom, if ever, do coaches at really good programs leave for the same. At least not in Kentucky & if they do? It’s usually for reasons much deeper than football (family ties, better job/pay for their wife as well- in education or outside of it, etc)

 

3 hours ago, Falcon Pride said:

Pardon an out of tower asking….what does FILD stand for?

Forever I Love the Devils.

1 hour ago, Calico Jack said:

Correct, his last season at W.E was in ‘93, then as an assistant at BG in ‘94-‘95 before taking over late in the summer of ‘96.

No doubt he learned some things from everything great that Coach Haley was, but what he also realized is that there is a reason why “Mules don’t run in the Kentucky Derby.”

Nick Saban himself in a reason interview on the Pivot Podcast made the comment that:

“I realized real quick early on that I wasn’t very good at coaching bad athletes to be good players”. (I love this even more real, candid, retired Nick Saban more than the always Coachey McCoacherson version. Things he’s obviously always felt/knew, but probably couldn’t say outright to the public).

I think the biggest question in regards to hiring process is who all actually applied? Very seldom, if ever, do coaches at really good programs leave for the same. At least not in Kentucky & if they do? It’s usually for reasons much deeper than football (family ties, better job/pay for their wife as well- in education or outside of it, etc)

 

Brandon Smith has won plenty of football games and will continue to do so at South Warren because he knows what it takes to win and has the support similar to the crosstown rival in Bowling Green. Mike Rogers had Warren Central as one of the top teams in the State, you can even look at Ben Bruni who won a couple of Region championships in his stint at Warren East. Even Greenwood had their glimmer of light in the late 00s. Talent is everywhere in Warren County maybe not to the capacity of the Purples but nonetheless it’s around. There’s a reason Bowling Green has only had three coaches in the last 50 years and it’s because it’s a damn good feeling to be a Purple, a different type of pride. That didn’t just magically happen though, hell the Purples never won anything until Haley arrived, and he didn’t just call in some talent. Helped cultivate a culture and passed it along to two more individuals who embodied the role of being that figure to the community and the program itself. That’s my only question with the hire, if you’ve never been around the talent and don’t have the experience of what it takes to win football games at a high level either, then what’s the meaning of having all this talent anyways. The Daytona 500 yesterday inspired this analogy for me but I’ll take Jeff Gordon in my beat up Chevy over brother Ezekiel in a Porsche who has rode in a horse and buggy his entire life. Just don’t see why Owensboro would take a chance like this, and that’s nothing against Ganaway, again I hope he has success and many great years of leading those young men. I was just under the impression that a job like that was of greater substance, a top 5 public school HC job in our State in my opinion and for them to settle with what is shown on paper in this hire just has me confused.

7 hours ago, Subway5024 said:

What will the OHS faithful think if they lose to Apollo and OC?  And possibly St X and CAL!  Not sure what other teams are on the schedule!

I honestly do not think we lose to anyone in the city this year. We’ve owned Apollo for 20 years it seems and I will tell you Catholic will not beat us again with Demarcus. 
 

X and CAL are just different then the teams we play in the city. 

16 hours ago, TheBallCoach said:

Brandon Smith has won plenty of football games and will continue to do so at South Warren because he knows what it takes to win and has the support similar to the crosstown rival in Bowling Green. Mike Rogers had Warren Central as one of the top teams in the State, you can even look at Ben Bruni who won a couple of Region championships in his stint at Warren East. Even Greenwood had their glimmer of light in the late 00s. Talent is everywhere in Warren County maybe not to the capacity of the Purples but nonetheless it’s around. There’s a reason Bowling Green has only had three coaches in the last 50 years and it’s because it’s a damn good feeling to be a Purple, a different type of pride. That didn’t just magically happen though, hell the Purples never won anything until Haley arrived, and he didn’t just call in some talent. Helped cultivate a culture and passed it along to two more individuals who embodied the role of being that figure to the community and the program itself. That’s my only question with the hire, if you’ve never been around the talent and don’t have the experience of what it takes to win football games at a high level either, then what’s the meaning of having all this talent anyways. The Daytona 500 yesterday inspired this analogy for me but I’ll take Jeff Gordon in my beat up Chevy over brother Ezekiel in a Porsche who has rode in a horse and buggy his entire life. Just don’t see why Owensboro would take a chance like this, and that’s nothing against Ganaway, again I hope he has success and many great years of leading those young men. I was just under the impression that a job like that was of greater substance, a top 5 public school HC job in our State in my opinion and for them to settle with what is shown on paper in this hire just has me confused.

Owensboro barely gets in the top 5 public schools west of I 65.  It's a good job don't get me wrong, but not near top 5 in the state.

2 hours ago, okie1 said:

Owensboro barely gets in the top 5 public schools west of I 65.  It's a good job don't get me wrong, but not near top 5 in the state.

I could hear out the argument they’re not a top 5 job across the state but couldn’t get behind they’re outside of the Top 10. If you limit West of I-65 the only three teams you could put ahead of the Red Devils are BG, PT, and SW. 

I will say it was very strange from an outsiders perspective that Fallin would step down anyways. If he makes a lateral or downgrade move and continues coaching football in Kentucky then I would find myself agreeing with you that this job is pretty far outside the top of the line; we’ll see though.

10 minutes ago, TheBallCoach said:

I could hear out the argument they’re not a top 5 job across the state but couldn’t get behind they’re outside of the Top 10. If you limit West of I-65 the only three teams you could put ahead of the Red Devils are BG, PT, and SW. 

I will say it was very strange from an outsiders perspective that Fallin would step down anyways. If he makes a lateral or downgrade move and continues coaching football in Kentucky then I would find myself agreeing with you that this job is pretty far outside the top of the line; we’ll see though.

I would probably put Mayfield ahead of Owensboro!  Until recently one could argue Hopkinsville/Christian Co were better jobs.

I would put Owensboro as 5th west of I 65 currently, historically top 10.

 

Will Ganaway be able to retain the entire OHS coaching staff? Is he bringing new faces on board? 

On 2/16/2025 at 11:50 PM, Calico Jack said:

Not sure about pre 1998 or not, but pretty positive his 2017 season at Ohio was and still is one of ONLY THREE winning seasons that Ohio County has had in AT LEAST the last 27 years.

The other two belonging to Mike Settles and Todd Houston.

I'd also venture to guess the 4-6 season in '19 is a game or maybe even two above average for the history of their program.

Could be the best hire ever, could be a train wreck. Who knows...

However, those two seasons alone in the land between Beaver Dam and Hartford Says all I need to know about his capabilities.

I started to mention this in the other thread. Mike Settles won 0 games in 1998. Then won 3 games in 1999. 4 games in 2000. Then 8 in 2001. He seemed to have Ohio County trending up. Settles leaves Ohio County in 2002 and Dan Crumes takes over and wins 7 games. Then 6 games in 2003. 5 games in 2004. 7 games in 2005. 2 wins in 2006. And finally 4 wins in 2007. Crumes left and I believe he was an assistant coach at a few places before he got the Apollo job in 2012. I would say Apollo historically is a better program than Ohio County. Crumes at Apollo won 2, 2, 3, 2, & 7 games. I say all that to say winning 7 games one year at Ohio County doesn’t really prove future success. Especially at a championship level like the Owensboro faithful are wanting. But Owensboro the program has the advantage of having enough talent that cycles through every 4-5 years that every coach has won at a high clip on Frederica Street. They just haven’t brought home a ring. Ganaway will win like the rest of them IMO it’s just whether he’ll be able to get OHS to a state championship level or not. 

9 hours ago, jester270 said:

Will Ganaway be able to retain the entire OHS coaching staff? Is he bringing new faces on board? 

I heard they asked him to retain the current assistants. But I don’t know how true it is. I also heard Coach Rector made some requests when interviewed. He may have asked to be able to pick his own assistants. Which I don’t think the higher ups liked.

On 2/18/2025 at 12:20 PM, okie1 said:

I would probably put Mayfield ahead of Owensboro!  Until recently one could argue Hopkinsville/Christian Co were better jobs.

I would put Owensboro as 5th west of I 65 currently, historically top 10.

 

I would definitely put Mayfield above OHS. Historically I’d say Bowling Green, South Warren, Mayfield, Paducah, then OHS would be my top 5 west of I-65. Then I’d add Franklin-Simpson, Hop-twn, Christian County, Owensboro Catholic, & probably Madisonville. (Special mention Henderson Co., McCracken Co., & Caldwell Co.)

17 minutes ago, Ordell said:

I would definitely put Mayfield above OHS. Historically I’d say Bowling Green, South Warren, Mayfield, Paducah, then OHS would be my top 5 west of I-65. Then I’d add Franklin-Simpson, Hop-twn, Christian County, Owensboro Catholic, & probably Madisonville. (Special mention Henderson Co., McCracken Co., & Caldwell Co.)

There is no way I would put OHS over Franklin Simpson (2 state titles in past 10 years).  Switch those 2 and I think that is a pretty accurate list.

Good luck to the new coach and the Red Devils!

9 minutes ago, BillNye said:

There is no way I would put OHS over Franklin Simpson (2 state titles in past 10 years).  Switch those 2 and I think that is a pretty accurate list.

I have always respected the Wildcat’s program. But since 1970 Owensboro is 11-4 all time vs F/S. We played in 1975(F/S), 1976(OHS), 1986(OHS), 1987(F/S), 1988(OHS), 1989(OHS), 1990(OHS), 1991(OHS), 1992(OHS), 1993(OHS), 1994(F/S), 1999(F/S),*1999 playoffs(OHS), 2000(OHS), & 2013(OHS)

Owensboro has backed out of their scrimmage with Boyle County.