6 hours ago, futurecoach said:

Obviously unfortunate how all of this played out, and I don't think we will ever know the full story of whatever caused this separation after 16 years. With that said, I think at the end of the day it is going to end up working out just fine for both parties involved. 

I know I have always liked coach Sully, and I think the St. Henry job is absolutely perfect for him and a fresh start and he will do amazing there. Then for the Cooper job, the admin that you say is a mess, is the same admin that put together these programs to start with. Which has led to 4 regional titles in football, and 3 state finals appearances. 2 Regional titles in boys basketball, and a state finals appearance. Then 4 straight regional titles in girls basketball, and set up to make it 5 in a row. 

So like it or not, the admin also deserves credit for putting these programs and hiring these coaches that led to this success. Something obviously happened that led to this separation on the boys side, as as mentioned none of us probably will ever know the true full story on what led to this after 16 years of working together. 

However, at the end of the day this admin has been in place at Cooper from the beginning in 2008, and has seen their sport programs be successful in almost every sport, and winning at high levels. The baseball program may be the only one since Cooper opened that hasn't had to much true success overall. Even softball until this year was having good success, before getting a new coach this year and having some issues apparently. So they must be doing something right overall for all the sport programs to have been really successful through the years in almost all of their sports.

So I don't think it is as bad of a job as you say, and Cooper has a chance to make a really good hire here that possibly could calm things down rather quickly. It will definitely be interesting to see exactly who they hire for this job. 

Agreed on all counts. Cooper will be just fine. Sometimes divorces are just necessary, and couples (or in this case coaches) just need to move on. Cooper won't have any trouble finding a replacement, and unfortunately for Tim, I think the St Henry job will be much tougher to have success. Not that St Henry is a bad job, but it's definitely a different set of circumstances and there will be limitations that he will now have to deal with that he didn't have at Cooper, most notably a more limited and smaller talent pool.

2 hours ago, PP1 said:

So if you are Cooper, who do you pursue for this job?

I think Holthaus has to be on the table and then promote in house for the girls job.

Someone has already said Ruthsatz. That would be hilarious and would be considered a home run by some, but I don’t know how realistic that is.

Ricardo Johnson’s coaching career got off to a hot start so I could see that being an enticing route.

I think Aaron Stamm and Scott Code are both in their happy places but they are both more than capable. 

I think there a bunch of other names out there that might go for it. This late in the game it could be pretty wild. Will also be interested to see who avoids this out of loyalty to Sully. You make a lot of friends coaching somewhere for 17 years. For example, Ken Chevalier, former Dixie head coach and Cooper assistant, would be a great interim hire to hold things together for a year. But hard seeing someone like that who coached for Sully take the job. 

 

Ideally, the choice is the girls coach, Holthaus.  If he doesn’t want it then it will get really tricky.  
The whole staff wasn’t retained.  Not sure if any of the assistants taught on the campus.  
Next, you hope to find someone that matches a teaching opening. 
I’ve heard the Bowman fellows name mentioned and has a history at Cooper teaching I believe.   That would not be a hire that moves the needle and likely a significant downgrade.
Tough to attract a good coach from outside with such chaotic administration.  

2 hours ago, Breds82 said:

Another great point that has been overlooked thus far. We read and hear about kids transferring all the time but the cost to switch to a private school is never mentioned. 

 

2 hours ago, punttheball said:

I do not know any of the coaches or players involved. But to follow Sully to St. Henry will cost close to 10k a year. Staying at Cooper is free.

I don't think the cost associated with transferring to private is overlooked but just taken as a given by majority. Most people at Cooper the 10k isn't anything they would really bat an eye at if they wanted to make the move. I don't think Cooper will lose any of their football players that also play basketball following Sully to St. Henry. For the families that the 10k would cause a burden to coming from Cooper or any other school there is financial aid options that I was told could cover up to 80% of tuition.

4 hours ago, se7ens said:

I think Holthaus has to be on the table and then promote in house for the girls job.

Someone has already said Ruthsatz. That would be hilarious and would be considered a home run by some, but I don’t know how realistic that is.

Ricardo Johnson’s coaching career got off to a hot start so I could see that being an enticing route.

I think Aaron Stamm and Scott Code are both in their happy places but they are both more than capable. 

I think there a bunch of other names out there that might go for it. This late in the game it could be pretty wild. Will also be interested to see who avoids this out of loyalty to Sully. You make a lot of friends coaching somewhere for 17 years. For example, Ken Chevalier, former Dixie head coach and Cooper assistant, would be a great interim hire to hold things together for a year. But hard seeing someone like that who coached for Sully take the job.

The Ruthsatz family listed their Edgewood house over a month ago somebody told me within the last handful of days that they've accepted an offer on it. I believe someone commented in the Ruthsatz thread in the Controversial Issues forum that he is going to be coaching high school ball up in Columbus, OH. Obviously nothing is impossible, but I've gotta think Ruthsatz to Cooper is a hard no.

5 hours ago, se7ens said:

I think Holthaus has to be on the table and then promote in house for the girls job.

Someone has already said Ruthsatz. That would be hilarious and would be considered a home run by some, but I don’t know how realistic that is.

Ricardo Johnson’s coaching career got off to a hot start so I could see that being an enticing route.

I think Aaron Stamm and Scott Code are both in their happy places but they are both more than capable. 

I think there a bunch of other names out there that might go for it. This late in the game it could be pretty wild. Will also be interested to see who avoids this out of loyalty to Sully. You make a lot of friends coaching somewhere for 17 years. For example, Ken Chevalier, former Dixie head coach and Cooper assistant, would be a great interim hire to hold things together for a year. But hard seeing someone like that who coached for Sully take the job. 

 

I have been thinking Holthaus is their guy also just based on timeliness alone the way principal Wilson had handled things since Sully was originally told he wouldn't be renewed before the public even knew. It feels like Wilson had a plan the whole time. If Holthaus takes the boys job could it hurt a successful girls program? I think the girls replacement would most definitely come from in house also.

10 hours ago, rjs4470 said:

Agreed on all counts. Cooper will be just fine. Sometimes divorces are just necessary, and couples (or in this case coaches) just need to move on. Cooper won't have any trouble finding a replacement, and unfortunately for Tim, I think the St Henry job will be much tougher to have success. Not that St Henry is a bad job, but it's definitely a different set of circumstances and there will be limitations that he will now have to deal with that he didn't have at Cooper, most notably a more limited and smaller talent pool.

Perfectly stated.

I think Sully benefitted from having some very athletic football players that he help mold into basketball players. Not all his success was based from the football kids but it definitely helped. At St. Henry I think it will be the opposite to a small extent his basketball guys will help out the football team. He will probably have a few people make their way to St. Henry from around NKY over the years but for the most part he is going to deal with a totally different talent pool. He will make the most out of his talent but I don't think he will be able to pull off a 9th region championship. Doesn't mean he won't have some good teams but how hard it is to win the Region can't be overlooked.

17 hours ago, CoachMulvi said:

Hopefully they don't lose the returning boys basketball talent they do have. 

I could definitely see this being a possibility, especially with the leniency in transfers these days, paired with the fact that it is a private school.

40 minutes ago, AvidSportsJunkie856 said:

I could definitely see this being a possibility, especially with the leniency in transfers these days, paired with the fact that it is a private school.

If their best sport is football, I don't see them leaving

1 hour ago, Honey Badger said:

If their best sport is football, I don't see them leaving

You very well may be correct. Definitely will be interesting to see how things unfold. Hopefully, Cooper can get a quality coach and the transfers are minimal.

On 5/14/2025 at 10:05 PM, se7ens said:

Ricardo Johnson’s coaching career got off to a hot start so I could see that being an enticing route.

 

On 5/15/2025 at 9:53 AM, AvidSportsJunkie856 said:

You very well may be correct. Definitely will be interesting to see how things unfold. Hopefully, Cooper can get a quality coach and the transfers are minimal.

I have no doubt Ricardo would maintain the success at Cooper and even elevate the program over the years but....with the way they just did Sully there is no way he would EVER EVER EVER consider leaving Holy Cross for Cooper while that current administration is in place. I don't know pay discrepancies and all that but I think it would take a boat load of money to get Ricardo to leave Holy Cross in general. I could see his next occupation if he were to leave Holy Cross being somewhere in the college ranks. 

I do think Cooper is going to find a great coach but karma is a bad mama jamma I hope they are not looking for a "yes man" to come in there. Best case scenario is they already have one in the building and is comfortable with the way they do things.

 

On 5/16/2025 at 11:24 PM, Honey Badger said:

 

I have no doubt Ricardo would maintain the success at Cooper and even elevate the program over the years but....with the way they just did Sully there is no way he would EVER EVER EVER consider leaving Holy Cross for Cooper while that current administration is in place. I don't know pay discrepancies and all that but I think it would take a boat load of money to get Ricardo to leave Holy Cross in general. I could see his next occupation if he were to leave Holy Cross being somewhere in the college ranks. 

I do think Cooper is going to find a great coach but karma is a bad mama jamma I hope they are not looking for a "yes man" to come in there. Best case scenario is they already have one in the building and is comfortable with the way they do things.

 

While the optics surrounding Sullivan's departure aren't good, we still don't know all the behind-the-scenes details that led to him leaving. And because of that, if you really look at it, would that administration really be that bad to work for? Sullivan was there for 16 or 17 years and was given the time and space to build a program from nothing. The football coach/AD has been there from day 1 as well, and other sports in the building are successful. Like I mentioned earlier, sometimes divorce is necessary. Doesn't mean it's anyone's fault or that just one side is responsible. 

On 5/15/2025 at 7:18 AM, Honey Badger said:

I think Sully benefitted from having some very athletic football players that he help mold into basketball players. Not all his success was based from the football kids but it definitely helped. At St. Henry I think it will be the opposite to a small extent his basketball guys will help out the football team. He will probably have a few people make their way to St. Henry from around NKY over the years but for the most part he is going to deal with a totally different talent pool. He will make the most out of his talent but I don't think he will be able to pull off a 9th region championship. Doesn't mean he won't have some good teams but how hard it is to win the Region can't be overlooked.

The bold is a surprising statement IMO. Why wouldn't Sullivan be able to win a regional title at St. Henry? Easier path to the regional every year. Opportunity to pull from a wider talent pool of players (private school, fewer restrictions on adding players). A program that has won and competed for regionals previously. I consider St. Henry one of the best positioned programs to win a regional and them now having football improves their position to win a regional.

2 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

The bold is a surprising statement IMO. Why wouldn't Sullivan be able to win a regional title at St. Henry? Easier path to the regional every year. Opportunity to pull from a wider talent pool of players (private school, fewer restrictions on adding players). A program that has won and competed for regionals previously. I consider St. Henry one of the best positioned programs to win a regional and them now having football improves their position to win a regional.

Why exactly is it an easier path to the regionals every year?