Simple topic, but I am curious as to your thoughts on some assistant coaches who people may not know about, flying under the radar who are doing great things. 

Not sure if Tony Burchett is still coaching at Johnson Central but he was always a legendary assistant.

Oakley Watkins was the shining example of this distinction but he took over as LCA's Head Coach so he doesn't count anymore. 

A name way off the radar most don't know is Joe Stanley the O.C. at Martin County. Tremendous football mind and what he has done with the talent to work with is very impressive.

 

15 minutes ago, AssistantFBCoach said:

Simple topic, but I am curious as to your thoughts on some assistant coaches who people may not know about, flying under the radar who are doing great things. 

I think this is a great topic!

What would some examples be on what makes assistant coaches stand out? Are these the type of people who make the HC life easier by taking responsibilities off his plate: ie fundraising, laundry, field maintenance, JV/Frosh Scheduling, Tutoring, Equipment, weightlifting, do we mean like Xs and Os and really creating a depth of knowledge heard from more than just the head coach, or do we mean a leader of young men who really exemplifies what coaching should really be about?  

I feel like there are about three types of coaches

HCs/HC level coaches 

X/O schemers

Character Coaches. 

all are valuable and I think your staff needs to be a mix of them all. 

4 minutes ago, AppalachianTactician said:

I think this is a great topic!

What would some examples be on what makes assistant coaches stand out? Are these the type of people who make the HC life easier by taking responsibilities off his plate: ie fundraising, laundry, field maintenance, JV/Frosh Scheduling, Tutoring, Equipment, weightlifting, do we mean like Xs and Os and really creating a depth of knowledge heard from more than just the head coach, or do we mean a leader of young men who really exemplifies what coaching should really be about?  

I feel like there are about three types of coaches

HCs/HC level coaches 

X/O schemers

Character Coaches. 

all are valuable and I think your staff needs to be a mix of them all. 

Yeah, I mean any coach you think deserves the love and recognition that we don't see. HC's get most of the love and all of the hate in the public. But our AC's need that spotlight sometimes. 

Standout qualities for me range, like you said there are about 3 types, and we need them all. 

There has been some talk regarding guys like Glasgow's DC and their stalwart defense this season.

I am wanting examples of all types, just to share the spotlight in an season coming to conclusion. Really just to hype up some guys who typically remain unknown and are never given their flowers. 

Greg Hergott, Beechwood Tigers’ OC for 15+(?) years cannot be given enough accolades for the machine he and the staff have built and maintained.  The critical role he so successfully has played is greatly recognized and appreciated.

Just now, Oldercoach said:

Greg Hergott, Beechwood Tigers’ OC for 15+(?) years cannot be given enough accolades for the machine he and the staff have built and maintained.  The critical role he so successfully has played is greatly recognized and appreciated.

Being an OC for that long and not either moving or trying your hand at being an HC somewhere is impressive in itself, not even to mention the success they've had. 

10 minutes ago, Oldercoach said:

Greg Hergott, Beechwood Tigers’ OC for 15+(?) years cannot be given enough accolades for the machine he and the staff have built and maintained.  The critical role he so successfully has played is greatly recognized and appreciated.

I literally thought about posting, "Not sure who is who on the Beechwood staff but my prediction is they have someone deserving".

I think Hergott may be THE name to best fit this question.

I think Todd Shipley at Fairdale is deserving. Fairdale is really good on defense and Shipley calls the defense. Fairdale won their district this year and will probably make a decent run in the playoffs. I know Shipley was at Shelby County for a long time with lots of success as their head coach. Shelby hasn't been the same since he left. Just my .2 from the outside looking in.

Dave Schneider assistant coach at Newport Central Catholic fits as far as deserving recognition.

First and foremost he has been an assistant for many many years.  Hopefully someone knows exactly how many.

Great character guy and does a lot of the little things that make head coaches jobs easier.  

 

From Frederick Douglass defensive coordinator Jeffery Poe. He has done a great job with the Bronco defense now for several years. They are always one of the best defenses in the state.

Kenny Thornsberry, the DC and assistant head coach at Bullitt East.  Does a great job with the defense, is a culture and work ethic guy and is a Bullitt East alum.  Intense character coach who brings out the best and inspires his players !!  Doesn't get enough credit.

All of them. My guys are Derrick Hightower, Chris Evans, Aaron Evans, Malaki Nation, Kevin Hixenbaugh and Jerry Perry in no certain order. 

 

Matt Marsh at Franklin Simpson does one hell of a job with their offense in my opinion. 

All of them!

Nick Mills Boyle County Defensive Coordinator. What he has done with the Boyle County defense is amazing. They lost some absolute studs on defense last year and they are somehow better this year. I can almost guarantee he will get some calls to be a head coach after the season ends. All the kids love and respect him too! 

On 10/30/2025 at 11:11 AM, AssistantFBCoach said:

Being an OC for that long and not either moving or trying your hand at being an HC somewhere is impressive in itself, not even to mention the success they've had. 

Because being an assistant, especially an ACTUAL coordinator at those type programs > being a head coach just anywhere.

Cliff Dew- Mayfield (as was Joe Morris before him)

Mark Spader- Bowling Green (as was Kevin Wallace before him, all be it only for a couple years, after resigning as the HC of Warren East after a 10 year stint)

Justin Grundy- Bardstown (as was David Clark before him)

Chad Tackett- Ashland (as was Tony Love before him. Tackett actually had an impressive run at Fairview in the mid 2000's for three years, resigned, went back to Ashland for 15 as an assistant under TWO different HC's)

Matt Varney- Belfry (goes without saying, but obviously not the way he nor any of us across the state wanted to see him take over the reigns with the tragic passing of Coach Haywood )

Jayson Fallin - Owensboro (although resigned after the '24 season)

Dustin Lopez- Hopkinsville (who I also hope gets the keys to the new Christian County HS with what he's done at Hoptown with all the uncertainty of if/when the new consolidated high school was going to happen)

..are just a few that come to mind in recent years who were assistants/coordinators for in and around that amount of time (some longer) at the same programs they are now leading.

There are others further back in time, too. Some are still in that role, some are not. You get the point(s). 

Michael Salmons-Raceland, Brian Weinrich- Highlands, Dale Estes- Campbellsville, Nigel Smith- LexCath are some others that come to mind.

Then you have guys that were head coaches, who, on the surface to those that "don't know what they don't know" might have looked like failed attempts at being able to 'run their own show'- that resigned, only to go be an assistant within said great program & later earned/given the keys to it OR land legit good job (outside of where they went back to be an assistant).

Jason Morris- McLean Co HFC--> O'Cath Asst--> O'Cath HFC.

Jackson Arnett- Barren Co HFC --> Boyle Asst --> Glasgow HFC

That's not to say taking a HC job just to take one can't springboard into getting a GREAT one, because it does...but TIMING, both doing well in the previous year(s) at Job A & then Job B simultaneously coming open the following months, has to often times hit just right (annnnd, "THOSE JOBS"  don't come open often-ALONG with the slim chances that nobody in house wants it (usually the case).

Jay Volker - Beechwood HFC (can't remember the school in Ohio he was previously, but won 'only' four games in 2-3 years. Obviously those hiring knew 1- What they saw during the interview process 2- his pedigree & 3- the dead end job he was trying to do it at)

Hunter Cantwell- Carroll County HFC --> CAL HFC (AND for the powers to be hiring to see through any of the opinions.. "Well, he just went 4-7, 4-7, 6-6 at Carroll Co." To which I'm sure they either 1- Didn't care about those opinions and/or 2- said, "If he can win a playoff game there, just think what he could do here."

Justin Haddix- Perry County Central HFC --> Corbin HFC (now Boyle & the rest is history). Like Cantwell, finished 6-6 at PCC his last year before Corbin came open...along with a 9 win, but also a 4 win in between. Were there some within Corbin that probably snubbed their nose at first to "We're hiring Perry County Central's coach?" Guarantee it. But they KNEW ("If can do that there, think what he could do here" + who he had played for/coached under for years altogether in Mike Holcomb)