3 minutes ago, Pi said:

Someone told me recently Mr. Mays will be back at the helm in Mt. Sterling this fall. Superintendent is leaving and Mays will return.

I think it would only be a smart decision, but I just don't see that happening.

1 minute ago, gchs_uk9 said:

Can he win with a clean nose?!

Has the man ever been proven of any wrong doing, he has never been hit by the KHSAA.

Would Coach Young Somerset or Hagan Tyler be interested? Two very good young coaches who are from the area. 

46 minutes ago, gchs_uk9 said:

Can he win with a clean nose?!

Great question!

Adkins defects were no relation to football, they were his own.    

The only defection to football was Drakeford.  

Andrew Sparrow, 8th Region player of the year never played football. Mercer kid all the way through except his senior year. 

Landon Reed averaged double digits for Danville, Mercer kid all the way through.  

Dunn… not sure of first name, played point guard, quit and went to wrestling, made it to state in his first year as a wrestler.

I believe something like 10 players quit or transferred in 2 years.  None played football except Drakeford. 

When you make it to the region, never sub one single player in at the region (last year) and you have the 8th region player of the year on the bench. ?‍♀️

If Mercer wants longevity. Then the only two candidates should be Sparrow and McRay.   If they want someone to build their program, to take pride in their program, and relate to the situations that go on with Mercer County students and not just a coach, leaving every four years for a better situation, than they are your answer.  But the superintendent will go get a buddy again, like Mays, that will only stay around a good four years.  Most coaches will not  touch this job with a 10 foot pole until AD  changes and superintendent. But, money and made up positions go a long way in hiring. We shall see what they do with football next, because they haven’t had a JV program, No quarterback, and only have around 20 kids at workouts. You can talk to anyone in Mercer athletics that have kids playing, or coming up things are not good in those two sports. 

Welcome to BGP @Hoopguru!

Any news on this? Curious to see who ends up with it. 

On 3/4/2026 at 9:05 AM, RVaughn said:

Football and basketball have dropped dramatically since Booher arrived.  When Booher got there football came off a 9-3 season with over 70 players on the roster and had beat CAL twice in 3 years. Coaching change happens and Mercer football went 1-10 with under 30 players on the roster this year.  This was the direct result of a bad hire from Superintendent and AD and they don't seem interested in fixing it.  Basketball in the last 10 years have had a Mr. Basketball and multiple trips to the region championship.  This year they were 8-22.  I have never seen the amount of kids leaving Mercer as I have seen recently.  There is a bad culture within the Athletic Department and school system. Mercer may have the newest gym in the 12th region and one of the nicest indoor facilities for football and weight lifting but there is a reason for the recent drop off and kids leaving.  Until they fix that it could be hard to get good coaches hired in there. 

That culture starts with the AD. That is the problem! 

Craig Yeast seemed like a good hire at first but the program that David Buchanan had built has quickly broken down.

Basketball was down this year due to injuries and transfers.  Kids (parents) are not willing to wait their turn anymore and the past 2 years success contributed to this.

On 3/6/2026 at 11:39 AM, Mountainfan12 said:

Does anyone know what Mercer has coming up? 

Should be another tough season next year with the future looking bright.

On 3/6/2026 at 4:20 PM, Hoopguru said:

Adkins defects were no relation to football, they were his own.    

The only defection to football was Drakeford.  

Andrew Sparrow, 8th Region player of the year never played football. Mercer kid all the way through except his senior year. 

Landon Reed averaged double digits for Danville, Mercer kid all the way through.  

Dunn… not sure of first name, played point guard, quit and went to wrestling, made it to state in his first year as a wrestler.

I believe something like 10 players quit or transferred in 2 years.  None played football except Drakeford. 

When you make it to the region, never sub one single player in at the region (last year) and you have the 8th region player of the year on the bench. ?‍♀️

If Mercer wants longevity. Then the only two candidates should be Sparrow and McRay.   If they want someone to build their program, to take pride in their program, and relate to the situations that go on with Mercer County students and not just a coach, leaving every four years for a better situation, than they are your answer.  But the superintendent will go get a buddy again, like Mays, that will only stay around a good four years.  Most coaches will not  touch this job with a 10 foot pole until AD  changes and superintendent. But, money and made up positions go a long way in hiring. We shall see what they do with football next, because they haven’t had a JV program, No quarterback, and only have around 20 kids at workouts. You can talk to anyone in Mercer athletics that have kids playing, or coming up things are not good in those two sports. 

I agree with some of this.  

Adkins led Mercer to Region Semis and Region Finals in his first 2 years.  I think that any school would take this.  He is a tough nosed coach that knows how to win but was greatly undermined by a set of parents and the AD.

Andrew Sparrow is a great kid.  Last year he was still developing, and I was told that he only averaged around 14 a game in JV play.  Could he have played more last year?  Sure.  But his defense was lacking (key staple in Adkins scheme) and he played the same position as Trevor Ellis.  Plus, his parents started talking about the coaches and talked about other kids.  This does a kid no good.  Definitely would have helped the team this year but not player of the year in the 12th.

Landon Reed was a kid that was undersized and was not going to see the court last season.  The kid wanted to play and made the move to Danville.  He grew a few inches and turned into a terrific player.  He would have been the starting point guard this year.

You can throw the Dunn kid in with the AD issues.  Very connected.

Mercer definitely needs a coach that WANTS to stay and WANTS to build from the bottom up.  Sparrow and McRay probably fit that mode with my lean going towards McRay.

The 1st step that I would take is to get rid of the AD.  He hated Adkins and created a culture that Adkins could no longer take.  Football wise, the AD got rid of his "friend" of who had done everything the right way and replaced him with his nephew.  The program has spiraled down since this change.

Mercer, could and should be a beast in the 12th.  They will never go in the direction of DCA and West but hiring the right coach and removing the current AD should propel them in the right direction.  I am afraid that only one of these will happen.

Jason Mays has interviewed and told them he wanted the LCA job first.   Then the Mercer job.   Heard Elijah Justice is interested.  
 

No word on McCray or Sparrow.   My guess is they see what’s going on being alumni and have no interest.  Sparrow will land somewhere bigger at the college level.   
 

Also was told by someone  that The AD a the football coach have told everyone they are leaving after this next season.  This was told to them by both the AD and Yeast. AD is retiring, and Yeast has made his 92,000 plus to destroy another program it’s time he moves on I suppose.  

Didn't realize everyone Garrard was graduating. If McCray was leaving, you'd think now would be the time. 

Jason Mays has interviewed and told them he wanted the LCA job first.   Then the Mercer job.   Heard Elijah Justice is interested.  
 

No word on McCray or Sparrow.   My guess is they see what’s going on being alumni and have no interest.  Sparrow will land somewhere bigger at the college level.   
 

Also was told by someone  that The AD a the football coach have told everyone they are leaving after this next season.  This was told to them by both the AD and Yeast. AD is retiring, and Yeast has made his 92,000 plus to destroy another program it’s time he moves on I suppose.  

Was just informed by a close friend that LCA has contacted Sparrow as well.  

1 hour ago, Hoopguru said:

Jason Mays has interviewed and told them he wanted the LCA job first.   Then the Mercer job.   Heard Elijah Justice is interested.  
 

No word on McCray or Sparrow.   My guess is they see what’s going on being alumni and have no interest.  Sparrow will land somewhere bigger at the college level.   
 

Also was told by someone  that The AD a the football coach have told everyone they are leaving after this next season.  This was told to them by both the AD and Yeast. AD is retiring, and Yeast has made his 92,000 plus to destroy another program it’s time he moves on I suppose.  

I can't believe they're already holding interviews, when was Mays interviewed?