Best Current Coach?

[Beta]

In your opinion, who are the top (5) "Boys head basketball coaches" in the state of KY?

[rojas4]

It depends on the deffinition of a top coach. Below are some criteria that may be considered.

 

Overall record

Longevity (great coaches build great programs not just great teams)

State Tournament record

Regional Championships

Respected by former players

Plays tough schedule year in and year out

Kids improve throughout career

Cares less about his popularity and does not kowtow to boosters etc.

 

Everyone on this board is going to say his or her favorite coach is one of the states best and the coach he or she does not like is overrated. But sports is largely a numbers game, otherwise we wouldn't have scoreboards and every team would get a championship trouphy at the end of each year. Coaches should be rated by the numbers.

[cch5432]

1. Hicks (Scott Co)

2. Riley (Warren Central)

3. Renner (Ballard)

4. Wright (South Laurel)

5. Code (Brossart)/Mabry (PRP)

[Log Mountain Boy]

1. Hicks (Scott Co)

2. Riley (Warren Central)

3. Renner (Ballard)

4. Wright (South Laurel)

5. Code (Brossart)/Mabry (PRP)

 

That appears to be a pretty accurate list. From what I have seen I would throw Listerman up there fairly high as well. I also like Humphrey and O'hearn from the 10th region. Also to me a coach that maybe top 3 anyways is Rodney Woods.

[rojas4]

You know one that is a great one that seldom gets mentioned is John D Wilson at tiny tiny Red Bird Mission school. James A Cawood was pretty much at the bottom of the 13th region. JD took them from that to a 13th region finalist in a very short time. He took Red Bird to the region finals even though a couple of his best players had transferred to Clay Co.

[Beta]

It depends on the deffinition of a top coach. Below are some criteria that may be considered.

 

Overall record

Longevity (great coaches build great programs not just great teams)

State Tournament record

Regional Championships

Respected by former players

Plays tough schedule year in and year out

Kids improve throughout career

Cares less about his popularity and does not kowtow to boosters etc.

 

Everyone on this board is going to say his or her favorite coach is one of the states best and the coach he or she does not like is overrated. But sports is largely a numbers game, otherwise we wouldn't have scoreboards and every team would get a championship trouphy at the end of each year. Coaches should be rated by the numbers.

Great ReCap - some coaches seem to be better at regular season play vs. tournament or allstar set ups.Also may add respected or feared by their peers.

[Log Mountain Boy]

You know one that is a great one that seldom gets mentioned is John D Wilson at tiny tiny Red Bird Mission school. James A Cawood was pretty much at the bottom of the 13th region. JD took them from that to a 13th region finalist in a very short time. He took Red Bird to the region finals even though a couple of his best players had transferred to Clay Co.

 

Wow, I forgot about John D. Wilson. His kids always played really hard and were well coached. I have a lot of respect for him.

[train3399]

What about Hatcher? Formerly at Graves.

[madduxace]

I would take Wayne Breeden any day he just recently got back into the high school ranks but this guy works more hours and gets more out of his players than any coach I have seen. He is the best coach I have seen come through the 16th region when he was at Ashland and took Owensboro to the sweet 16 in his first year. He may not have accumulated the wins that some have due to his college coaching years but should be thought of as one of the best in the state.

[TaylorMadeBoy]

You know one that is a great one that seldom gets mentioned is John D Wilson at tiny tiny Red Bird Mission school. James A Cawood was pretty much at the bottom of the 13th region. JD took them from that to a 13th region finalist in a very short time. He took Red Bird to the region finals even though a couple of his best players had transferred to Clay Co.

 

This is an awesome story, this is one of those things you see a movie being based on or about.

[cch5432]

That appears to be a pretty accurate list. From what I have seen I would throw Listerman up there fairly high as well. I also like Humphrey and O'hearn from the 10th region. Also to me a coach that maybe top 3 anyways is Rodney Woods.

A few of rojas4's criteria eliminates some options....

 

It depends on the deffinition of a top coach. Below are some criteria that may be considered.

 

State Tournament record

Respected by former players

Kids improve throughout career

Cares less about his popularity and does not kowtow to boosters etc.

[picknroll]

Rick Mays from Elliott Co. is considered the "Dean" of the 16th Region

[rojas4]

I don't thing there are as many "great" coaches out there as there were 25 years ago. My theory is that most coaches do not make a career out of coaching the way Hicks, Listerman, R. Woods, and many others have. Most young coaches these days will stay in coaching 6 or 7 years and get out. I believe the reason for this is the time demands of Kentucky High School basketball coaching. When I was in high school, many years ago, practice started October 15th or when football season was over. It ended when your team was beaten out of the tournament. Now, you have "open gym" from the end of the Sweet 16 till the end of school. The day school is out summer basketball starts. You have a two week dead period in mid summer. Then you have conditioning and open gym from the time school starts till Oct 15th. I would think a fellow would have to really love this job to go through that schedule for the long haul.

[Beta]

1. Hicks (Scott Co)

2. Riley (Warren Central)

3. Renner (Ballard)

4. Wright (South Laurel)

5. Code (Brossart)/Mabry (PRP)

Another (5)

Ron Bevars- N. Hardin

Jeff Morrow - J-town

Tim Riley - Warren

Bill Mike Runyon - Paintsville

Steve Wright - S. Laurel

[harlancobears]

Billy Hicks is the best.