Who Will Be The Next Head Coach At Pikeville?

[MooseMason]

It was reported today that coach Jackson stepped down at Pikeville. anyone got more info?

[98NCCalum]

That's shocking if it's true....

[TheLegends64]

Reported by who?

[Farva]

I saw this too, but was reluctant to post it because of lack of proof. One of my parents is an employee at PHS and is actively involved in the athletics department. I called, and they had no idea about this as of yet. If I hear anything else I'll post it.

[TheLegends64]

Where would Coach Jackson go to? I thought Pikeville was a pretty good set up but I may be wrong.

[mountainmojo68]

Its true. My brother plays varsity and told me today that Coach J adressed the team during weightlifting after school. He didnt give a reason to why he was quitting or where he was going. Good luck Coach J. Micheal Copely needs to be the next HC at Pikeville.

[Farva]

Where would Coach Jackson go to? I thought Pikeville was a pretty good set up but I may be wrong.

 

I think coaching at Pikeville can be a blessing and a curse situation. When things go well, the entire town will be behind you and it can be an ideal place to coach high school football. But if things start going south even a little bit, people start talking, and things can start piling up quickly. If that starts happening things can become very difficult very soon. I think it could be equated to a Kentucky basketball type situation though on a much smaller scale.

[mountainmojo68]

Where would Coach Jackson go to? I thought Pikeville was a pretty good set up but I may be wrong.

I cant confirm it but I heard he was going to Louisville Ballard.

[Farva]

Its true. My brother plays varsity and told me today that Coach J adressed the team during weightlifting after school. He didnt give a reason to why he was quitting or where he was going. Good luck Coach J. Micheal Copely needs to be the next HC at Pikeville.

 

As a former player and the brother of a player who played under Coach J and his staff, I would have to disagree with this statement.

[TheLegends64]

From watching Pikeville this past season I had a feeling that they had some disciplinary issues, was that the case or am I way off base?

[CoachJ]

Where would Coach Jackson go to? I thought Pikeville was a pretty good set up but I may be wrong.

 

The decision had nothing to do with ANYTHING "negative" about Pikeville. GREAT kids to coach. Great facilities. Great -- extremely hard-working and loyal -- coaching staff. Tremendous administration support. A demanding (which I love) but supportive community. GREAT kids to coach (did I mention that already?). A GREAT group of athletes coming back and great big-guys coming up. Nothing but class.

 

Coaches' decisions -- at least at the high school level -- are very tough ones to make and aren't always about the football situation.

 

Unlike what has been said on other sites, I have NOT been "looking to leave for two years." You don't look to leave situations that are this good -- but sometimes other circumstances take precedence. (Very similar when I left another great situation at Oldham County.)

 

To all the kids I coached in the past here that might be reading this -- and as I said to our returning players today (all 48 that were in the weight room to work for next season) -- whomever has the title of head coach is a lot less important at a place like Pikeville. That's because of how committed those PLAYERS are to working toward excellence. I just feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be the one in that position. Pikeville football will not miss a beat.

 

I am committed to helping the next head coach here with transition as much as he wants me to. One thing that makes me feel extremely gratified is that there are EXTREMELY talented and hard-working coaches -- primarily, Michael Copley; the most "head-coach-ready" assistant coach I've ever had on a staff -- still here that have the dedication toward the kids and this program to make sure everything will keep going just as it should in off-season training to get these guys ready for next season.

[Ram]

I don't know anything about the problems at Pikeville, but from a distance, it looked like Coach Jackson was doing a good job. I hate to see him leave, but wish him and Pikeville luck.

 

It seems like there have been a lot of coaching jobs vacated this season.

[Ram]

The decision had nothing to do with ANYTHING "negative" about Pikeville. GREAT kids to coach. Great facilities. Great -- extremely hard-working and loyal -- coaching staff. Tremendous administration support. A demanding (which I love) but supportive community. GREAT kids to coach (did I mention that already?). A GREAT group of athletes coming back and great big-guys coming up. Nothing but class.

 

Coaches' decisions -- at least at the high school level -- are very tough ones to make and aren't always about the football situation.

 

Unlike what has been said on other sites, I have NOT been "looking to leave for two years." You don't look to leave situations that are this good -- but sometimes other circumstances take precedence. (Very similar when I left another great situation at Oldham County.)

 

To all the kids I coached in the past here that might be reading this -- and as I said to our returning players today (all 48 that were in the weight room to work for next season) -- whomever has the title of head coach is a lot less important at a place like Pikeville. That's because of how committed those PLAYERS are to working toward excellence. I just feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be the one in that position. Pikeville football will not miss a beat.

 

I am committed to helping the next head coach here with transition as much as he wants me to. One thing that makes me feel extremely gratified is that there are EXTREMELY talented and hard-working coaches -- primarily, Michael Copley; the most "head-coach-ready" assistant coach I've ever had on a staff -- still here that have the dedication toward the kids and this program to make sure everything will keep going just as it should in off-season training to get these guys ready for next season.

 

Well said, and good luck, where ever you end up. I hope you stay in Kentucky, and on BGP.

[Farva]

The decision had nothing to do with ANYTHING "negative" about Pikeville. GREAT kids to coach. Great facilities. Great -- extremely hard-working and loyal -- coaching staff. Tremendous administration support. A demanding (which I love) but supportive community. GREAT kids to coach (did I mention that already?). A GREAT group of athletes coming back and great big-guys coming up. Nothing but class.

 

Coaches' decisions -- at least at the high school level -- are very tough ones to make and aren't always about the football situation.

 

Unlike what has been said on other sites, I have NOT been "looking to leave for two years." You don't look to leave situations that are this good -- but sometimes other circumstances take precedence. (Very similar when I left another great situation at Oldham County.)

 

To all the kids I coached in the past here that might be reading this -- and as I said to our returning players today (all 48 that were in the weight room to work for next season) -- whomever has the title of head coach is a lot less important at a place like Pikeville. That's because of how committed those PLAYERS are to working toward excellence. I just feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be the one in that position. Pikeville football will not miss a beat.

 

I am committed to helping the next head coach here with transition as much as he wants me to. One thing that makes me feel extremely gratified is that there are EXTREMELY talented and hard-working coaches -- primarily, Michael Copley; the most "head-coach-ready" assistant coach I've ever had on a staff -- still here that have the dedication toward the kids and this program to make sure everything will keep going just as it should in off-season training to get these guys ready for next season.

 

Good luck Coach J wherever you go in the future. I know I had disagreed with some things you did in your tenure at Pikeville, but once I took a closer look I couldn't have been happier with the direction of the program and the way you took care of your players. I wish your stay at Pikeville could have lasted a little longer because I know you would have taken them back to the State Championship. Hopefully the next coach will have your passion and your convictions! Good Luck Coach!

[Farva]

With Coach Jackson vacating the position earlier today, who are some potential candidates for the job? There are a couple of guys who will probably throw in their hat that are currently on staff at Pikeville in Chad Salyers and Michael Copley. Both are young and energetic guys who would work extremely hard to try and return Pikeville to their traditional prowess.

 

But I think the real question is whether Pikeville will once again try and go outside and look for a potential coach as they did with Coach Jackson. Who are some coaches from across the state (or maybe even beyond) who would be interested in this job? Is there a specific mold or type of coach Pikeville should be looking for?

 

I for one need some time to think it over, so I'll hang up and listen, then post what I come up with later.