I believe Jason Howell's name will get thrown in the mix at some point.

I believe Jason Howell's name will get thrown in the mix at some point.

 

Didn't think about that one but it makes sense, he put his name in during the last coaching search at PHS I believe. What has he been doing since he left Pikeville? Is he still coaching?

He's been an assistant coach at Tates Creek since he left Pikeville.

 

"Assistant Coach: Jason Howell

 

Coach Howell enters his third season on the Tates Creek Staff. A 1991 graduate of Pikeville High School, he was a member of the 1988 and 1989 Pikeville Panther State Football Championship Teams. Coach Howell earned his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education degree from Pikeville College in 1995 and his Masters of Arts in Education from Morehead St. University in 2002. Coach Howell currently teaches Social Studies in the Ace/Pre-IB Diploma Program at Tates Creek High School. Coach Howell's responsibilities include::

 

Offensive Coordinator,Quarterbacks,Running Backs and Outside Linebackers"

 

 

^Taken from the Tates Creek football website. I think the bio is from 2007.

 

http://www.tatescreekfootball.com/Coaching%20Bios.htm

He's been an assistant coach at Tates Creek since he left Pikeville.

 

"Assistant Coach: Jason Howell

 

Coach Howell enters his third season on the Tates Creek Staff. A 1991 graduate of Pikeville High School, he was a member of the 1988 and 1989 Pikeville Panther State Football Championship Teams. Coach Howell earned his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education degree from Pikeville College in 1995 and his Masters of Arts in Education from Morehead St. University in 2002. Coach Howell currently teaches Social Studies in the Ace/Pre-IB Diploma Program at Tates Creek High School. Coach Howell's responsibilities include::

 

Offensive Coordinator,Quarterbacks,Running Backs and Outside Linebackers"

 

 

^Taken from the Tates Creek football website. I think the bio is from 2007.

 

http://www.tatescreekfootball.com/Coaching%20Bios.htm

 

I always thought pretty highly of Coach Howell, playing under him for part of my high school career. I thought he did a great job calling plays for the offense, and I thought he did a great job as a teacher. He's listed as the OC for Tates Creek for this past season and even though the team went 2-9, they still averaged close to 18.5 ppg. I think he should at least get some consideration for the job. He would most certainly understand what he was getting himself into if he were to get the job.

Will history repeat itself?

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.

Ok...Why????

My brother has played for Copely for 2 years now and loves the guy. Hes a demanding coach who knows the game (he had the #1 defense in the state in all classes in '06) and demands nothing less than 100% out of his players. Hes a great motivator and he doesnt put up with whiners. Im about as close to this program as non-coach could be and Im telling you from what Ive seen these kids WILL play for him and they DO respect him. Im not worried about some 17-18 year old boys getting there "little feelings hurt". Im worried about getting this program back to where it was in the 80s and 90s and I believe that Copley can get us there. I value everyones opinion as far why they think he can or cant get the job done. If Copely doesnt get the job then Ill support whoever does 100% because I love this Program.

Hold the postion open please. I got someone I want to send to you. Great guy. LOL.

Will history repeat itself?

 

What do you mean? Like the stuff that happened at Shelby Valley??????? I don't think so.

Please don't hire anyone Pikeville until I send you my guy. Very charming individual who I think would enjoy Eastern Ky football.

What is Coach doing? Retiring?

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.

 

 

Coach, I want to wish you luck no matter where you decide to go or do. I felt that you were doing a lot of right things at Pikeville, but people who come in to coach there from the outside have problems, which you did, it was no fault of your own. Good luck Coach!!!

Will history repeat itself?

 

I'll give it a shot.

 

Coach Howard and young Ben back for another go around in Pikeville???

Ok...Why????

 

It may have come across as a personal attack at Copley, but I assure you that is not what I had intended. I just feel like the Pikeville football program needs someone that has had a good deal of head coaching experience to lead it now. I think Copley will be a successful coach, but to this point he has not had the oportunity to prove himself. I would like to see someone step in that has already proven he knows how to win.

I'll give it a shot.

 

Coach Howard and young Ben back for another go around in Pikeville???

 

Are you thinking maybe Hillard coming back for a couple of years, then Ben taking over as Hillard riding off into the sunset?

 

This is kind of an intriguing possibility. I don't know how some of people around the program will feel about Be potentially leading the program after some of the difficulties he has had in the past.