There is only one coach on this list that will be a candidate and I think he has a 90% chance of being the new boys coach. It will take a while to get this team going again. They have a few good kids coming but it may be three or four years before they compete in the region. Humphrey wants to stay a winner, probably why he made his last move. Besides , Russells gym brings back nightmares about him being point man in Marvs 1-3-1 traps !:lol:

 

Everyone knew this after losing 11 of the top 13 players from last year's 27-5 team which would have won the region last year(for the 2nd in a row) had Vanhoose not gone down in the Districts with a knee injury. It will take Russell 3 years to be competitive again and all involved knew this. :confused: However, the administration has softened the schedule for the new coach. I believe the Devils will see Menifee Co twice next year.

 

 

Thank you, Coach Dodd for all the time, effort and energy expended in getting Russell to where they hadn't been since 1972. :fire:

 

I appreciate the opportunity to assist you and learn from you during the last six years. :thumb:

Rumor mill from the 9th Region concerning the open vacancy.

 

1st: Scott Humphrey (proven winner)

2nd: Tim Conway (should have never left)

3rd: Brock Walter (Great coach and has had family in the Russell school system that helped Ivan build the football program)

4th: Merle Kidwell (3 Regional Championship games in a row)

5th: Bill Bradley (Everyone knows that he can coach)

6th: Chris Barnes (Columbus isnt Ironton)

 

Can anyone confirm these rumors of candidates? Any would make a fine coach at one of the best schools in the state.

 

Scott is in a good position working for Coach McCloud ( AD ) at GRC

Conway seems very well planted in Laurel County and the AD ( Jimmy Durham ) is also a Deputy Sheriff. He may not let him leave. haha

Brock ----

Bill ------ Can`t see him leaving his team that he has worked so many years to bring along slow and steady. Should be a Tomcat for as long as he wants to be.

Chris --- Would definately be a nice choice expecially if all possibilities would come with him.

Merle -- Has absolutely paid his dues. I would be shocked if he doesn`t get the option before anyone else. There comes a time when this respect is just deserved.

One bad season, is that all Dodd's and his coaches fault?

 

How quickly everyone forgets.....

 

It certainly doesn't help when you don't better prepare for an upcoming "down" year. He was riding on Talent alone the past 2-3 years with an influx of transfers into the program and was not winning due to coaching philosophies. Why hasn't talent within their school system been developed if you think it is about one bad season. Nobody forgets that easily, it's just when you win enough then the wolves can't attack (yet), but the idea has always been there throughout the "good times".

 

Now duck, you are correct about the loss of players from that team, but how many players were contributing on a nightly basis? Seven, but never once did he find time to work this years (down) players into the games to try to develop a better flow into the transition year.

Scott is in a good position working for Coach McCloud ( AD ) at GRC

Conway seems very well planted in Laurel County and the AD ( Jimmy Durham ) is also a Deputy Sheriff. He may not let him leave. haha

Brock ----

Bill ------ Can`t see him leaving his team that he has worked so many years to bring along slow and steady. Should be a Tomcat for as long as he wants to be.

Chris --- Would definately be a nice choice expecially if all possibilities would come with him.

Merle -- Has absolutely paid his dues. I would be shocked if he doesn`t get the option before anyone else. There comes a time when this respect is just deserved.

Not an option, I just got off the phone with him.

Everyone knew this after losing 11 of the top 13 players from last year's 27-5 team which would have won the region last year(for the 2nd in a row) had Vanhoose not gone down in the Districts with a knee injury. It will take Russell 3 years to be competitive again and all involved knew this. :confused: However, the administration has softened the schedule for the new coach. I believe the Devils will see Menifee Co twice next year.

 

 

Thank you, Coach Dodd for all the time, effort and energy expended in getting Russell to where they hadn't been since 1972. :fire:

 

I appreciate the opportunity to assist you and learn from you during the last six years. :thumb:

You are correct in saying everyone involved knew this. My post was in reply to a person not from this area. I beleive coach Dodd did everything he could with what he had. My statement was not intended as a put down. I don't beleive Rick P. could have come in and done any better. You gotta have kids out first and Russell clearly doesen't for whatever reasons. I beleive there is just to many different things for kids to do these days, and Russell being a small school it's just hard to feed all the programs. Even the girls ball program has taken a hit with not really enough players. Sixth , seventh, and eighth graders on the varsity bench. Hopefully things will get better in the years to come.:thumb:

Scott is in a good position working for Coach McCloud ( AD ) at GRC

Conway seems very well planted in Laurel County and the AD ( Jimmy Durham ) is also a Deputy Sheriff. He may not let him leave. haha

Brock ----

Bill ------ Can`t see him leaving his team that he has worked so many years to bring along slow and steady. Should be a Tomcat for as long as he wants to be.

Chris --- Would definately be a nice choice expecially if all possibilities would come with him.

Merle -- Has absolutely paid his dues. I would be shocked if he doesn`t get the option before anyone else. There comes a time when this respect is just deserved.

 

North Laurel's coaches name is James Conway and I wouldn't be surprised if he got the job ... if he wanted it.

Kidwell deserves the job if he wants it.

It certainly doesn't help when you don't better prepare for an upcoming "down" year. He was riding on Talent alone the past 2-3 years with an influx of transfers into the program and was not winning due to coaching philosophies. Why hasn't talent within their school system been developed if you think it is about one bad season. Nobody forgets that easily, it's just when you win enough then the wolves can't attack (yet), but the idea has always been there throughout the "good times".

 

Now duck, you are correct about the loss of players from that team, but how many players were contributing on a nightly basis? Seven, but never once did he find time to work this years (down) players into the games to try to develop a better flow into the transition year.

 

Ferguson and Maybery did play last year, Bender did not come out, Kyle Skaggs was in the 6th grade and everyone else played freshman ball. Coach would have to go 14-20 deep to get to them.

It certainly doesn't help when you don't better prepare for an upcoming "down" year. He was riding on Talent alone the past 2-3 years with an influx of transfers into the program and was not winning due to coaching philosophies. Why hasn't talent within their school system been developed if you think it is about one bad season. Nobody forgets that easily, it's just when you win enough then the wolves can't attack (yet), but the idea has always been there throughout the "good times".

 

Now duck, you are correct about the loss of players from that team, but how many players were contributing on a nightly basis? Seven, but never once did he find time to work this years (down) players into the games to try to develop a better flow into the transition year.

 

I don't think that's fair at all. Now I'm not bashing the current Russell roster but there isn't much talent on that team. You may be able to teach kids to be more fundlementally sound and may be able to improve them but you cannot teach talent. You are forgetting that Russell lost something like the top 11 players. It's very difficult to get kids beyond that point significant minutes during a game, much less throughout the season. Even if you take out the starting 5, you have 6 other players who have sweated and worked hard for the team who deserve playing time as well. Sure, you still want to prepare kids for the upcoming years but it's difficult when they are that far back on the bench and most didn't even play JV, much less varsity. This isn't an attempt of me taking up for Coach Dodd at all, it's just my observation of a situation. But saying that his lack of preparation of the upcoming players is just unfair, it's a unique situation.

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Ferguson and Maybery did play last year, Bender did not come out, Kyle Skaggs was in the 6th grade and everyone else played freshman ball. Coach would have to go 14-20 deep to get to them.

 

My point exactly!!! People keep saying this but they are just showing a lack of knowledge of the situation. With excluding Ferguson and Mabery(who both played many mins every game), most of the current Russell roster didn't even play JV, much less varsity.

This should be a no brainer for Russell. Merle Kidwell should be the only choice. He is a great coach and a class act.

One bad season, is that all Dodd's and his coaches fault?

 

How quickly everyone forgets.....

Just a guess here, but I'd say it goes a little deeper than just the oncourt performances.

The names that Madeleine Albright posted really surprise me. I didn't think some of the names were known outside the 16th region let alone in the 9th region.

The names that Madeleine Albright posted really surprise me. I didn't think some of the names were known outside the 16th region let alone in the 9th region.

 

Must be great to have you as a spouse if you are that easily surprised, birthdays must be a hit with you. Now on a serious note, are you telling me that you have no contacts outside of the 16th region? Let's say the Louisville area, or Oldham County?

I love birthdays and I am easily surprised . I did know one person from the Oldham County area I didn't like at all. Lets get back to your list the only real choice on that list is coach Kidwell.