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.

 

No way Coach Humphrey will leave GRC. He has a chance to go to State for the next 3 years. I talked to him just last week and he said that he wanted his girls to graduate from GRC. He also has great job security here...at Russell, it dosn't seem to matter what you have done, the job security isn't there.

 

As another poster posted I am surpised that Perry Yates name hasn't been mention more.

No way Coach Humphrey will leave GRC. He has a chance to go to State for the next 3 years. I talked to him just last week and he said that he wanted his girls to graduate from GRC. He also has great job security here...at Russell, it dosn't seem to matter what you have done, the job security isn't there.

 

As another poster posted I am surpised that Perry Yates name hasn't been mention more.

 

While Perry Yates is highly thought of, I do not see Russell hiring a Paraprofessional as head basketball coach.

While Perry Yates is highly thought of, I do not see Russell hiring a Paraprofessional as head basketball coach.

 

I agree I think it should be Coach Kidwell's if he wants it. However his girls program is rolling right now and the boys aren't near as good so I wouldn't blame him if he wants to stay put. I think he would do an outstanding job, but the boy's program graduated 3 starters off a 3-26 team. The new coach has alot of work to do.

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:

 

:thumb::thumb: Great post and comments duck! All class and so true.

No way Coach Humphrey will leave GRC. He has a chance to go to State for the next 3 years. I talked to him just last week and he said that he wanted his girls to graduate from GRC. He also has great job security here...at Russell, it dosn't seem to matter what you have done, the job security isn't there.

 

Not trying to take shots at Russell gold but the highlighted part is imo exactly right. As for the reason it is that way with the basketball program? Again, I do not know and am not pointing fingers at any one personally but I will repeat one thing that I have always said in a lot of h.s. situations "It's not about the Parents and fans, it's about the kids" and imo certain ones should let coaches coach and support their school/teams instead of always complaining. By far the easiest place for fans and parents to point fingers is at the coach. Regardless of what a coach has accomplished before, it is always "what have you done for me lately" when it comes to coaching.

Only situation that I could see for parents complaining is that if a coach is somehow mistreating a kid or embarrassing the school by his actions in some way.

I fully admit that I am not close to the program and may not know if any "mistreating" of a player/kid has taken place or not. I just seriously doubt it. (and imo a coach yelling at a player or "benching" a kid is not mistreating him, sometmes "little Johnny" may need it).

 

Good luck to Russell on naming a new coach and good luck to Coach Dodd in the future.

Not trying to take shots at Russell gold but the highlighted part is imo exactly right. As for the reason it is that way with the basketball program? Again, I do not know and am not pointing fingers at any one personally but I will repeat one thing that I have always said in a lot of h.s. situations "It's not about the Parents and fans, it's about the kids" and imo certain ones should let coaches coach and support their school/teams instead of always complaining. By far the easiest place for fans and parents to point fingers is at the coach. Regardless of what a coach has accomplished before, it is always "what have you done for me lately" when it comes to coaching.

Only situation that I could see for parents complaining is that if a coach is somehow mistreating a kid or embarrassing the school by his actions in some way.

I fully admit that I am not close to the program and may not know if any "mistreating" of a player/kid has taken place or not. I just seriously doubt it. (and imo a coach yelling at a player or "benching" a kid is not mistreating him, sometmes "little Johnny" may need it).

 

Good luck to Russell on naming a new coach and good luck to Coach Dodd in the future.

Sounds like GC is GC no matter what city in the county your in.

As "The Boss" said months ago this was going to happen you have to be a people person now to coach. There is no doubt Merle Kidwell will be given 1st shot at this job.Long live "Bruce"

To say there is "no doubt" about who will be the next head coach is premature. Before the decision is made all options and opportunities need to be explored. This program needs the best available talent as the next coach, not the path of least resistance.

 

As far as talent goes, there are freshmen coming up that, combined with the sophmores and the 7th grader, will make a significant difference next year. There are also at least 2 dandy 8th graders that are ahead of schedule that will contribute at least year after next.

 

After a 3 win season, the coach that follows is positioned to enjoy a nice improvement next season. Stay up, help is on the way. . . .

To say there is "no doubt" about who will be the next head coach is premature. Before the decision is made all options and opportunities need to be explored. This program needs the best available talent as the next coach, not the path of least resistance.

 

As far as talent goes, there are freshmen coming up that, combined with the sophmores and the 7th grader, will make a significant difference next year. There are also at least 2 dandy 8th graders that are ahead of schedule that will contribute at least year after next.

 

After a 3 win season, the coach that follows is positioned to enjoy a nice improvement next season. Stay up, help is on the way. . . .

 

Welcome to Preps Next!! I do feel like Russell is still about 3 or 4 years away from being a contender again. I do though feel you are correct about them improving next year but there is only one way to go from this year. LOL!! I know the players who you speak of and I think they can be good players in their time if developed. It's going to be a long road back to the top for the Devils and I hope they can get a coach who can develope the players coming up. They do have some good young talent and they need someone who can develope them to their potential. Unless some help comes in the form of transfers, I think it's going to be at least 3 yrs before the Devils are factors again in the region.

Have they set a date for interviews or have any kind of deadline to fill this position.

This would be Bradley's chance to "cross over" again if he wanted to take it. I know he had it rough the first few years he coached girls. Lord knows I'm one to talk, but guys are a little easier to coach. I think he would consider it if he's had the same emotional battles he had his first years as a girls coach. OTHERWISE, he's a sly guy who knows how to play the game off the court and knows that he could be at A-Town as long as he wants if he plays the right hand. He's a smart cookie when it comes to this sort of thing so he'll do what's in his best interest after he's considered all his options.

 

 

Please keep in mind:

COACHES AREN'T ALWAYS AS DUMB AS WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS. THIS TOO IS A HEAD GAME MOST ARE WELL VERSED IN.

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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.

 

Dodd has had two year-three years to develop kidds. Problem was that a certain JV coach let his ego get the better of himself and kept running kids off. I watched during those years shaking my head as I watched player after player NOT be developed. Then when parents tried to approach the staff, ego gots in the way. Coach Dodd and his JV coach needed to be out of there years ago. All I can say right now is Amen!

No way Coach Humphrey will leave GRC. He has a chance to go to State for the next 3 years. I talked to him just last week and he said that he wanted his girls to graduate from GRC. He also has great job security here...at Russell, it dosn't seem to matter what you have done, the job security isn't there.

 

As another poster posted I am surpised that Perry Yates name hasn't been mention more.

 

A person would have great job security at Russell as long as he/she deserved it. Obviously, you can make your own conclusion about Dodd.

Dodd has had two year-three years to develop kidds. Problem was that a certain JV coach let his ego get the better of himself and kept running kids off. I watched during those years shaking my head as I watched player after player NOT be developed. Then when parents tried to approach the staff, ego gots in the way. Coach Dodd and his JV coach needed to be out of there years ago. All I can say right now is Amen!

 

While you are certainly entitled to your opinion, you are wrong.

 

A select group of parents along with one adminis-traitor and their friends have tried to undermine the basketball program since Coach Dodd's first two years at Russell. As I have stated before, it's not the X and O or the Jimmy and Joe it is the parents of Little Hiram and Elmer that think they should play ahead of the Jimmys and Joes that are part of the problem. With the experience this group of Sophs gained this year they should be much better. This along with a weaker schedule that the AD has secured for the new coach should bring success.

It was a wonderful group of kids this year and I believe every player and parent with the exception of one supported and appreciated Coach Dodd and his Staff. Thank you!!!:thumb:

Merle Kidwell is a guy in the system that would make a very good fit into the Boys program at Russell. IMO its almost a no brainer, if Coach Kidwell wants the job?