Per an email from Coach Listerman.

 

"Dear Parents,

 

Just a short note to thank everyone for all the hard work, effort and support you gave to the basketball team this past season. Special thanks to our senior parents who once again took the lead in providing the team gatherings and meals during the season. Thanks, also, to all for providing the post-game drinks and snacks for the bus rides back to CCH after every road game. They were greatly appreciated by everyone on the bus. Also, a big thank you goes to the moms and dads who decorated the locker room, cafeteria and driveway with posters for the district and regional tournaments. Whether your sons admit it or not, I know for a fact that they appreciated it a lot. You did a great job!

 

Certainly we want to extend our condolences to the Shover and Noll families on their losses over the past two weeks. Undoubtedly we have had our share of sorrows within the basketball family this season. We need to keep everyone in our prayers and let the healing power of God help us all.

 

Finally, I want to address an issue that has surfaced over the past few weeks and seems to have taken on a life of its own. I would like to put an end to all of the speculation about my leaving CCH. For everyone’s information, I have not even applied, much less accepted, the position of head basketball coach at the new Cooper High School in Boone Co. or anywhere else. Whoever started this rumor is simply dead wrong and has done a great injustice to our team with their irresponsible actions. God only know what their motives are. However, I do know that it is time to put an end to the ridiculous games that these people continue to play.

 

I have spent almost a quarter of a century teaching, coaching and caring about your sons and those of many others at CCH. My family and I have sacrificed much in order for me to pursue my career-dreams at CCH. When I returned to Covington Catholic in the late 1980’s, I took a $25,000 annual pay cut. That alone adds up to over a half-million dollars in wages not received. By anyone’s standard that is a significant commitment to our school. Simply put, I am not going to walk away from that type of investment.

 

So in conclusion, I don’t plan on going anywhere, anytime soon. I plan to finish my coaching career sometime in the next eight to ten years right here at CCH and nowhere else! I have invested much and my roots run deep. CCH is my home and the students and parents have become my extended family. Together we have shared in life’s joys and sorrows and supported each other in times of need. I look forward to continuing in this same fashion. - With a Spirit That Will Not Die!

 

Sincerely,

 

Coach L."

Let me add this:

 

Anyone who knows Coach Listerman or has ever had anything to do with Covington Catholic would never question his committment to the kids, parents, alumni and school as a whole.

 

He is much more than just a basketball coach.

Good to hear!!

 

A 25,000 dollar pay cut? WOW. Coach Listerman is a class act and one of the best in the state. I look forward to seeing him patroling the sidelines at CCH the next few years!

What a great letter!

It's been said by many in other threads, but I will say it again here; Coach L is one fine basketball coach, and an even better person.

The last rumor I heard was he was going to be fired.

Love the guy....good to hear.

We'll read the letter on the show next week. Coach L. is a class act. Always willing to talk to us (the media) about his program and his kids. Glad to hear this is put to rest.

Coach Listerman was a great coach, teacher and friend at HHS. He has obviously continued that in all his years at Cov Cath. :thumb:

There are two different groups that have very strong complete opposite opinions of Listerman. In general, it seems that those who know him the least (casual aquaintance, student, media, etc) tend to admire him the most. Those that know him the most (players and ex-players, parents of kids who have to deal with him, guys who have sat on the bench with him) seem to come to a different conclusion. I know this is a generalization and there is some cross over, but for this to turn into a Mike Listerman love fest and pretend that he shares universal love and support is inaccurate. I will say I think individuals like Lynn Ray, Bob Schneider, and Listerman, who choose to be in a private school for less money and great sacrifice are to be praised.

 

How was that for politically correct?

There are two different groups that have very strong complete opposite opinions of Listerman. In general, it seems that those who know him the least (casual aquaintance, student, media, etc) tend to admire him the most.

I'd say if you're among the few with a negative opinion of him, then you are likely to also be among those who know him the least. If anyone "who really knows him" has a negative opinion, it most assuredly is born of their own disapointments, and has nothing to do with Mike Listerman as a person. Every coach has to put up with a few of those types.

I'd say if you're among the few with a negative opinion of him, then you are likely to also be among those who know him the least. If anyone "who really knows him" has a negative opinion, it most assuredly is born of their own disapointments, and has nothing to do with Mike Listerman as a person. Every coach has to put up with a few of those types.

 

:thumb:

The only opinions that matter on a subject such as this one, imo, are those of his players, past and current. None of you are they. The rest of us are either grinding an axe, or drinking the cool-aid...Let's hear from some of the players from the past 5 seasons!

 

...With that said, I don't really care either way anymore what happens...but, I must say that some of that letter is just goofy. The part about the money is the dumbest point any coach could make. Every person in education could theoretically make similar statements and come up with hypothetic amounts of cash they and their families 'sacrificed'...in addition, wasn't he fired from Harrision County, then went to take the jv baseball job at Ludlow before coming to the jv basketball job at CovCath...Ludlow must pay their coaches a fortune!

 

The pro Listerman posts on here have truly gotten predictable and comical...doesn't matter the title of the thread...everytime there's an opportunity..one of you guys throws in that this coach is God's gift to CCH....it appears that "you protest too much" imo...

 

This coach seems to need that assurance, or at least the supporters on here, appear to need to keep saying it to each other more than any other coach by a LONG shot. Now we have a thread exclusively for it. Though you may need to change the title because as I read this letter, it simply confirms Listerman's position, which is not a news flash...

Good to hear!!

 

A 25,000 dollar pay cut? WOW. Coach Listerman is a class act and one of the best in the state. I look forward to seeing him patroling the sidelines at CCH the next few years!

 

That's $25,000 back in the 80's. What would that be now, $35,000-$37,000?

The only opinions that matter on a subject such as this one, imo, are those of his players, past and current. None of you are they. The rest of us are either grinding an axe, or drinking the cool-aid...Let's hear from some of the players from the past 5 seasons!

 

The pro Listerman posts on here have truly gotten predictable and comical...doesn't matter the title of the thread...everytime there's an opportunity..one of you guys throws in that this coach is God's gift to CCH....it appears that "you protest too much" imo...

Speaking on behalf of those of us without a petty ax to grind, I can assure you that your remarks are way off base. One need not have been a high school ball player to have a firm concept of who he is as a person. To suggest otherwise is just silly. I've dealt with him outside of Cov Cath -- as both a coach and a teacher -- and see that there is no justification for criticism.

 

As I said before, every coach has to deal with those who didn't get their way for one reason or the other and need to blame the coach. It's just part of the job.