Many programs would kill to get to the second round of the regional tournament on an annual basis. This is the part of the Highlands equation that makes the job undesirable - the extremely high expectations placed on the coaches and players every year. Anything less than winning the 9th Region Championship is unacceptable in Fort Thomas. McGraw and Simpson were studs with physical problems. This years "studs" are juniors.

In this day and age, there are many good teams out there, many good coaches, and many "studs." Holmes is a dominant force right now. Boone County figured out how to play them best and gave them all they wanted, defeating them once.

Willie did the best he could with what he had to do it with, under the circumstances. The football animal has changed dramatically since the Shields era and does factor into the Highlands basketball success picture. Will Grubbs be in the gym next year?

Good luck to the next in line to succeed Willie at Highlands, bring your blood pressure meds, and expect nothing but perfection to be demanded by the Fort Thomas faithful.

If Willie couldn't get it done, what makes you think that someone else can???

 

In response yes the expectations are high at Highlands and they do expect to win the Region every year.

 

Is Brossart satisfied when they get thumped by Mason Co each year in the REgion? I doubt Mike Code enjoys that and he expects to win the Region.

 

There is no reason why the Birds shouldnt consistently be in the running for the REgional crown most years. They are up there for most REgional titles in the past 25 yrs, probably in the top 2 or 3 so why wouldnt they have high expectations?

BTW- a certain former Holmes coach who led the Dogs to the STate Finals is very interested from what I hear as well.

In response yes the expectations are high at Highlands and they do expect to win the Region every year.

 

Is Brossart satisfied when they get thumped by Mason Co each year in the REgion? I doubt Mike Code enjoys that and he expects to win the Region.

 

There is no reason why the Birds shouldnt consistently be in the running for the REgional crown most years. They are up there for most REgional titles in the past 25 yrs, probably in the top 2 or 3 so why wouldnt they have high expectations?

 

Thumped each year? One year... They lost by 6 and 4 the two past times they played in the region I believe... Thumped is not accurate.

Any school would be lucky to have Mike Code, but honestly, is Highlands a better job than Brossart right now? Would it not be a lateral step for him?

 

I sincerely hope Coach Code does not leave, because Brossart's replacement couldn't be as good as him...

Thumped each year? One year... They lost by 6 and 4 the two past times they played in the region I believe... Thumped is not accurate.

Any school would be lucky to have Mike Code, but honestly, is Highlands a better job than Brossart right now? Would it not be a lateral step for him?

 

I sincerely hope Coach Code does not leave, because Brossart's replacement couldn't be as good as him...

 

Ok, you are right but each year its beat Mason Co or go home pretty much.

 

Yes Highlands is a better job right now and always IMO. How many regional titles does Brossart have outside of the All A? Good program and basketball school for now but Im sure Mike Code is thinking long and hard about not having to pack up the car and drive to Alexandria everyday after school and taking over a strong program.

 

Not to mention a boatload coming back and some very solid talent coming up the ranks in grades 7-10. The key is someone that is going to get in and get their hands dirty with the middle school teams and take a vested interest there. I saw Code do that with the Brossart kids, heck he was showing up at Fall Blacktop league games. He is a catch and the Birds I am sure would love to have him.

In response yes the expectations are high at Highlands and they do expect to win the Region every year.

 

Is Brossart satisfied when they get thumped by Mason Co each year in the REgion? I doubt Mike Code enjoys that and he expects to win the Region.

 

There is no reason why the Birds shouldnt consistently be in the running for the REgional crown most years. They are up there for most REgional titles in the past 25 yrs, probably in the top 2 or 3 so why wouldnt they have high expectations?

High expectations are fine, so long as they are realistic expectations. Asking our guys to beat the future state champs Mason County last year would have been unreal expectations. We are never happy to be thumped by anyone, but realism is realism. Setting your sole goal on winning the regional each year, and not enjoying the successes along the pathway, will lead to major disappointment most years. Celebrating those occasions when you do get to the promised land seems a better course, and icing on the cake, than setting yourself up for failure every year by demanding a regional title and being "disappointed" when you don't is going to lead to a lot of disappointment.

 

To determine that Willie "ain't getting it done" and that the "dry spell is very disappointing" simply isn't fair to Willie or his Birds, and may have factored into his departure.

This should get interesting because I know almost for a fact that Willie reads this site. I'm sure the right information about why he would be considering on

hanging it up will be posted on here. Or maybe it won't..Who knows, maybe this isn't the right place to be discussing issues between 2 sports within 1 school.

 

I have heard that there is no love loss at times but that is something I have heard while sitting around with some very close friends. So that probably has no validation there...I guess.

 

I would hope the Football program wouldn't have anything to do with Willie wanting to hang it up. That would be a huge shame if it was.

Since you seem to be in the 'know', do you think Coach Lickert complains about how much success the Holmes basketball team has had and how basketball keeps him from getting the best athlete's.

Ok, you are right but each year its beat Mason Co or go home pretty much.

 

Yes Highlands is a better job right now and always IMO. How many regional titles does Brossart have outside of the All A? Good program and basketball school for now but Im sure Mike Code is thinking long and hard about not having to pack up the car and drive to Alexandria everyday after school and taking over a strong program.

 

Not to mention a boatload coming back and some very solid talent coming up the ranks in grades 7-10. The key is someone that is going to get in and get their hands dirty with the middle school teams and take a vested interest there. I saw Code do that with the Brossart kids, heck he was showing up at Fall Blacktop league games. He is a catch and the Birds I am sure would love to have him.

Wasn't a knock on Highlands, I just think since Code's been at Brossart, they've been as successful as Highlands, as well as most other teams in NKY. IMO, both are intriguing jobs. Highlands is losing a very good one, which they took from Brossart. Luckily, we filled the spot with another excellent coach. If you guys take him, I'll hate the Bluebirds forever...:lol:

One regional title, but they've had to go through some excellent talent in the past 8 years with Lofton, Knowles, Miller, etc. I think Mike Code loves it at Brossart, and I think he'll win a couple of regional championships at Brossart, who also has some good talent coming up.

Highlands is the one job I'm worried he'd take, because the kids at Highlands are somewhat similar to Brossart in regards to toughness, and his history there... I'm sure he'd be very successful there also.

 

I really, really hope he doesn't leave.:cry:

Since you seem to be in the 'know', do you think Coach Lickert complains about how much success the Holmes basketball team has had and how basketball keeps him from getting the best athlete's.

 

:laugh:That's funny right there....I don't care who you are

BTW- a certain former Holmes coach who led the Dogs to the STate Finals is very interested from what I hear as well.

 

That's already been established in this thread, it's the guy you said could apply all he want's but "it ain't happenin."

 

Why bring him up again now? You already dismissed him.

That's already been established in this thread, it's the guy you said could apply all he want's but "it ain't happenin."

 

Why bring him up again now? You already dismissed him.

 

Just reporting the facts Sandman. I probably shouldnt have dismissed it prematurely because I always thought he was a great motivator and probably would devote himself to the entire program and not just the Varsity team. With that said, I have no clue on his track record after the 1990 state finals so that is why I probably dismissed it. I know he has bounced around the state at Ashland and Bourbon Co and most recently have seen him refereeing Middle School games.

 

Mustang, I get your support for Willie and I think he is a very good coach. My statements regarding not getting it done only referring to winning a 9th Region Championship and the dry spell being disappointing is simply that. I am sure there are many fans in Caketown who are disappointed including Coach Schlarman. I dont think the season is a failure if they dont win it all either. I also think he showed a lot of respect by not leaving on a down year and stepping down leaving the next coach a very nice group of players.

 

Striker- you are correct as well because since Code has taken over Brossart that program has really stepped up and is considered to be one of the best in the 10th Region, especially for its size and draw of kids. I have a lot of respect for that program and will agree they have some very good talent coming up the ranks. In fact I think they probably will turn the tide and start beating the Royals here in the short future.

 

I just hope the Highlands Administration makes a decision very soon so the coach can start working with the kids in the PROGRAM and keep the momentum going.

Edited March 26, 200917 yr by Qryche11

:laugh:That's funny right there....I don't care who you are

 

LOL, that is funny but it seems the only guy in the know in this thread has been Clyde.

Nice article about Willie's decision to step down in today's Enquirer if anyone wants to provide the link.

Nice article about Willie's decision to step down in today's Enquirer if anyone wants to provide the link.

 

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090326/SPT0302/903260355/

 

I like Willie and hope he does eventually get back into coaching. He's my kind of coach.

Sorry, and somewhat surprised, to see Willie step down. He had an exceptional group coming back that should be a contender next year - just a little bit of bad timing to be in the ninth region right now with Holmes.

 

With respect to Mike Flynn, if he is in fact a candidate, he did coach Holmes to a state finals finish in 1990, but my recollection of his time there was more frustration that success. After 1990, didn't Holmes have a few outstanding state ranked teams through about 1996-97 that kept getting upset in the region?

 

Carr and Shumate would both be good fits in Ft. Thomas IMO.

Mustang, I get your support for Willie and I think he is a very good coach. My statements regarding not getting it done only referring to winning a 9th Region Championship and the dry spell being disappointing is simply that. I am sure there are many fans in Caketown who are disappointed including Coach Schlarman. I dont think the season is a failure if they dont win it all either. I also think he showed a lot of respect by not leaving on a down year and stepping down leaving the next coach a very nice group of players.

 

What was he not getting done? Highlands just didn't have the players to beat Holmes and CovCath the past few years. It's not about not getting it done. It's about the fact that Highlands, while talented, hasn't had the talent that Holmes, in particular, has had.