I talked to one of the players parents this weekend. He was not happy about the hire, but I think his attitude is what they need. His comment was "Welch is the coach, and he deserves our support and respect. Giving him the support is how we can help and I sure hope it works out for the best."

They actually have had 3-4 winning records, but you are right, not a power by any stretch of the imagination.

I agree that North or South Laruel are far from powers. Perhaps both situations are a reflection of the hiring process with the football jobs at Laurel Co. schools. Both schools, with a couple of exceptions, are miserable in football the past 15-20 years with a multitude of coaching hires during that time.

I agree that North or South Laruel are far from powers. Perhaps both situations are a reflection of the hiring process with the football jobs at Laurel Co. schools. Both schools, with a couple of exceptions, are miserable in football the past 15-20 years with a multitude of coaching hires during that time.

 

I thought North was finally turning the corner, then Duncum left. South was really starting to improve, then Irwin left. I just hope that if the new coaches at both schools start the programs in the right direction, they don't leave. Had both Duncum and Irwin stayed, I think both programs would be in very good shape right now. In hindsight, I think both made mistakes in hiring the replacements for those coaches. Now the rebuilding must begin again at both schools. I certainly hope that both coaches get it done. They both have roots at Rockcastle and have been part of a program on the rise. I just hope they can at least remotely repeat what they were part of in the building up of the Rockcastle County program.

They actually have had 3-4 winning records, but you are right, not a power by any stretch of the imagination. Duncum had 2 winning seasons (his final 2 seasons at NL) and they did have a district title in 1994 under either Harville or Mills. I do know that Welch had a few rough parents to deal with in his tenure at NL. Duncum got to experience that his first few seasons until he started to turn things around. I hope the parents at SL do the right thing and support him from the get go. If they tell their kids this was a bad choice and don't support him, he will be doomed from the get go. He MUST have their support right off the bat.

 

If Coach Welch gets to bring in his assistants and keep only a few from last year's staff (and I think he will based on what I am hearing), South Laurel can rebuild. Welch is a good man and a hard worker. I was surprised by the hire, but wish he and the Cardinals all the best. I hope they turn it around. The big thing will be bringing discipline back to South Laurel, and I believe he can do that. He has an excellent group of freshman coming up this season and the future can be bright at South Laurel. You are right that Larkey and Saylor would tell you that they absolutely loved coaching with Larry and they believe he can get the job done.

 

The parents and boosters at South Laurel need to get behind him now and support him as their head coach. Larry is the choice, and he needs their support now.

 

2 winning season in the last 11 years according to KHSAA web site. Duncam had 2 back to back winning season and went 6-5 each year. Record last 11 season 33-80.

2 winning season in the last 11 years according to KHSAA web site. Duncam had 2 back to back winning season and went 6-5 each year. Record last 11 season 33-80.

 

The KHSAA website only goes back to 1998. The district title was in 1994. Welch took over in 1996.

 

When Duncum took over in 2001, there were only 19 kids on the team playing in 4A. It was in a shambles and there was virtually no support from the administration at that time. When Greg left, they were up to 50, and they may have been 6-5, but considering where they had been, they were improving, and they nearly upset Scott County, that year's 4A runner up @ Scott County in the first round of the playoffs. He left a group of kids (the junior class especially) who had never had a losing season at any level. The first year after he left, the team upset Madison Central (who hadn't lost a district game in 4 years), but was 3-7 and lost 5 games by a TD or less. The fact is that the program was on its way up, but when you are listed as one of the worst 3 teams in your classification with back to back 1-9 seasons, you can't get much worse unless you go 0-10.

 

In Larry's defense, he played, especially in 1998, a VERY tough schedule. I think if you are going to build a program, you have to build a little confidence first, then ramp up the scheduling out of district.

The KHSAA website only goes back to 1998. The district title was in 1994. Welch took over in 1996.

 

When Duncum took over in 2001, there were only 19 kids on the team playing in 4A. It was in a shambles and there was virtually no support from the administration at that time. When Greg left, they were up to 50, and they may have been 6-5, but considering where they had been, they were improving, and they nearly upset Scott County, that year's 4A runner up @ Scott County in the first round of the playoffs. He left a group of kids (the junior class especially) who had never had a losing season at any level. The first year after he left, the team upset Madison Central (who hadn't lost a district game in 4 years), but was 3-7 and lost 5 games by a TD or less. The fact is that the program was on its way up, but when you are listed as one of the worst 3 teams in your classification with back to back 1-9 seasons, you can't get much worse unless you go 0-10.

 

In Larry's defense, he played, especially in 1998, a VERY tough schedule. I think if you are going to build a program, you have to build a little confidence first, then ramp up the scheduling out of district.

 

I know Coach Duncam also very well and have alot of respect for him as a coach and a person. Just stated a point that North Laurel has never been a fooball power in defense of another fine coach and person Larry Welch. GO BOTH JAGS AND CARDS!!

I know Coach Duncam also very well and have alot of respect for him as a coach and a person. Just stated a point that North Laurel has never been a fooball power in defense of another fine coach and person Larry Welch. GO BOTH JAGS AND CARDS!!

 

You are right, neither has ever been a power. South has had much more success than North since the split in 1992, but part of that has to be attributed to Neil Warren and the group he was with at South under Leger. I truly believe had Duncum and Irwin stayed, they would be 2 of the top teams in their respective districts every year. But can't change that now!

 

Both coaches, Larkey at NL and Welch at SL have their hands full. I would LOVE nothing better than to see both programs have success under their new coaches. :thumb:

Congrats and good luck to the new coach!!

About 70% of Larry Welchs coaching experience has been at Rockcastle Co I would not call Rockcastle a proven loser. I bet that Coach Larkey and Coach Saylor would tell you that Larry Welch can coach football.

 

Alot of comments are made on here by people that do not always know ALL of the story. THen people take them as the whole truth. THere is alot of background on Larry Welch that not everyone on here knows. He was coaching football when alot of people on here were in diapers.

 

GO CARDS!!

Looks like both schools now have close ties (one really close) to the coach Laurel Co. should have had many years ago, Tom Larkey. What he built in Rockcastle Co. was excellent work. I'm sure Harlan Co. will be excellent work as well. The book's open for North's coach. Some people may know how to coach and work well with players as an assistant, but South's new coach has a much less than impressive track record as a head coach, hard to understand the hire.:idunno:

Looks like both schools now have close ties (one really close) to the coach Laurel Co. should have had many years ago, Tom Larkey. What he built in Rockcastle Co. was excellent work. I'm sure Harlan Co. will be excellent work as well. The book's open for North's coach. Some people may know how to coach and work well with players as an assistant, but South's new coach has a much less than impressive track record as a head coach, hard to understand the hire.:idunno:

 

Actually, Tom's first stint as a head coach was for 1 season at Laurel County High School in the late 1970's. The problem was that the head coach that was actually hired, took the job so he could turn it over to Tom. The high school's administration thought Tom was too young at the time to be the head coach, but Coach Kuhl knew better. After 1 season (and Tom was doing a good job), they brought in Charlie Bell from Illinois. That was a HUGE mistake. Bell turned out to be a disaster, especially his last 2 seasons. Tom had stayed on with Bell as the offensive coordinator and Tom was also the head track coach, but Bell gave him very little latitude as the OC, which was a HUGE mistake. Tom left after Glenn Polly (the Laurel County frosh coach) was named as the head coach in early 1983 after the 1982 season and before the outdoor track season began. Tom did a stint at Cawood as an assistant before taking over the Rockcastle County program in 1985, and everyone knows how well that turned out!!! Had the administration been smart enough to just keep Tom as the head coach, there is no telling how good the Laurel County program could have been. They also ran off Inman Sherman who was the DC for Laurel County under Bell, stating the same reasons they had not wanted Tom as Inman was 'too young'. Sherman went to Florida and turned a losing program into a perennial winning program year after year. Another mistake of the Laurel County school system at that time. I had the privilege of playing football and running track for Coach Tom Larkey at Laurel County, and know first hand what type of coach he is.

 

Both Chris Larkey and Larry Welch have seen a program built from the ground up and they know what needs to be done. I certainly hope that they both get it done, and plan on supporting them both 110%!!! :thumb:

Where do you see South Laurel finishing in the district this season?

Actually, Tom's first stint as a head coach was for 1 season at Laurel County High School in the late 1970's. The problem was that the head coach that was actually hired, took the job so he could turn it over to Tom. The high school's administration thought Tom was too young at the time to be the head coach, but Coach Kuhl knew better. After 1 season (and Tom was doing a good job), they brought in Charlie Bell from Illinois. That was a HUGE mistake. Bell turned out to be a disaster, especially his last 2 seasons. Tom had stayed on with Bell as the offensive coordinator and Tom was also the head track coach, but Bell gave him very little latitude as the OC, which was a HUGE mistake. Tom left after Glenn Polly (the Laurel County frosh coach) was named as the head coach in early 1983 after the 1982 season and before the outdoor track season began. Tom did a stint at Cawood as an assistant before taking over the Rockcastle County program in 1985, and everyone knows how well that turned out!!! Had the administration been smart enough to just keep Tom as the head coach, there is no telling how good the Laurel County program could have been. They also ran off Inman Sherman who was the DC for Laurel County under Bell, stating the same reasons they had not wanted Tom as Inman was 'too young'. Sherman went to Florida and turned a losing program into a perennial winning program year after year. Another mistake of the Laurel County school system at that time. I had the privilege of playing football and running track for Coach Tom Larkey at Laurel County, and know first hand what type of coach he is.

 

Both Chris Larkey and Larry Welch have seen a program built from the ground up and they know what needs to be done. I certainly hope that they both get it done, and plan on supporting them both 110%!!! :thumb:

 

So was Larkey the head coach in 1970's. I'm confused, I knew he was an assistant there for awhile. Either way he ended up ok for sure.

Actually, Tom's first stint as a head coach was for 1 season at Laurel County High School in the late 1970's. The problem was that the head coach that was actually hired, took the job so he could turn it over to Tom. The high school's administration thought Tom was too young at the time to be the head coach, but Coach Kuhl knew better. After 1 season (and Tom was doing a good job), they brought in Charlie Bell from Illinois. That was a HUGE mistake. Bell turned out to be a disaster, especially his last 2 seasons. Tom had stayed on with Bell as the offensive coordinator and Tom was also the head track coach, but Bell gave him very little latitude as the OC, which was a HUGE mistake. Tom left after Glenn Polly (the Laurel County frosh coach) was named as the head coach in early 1983 after the 1982 season and before the outdoor track season began. Tom did a stint at Cawood as an assistant before taking over the Rockcastle County program in 1985, and everyone knows how well that turned out!!! Had the administration been smart enough to just keep Tom as the head coach, there is no telling how good the Laurel County program could have been. They also ran off Inman Sherman who was the DC for Laurel County under Bell, stating the same reasons they had not wanted Tom as Inman was 'too young'. Sherman went to Florida and turned a losing program into a perennial winning program year after year. Another mistake of the Laurel County school system at that time. I had the privilege of playing football and running track for Coach Tom Larkey at Laurel County, and know first hand what type of coach he is.

 

Both Chris Larkey and Larry Welch have seen a program built from the ground up and they know what needs to be done. I certainly hope that they both get it done, and plan on supporting them both 110%!!! :thumb:

 

Tom was head coach for 4 years (1974-77)

Tom was head coach for 4 years (1974-77)

 

I was young, but I didn't realize it was that long. He was VERY young at the time and I enjoyed my time playing for him.

I was young, but I didn't realize it was that long. He was VERY young at the time and I enjoyed my time playing for him.

 

I think he was 25 and Head Coach of the largest public school in the state at the time. He was HC for 4 years and an assistant there for a while also.