Does anyone know who is being looked at for this job???

Hey, Sportster, let me know if you're hearing anything. The grapevine has been quiet at my end.

 

CM

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Any News???

Dr. Steven Mullins, psychologist....

 

He was the JV coach for DuPont Manual High School for the past 3 years.

 

I am not sure if this is confirmed, can someone help me out?

Yes, it is Mr. Mullins. He meet with some of the players last night.

Mullins was also an assistant boys coach at North Oldham a few years back and has AAU experience. Good news for OC fans today in the local paper was his stated desire to be the OC girls coach for as long as "they'll let me." That's hopefully good news at a school that's had too much of a revolving door in that position over the last decade, which has been a big reason for the Lady Colonels' fall from dominance in the 8th, where they were the premier program for a couple of decades.

What's the word on what fans should expect to will see from this program under Coach Mullins - style of play, expectations of personnel, etc? Will he be teaching in the building or is he a para-professional?

What's the word on what fans should expect to will see from this program under Coach Mullins - style of play, expectations of personnel, etc? Will he be teaching in the building or is he a para-professional?

 

If I remember the article correctly, Mullins is a psychologist by trade, and will be employed by Buckner Alternative HS, which is the Oldham County school for kids who have fallen behind due to circumstances and are trying to get their degree.

 

His style of ball is run and gun. May take him a little while to get this going, but look for Oldham eventually to press, press, press from the minute they come out of the locker room. Probably can expect a few more threes than in the past, but I'm not sure he's got more than a couple of long-range shooters right now... Should be a lot of fun for the fans and the kids.

The reason that Oldham County is a revolving door on several coaching positions (besides the boys basketball at OC), is that there is no emphasis on athletics. I know before everyone starts bashing me that students go to school for an education, I do understand that BUT there is a happy medium and it is LACKING in Oldham County. There will never be any powerhouses in any sport coming out of this county until the there are lots of changes. Hopefully Coach Mullins will stay but I hope that he is not expecting too much support from the board office.

 

This is the only PUBLIC school that I know that the student athletes have to pay hundreds of dollars to play a sport. NO other school system does this. This is ridiculous, especially if you have a couple of kids that play several sports. It could turn into over a thousand dollars a school year per student athlete. Good luck Coach Mullins. I just hope you are ready for what you are getting in to in Oldham County.

The reason that Oldham County is a revolving door on several coaching positions (besides the boys basketball at OC), is that there is no emphasis on athletics. I know before everyone starts bashing me that students go to school for an education, I do understand that BUT there is a happy medium and it is LACKING in Oldham County. There will never be any powerhouses in any sport coming out of this county until the there are lots of changes. Hopefully Coach Mullins will stay but I hope that he is not expecting too much support from the board office.

 

This is the only PUBLIC school that I know that the student athletes have to pay hundreds of dollars to play a sport. NO other school system does this. This is ridiculous, especially if you have a couple of kids that play several sports. It could turn into over a thousand dollars a school year per student athlete. Good luck Coach Mullins. I just hope you are ready for what you are getting in to in Oldham County.

 

Besides getting rid of the athletics fee, what do you think that the county needs to do to put more emphasis on athletics?

The reason that Oldham County is a revolving door on several coaching positions (besides the boys basketball at OC), is that there is no emphasis on athletics. I know before everyone starts bashing me that students go to school for an education, I do understand that BUT there is a happy medium and it is LACKING in Oldham County. There will never be any powerhouses in any sport coming out of this county until the there are lots of changes. Hopefully Coach Mullins will stay but I hope that he is not expecting too much support from the board office.

 

This is the only PUBLIC school that I know that the student athletes have to pay hundreds of dollars to play a sport. NO other school system does this. This is ridiculous, especially if you have a couple of kids that play several sports. It could turn into over a thousand dollars a school year per student athlete. Good luck Coach Mullins. I just hope you are ready for what you are getting in to in Oldham County.

 

There are actually a number of school systems where the kids have to pay to play. (For the record, I have a HS sophomore at Oldham County HS who pays for X-C and baseball, and yes, I have to pay for him for both sports). You emphasized the word "PUBLIC" as if that meant you expected these programs to be free. They're not. The EDUCATION is meant to be free (of course, it isn't completely), athletics and other activities are EXTRACURRICULAR. I know of public school systems where participation in sports is free. More power to them. But the dollar is tight these days. I want the educational budget committed first and foremost to its primary purpose - education. Well over 90+% of all HS athletes will never play after their senior season...meaning that education better be there for them. And if you actually have more than one student in more than one sport you should know that Oldham County schools work with parents to keep athletic participation from being a financial hardship...

 

I don't think that Oldham County misses the mark - the "happy medium" you refer to. The Oldham County Board of Education is run by superintendent Paul Upchurch - a former coach. The principal at Oldham County HS is Brent Deaves - a former basketball player and coach. I could go on...but the point is, many of the upper-level administrators have athletic backgrounds and are hardly ignoring athletics.

 

But you missed the boat on two major points. One, having covered HS sports in Northcentral KY for over 30 years, I can tell you that Oldham County is no worse of a "revolving door" than other counties. There are quite a few coaches who have been in their roles a number of years. You already alluded to Gary Forrest, the just-retired boys' basketball coach at Oldham County after 20+ seasons...but there's also quite a number of other coaches in the county who've been in their roles for a number of years... North Oldham had some coaching turnover in the school's first couple of years of existence, but that's not uncommon for a new high school. And many of that school's current coaches have now been in place 3-6 years. (school's only 6 years old)

 

As for powerhouses...????? If your definition of "powerhouse" is only met by a team that makes a championship game every other year, then perhaps you are right...but consider...

 

...The success of all three high schools' cross-country teams...

...the fact that all six (three boys', three girls') soccer teams are ranked almost every year...and SOHS' girls not long ago went through a five year span where they won four state titles and were ranked #1 in the US...

...Oldham County boys' basketball, which has won four region 8 titles this decade...

...The powerful wrestling programs at South Oldham and Oldham County...

...South Oldham's tennis program

...Oldham County's varsity baseball team, which routinely turns out 20-win seasons...

...the three schools' combined hockey team, which won the state title...

...North Oldham's football team (school has only been in existence 6 years) winning 18 games the past two seasons and winning its first district crown last year...

...the return of Oldham County HS football last season under Matt Brown to a 9-3 record and a district crown.

...the dominance of the Oldham County and North Oldham volleyball teams...

...the Oldham County softball team...

 

There are a number of very good coaches in Oldham County and a number of fine programs. When I look at some nearby school districts, where coaches have been fired because parents are upset with their kids' playing time, or where the facilities are so run-down as to be barely useable (lots of new facilities in Oldham County over the past couple of years...new baseball field at SOHS, new tennis courts at SOHS, new artificial turf at the SOHS football field, completely renovated football field at OCHS, renovated baseball at OCHS, new basketball gym and football stadium at NOHS - all in the past 3-4 years...), ...I think we're doing pretty darn well, all things considered...

The reason that Oldham County is a revolving door on several coaching positions (besides the boys basketball at OC), is that there is no emphasis on athletics. I know before everyone starts bashing me that students go to school for an education, I do understand that BUT there is a happy medium and it is LACKING in Oldham County. There will never be any powerhouses in any sport coming out of this county until the there are lots of changes. Hopefully Coach Mullins will stay but I hope that he is not expecting too much support from the board office.

 

This is the only PUBLIC school that I know that the student athletes have to pay hundreds of dollars to play a sport. NO other school system does this. This is ridiculous, especially if you have a couple of kids that play several sports. It could turn into over a thousand dollars a school year per student athlete. Good luck Coach Mullins. I just hope you are ready for what you are getting in to in Oldham County.

 

 

I agree about several things here. Since this is a basketball blog, I am going to put the emphasis on that particular sport and also the education.

 

First, I have children in the Oldham County school system and I am floored every year by the school fees that we pay every year for just school - locker fee, technology fee, book fees( and oh by the way they don't always have enough books to bring them home as they share them with other classes) or class fees plus all the supplies. I would think since it is a public school there were not be any fees - never have understood that but oh well. It is usually at least $100 or more plus all the supply cost which is usually close to another $100 bucks or more. On top of that we pay big time property taxes for the schools.

 

Second- in relation to basketball- there are no organized teams till middle school, and that puts them very behind, skill wise when they get to middle/high school which makes it tough for a coach. Since there are three high schools, administrators like it because more kids get the opportunity to play, but more does not necessary constitute to better as it relates to competitve athletics. It is all about fairness and making sure that everyone can feel good about themselves. Go Upward!!! Some kids on these teams woul not even make the freshman team at other schools. Thus, why you won't see a "powerhouse" type of team come out of Oldham County year after year. Overall, the bball talent in the county is average, especially when you compare it to Jefferson Co Schools and there is an even larger desparity with the private schools. There are some strong players however, the overall number of bball players(who go out for the team) to the total school popualtion is very, very low.

 

Athletic fees are reasonable but mostly it is the parents/players that want all the sports gear which is where the majority of the cost lies. Uniforms are there, it all the practice gear, hoodies, sweat suits, and stuff that make it expensive. If a player cannot afford it, the school works with them and it does not keep them from participating.

 

Coaching can be a thankless job and when you have the academic pressures of "Award Winning Oldham County Schools" all the time- it can be tough.

Forgot to mention that Oldham County's boys soccer team has won 6 straight Region titles. I would think that this would qualify under any definition of "powerhouse."

Col Mike, I was not trying to ruffle your feathers. My kids currently go to Locust Grove Elementary. I do know Mr. Upchurch, he is a fine man but when you have a sports team with a $0 budget in a public school, I see a problem with that since the school system gets over 30 MILLION dollars from our property taxes alone a year. Yes, perhaps 90% won't play after their senior season so what? so we can take the emphasis off of sports? Athletics is very important. It helps build character, a strong work ethic, drive, confidence and I could go on and on. Just because we aren't training future hall of fame professional athletes doesn't mean we shouldn't put some more emphasis. When a team goes to the sweet 16 in boys basketball and they don't even let out the feeder schools, there is no emphasis. There are no organized sports until 6th grade, there is no emphasis. Thank goodness for OCYFL and Upward. I was just told recently that the middle school coaches don't even get paid. All volunteer work. God love them.

 

When I say powerhouses, I was speaking more toward basketball since this is a basketball forum as well as illuding to football since I had first hand knowledge of the football budget when a friend started to apply for the OC job when it came open and he was told of the $0 budget for football. (needless to say he didn't apply)

 

As far as other public schools that charge to play, I would like to know just how many. Because I am sure that the ones that don't far out number the ones that do. With 60 Million dollar budget (its on the website) for the school system you would think that wouldn't be the case. My kids are getting a good education but with 60 million they should be getting it all!!