They lost in 2009 to eventual state champion Holmes in the regional finals after beating them in the regular season. In 2010 Boone lost in the semi's of the Region by 9, and then Holmes lost by 26 to Newport, and the Wildcats were bounced in the first round of the Boys Sweet 16 tournament.

 

 

I have zero personal knowledge of coach Downs so no ax to grind here. I am simply saying they (Boone) have underperformed to peoples expectations based on what they did as younger players.

 

AAU is a different animal-where you recruit the best players you can and then roll out the ball. High school is a little different, a little more structured whereby, IMHO, better coaching comes out. He is not the head man, but the thread title said assistant coaches.

 

Let's use your measuring stick and narrow the top assistants down by their varsity team's performance. Boone County was regional runner up last year and regional semi finalist this year. I believe the only other assistant who can "match" that level of performance in N. Ky. the last two years would be Holmes' assistant. I am not sure of your measuring method but it puts Downs in select company.

I think that one thing that gets overlooked is that at the JV level you are just a game coach. you do the drills that the Varsity coach asks you to and are not the only reason for the JV team's success. The freshman coaches really do more coaching than the JV coach and I believe that gets overlooked sometimes.

Let's use your measuring stick and narrow the top assistants down by their varsity team's performance. Boone County was regional runner up last year and regional semi finalist this year. I believe the only other assistant who can "match" that level of performance in N. Ky. the last two years would be Holmes' assistant. I am not sure of your measuring method but it puts Downs in select company.

 

See post #15 in this thread!

:thumb:

I think that one thing that gets overlooked is that at the JV level you are just a game coach. you do the drills that the Varsity coach asks you to and are not the only reason for the JV team's success. The freshman coaches really do more coaching than the JV coach and I believe that gets overlooked sometimes.

Some of the top assistant coaches in the 12th are:

 

Greg Edwards (Boyle Co.), Daniel Sandlin (East Jessamine), Brad Pertey & Shawn Conley (Lincoln Co.), Jeff Cothron (Pulaski Co.), Andrew Cash (Rockcastle Co.), Kevin Burkett (Somerset), Jake Baker & Kevin Jones (Wayne Co.), Kevin Sisler (West Jessamine)

 

There are some good coaches there from what I've seen. I like what Petrey and Conley do at Lincoln and Edwards is a great X and O guy. Sisler I like too. Boyle's JV coach seems to do a good job as well he seems to be an up and comer.

I agree, the JV coach is game coach in most programs. It is hard for some schools to find practice time with their JV.

I agree, the JV coach is game coach in most programs. It is hard for some schools to find practice time with their JV.

 

Many JV coaches have a hand in making and implementing practice plans. This allows the varsity coach to watch the practice from an overview and work with his starting group. Disagree that they are just a game coach.

Many JV coaches may not get the praise they deserve for the reason that people feel that they are "game coaches". Go behind the scene and you will see who is always in the ear of the head coach throwing out ideas, game plans, preparation drills, practice ideas, etc.

They lost in 2009 to eventual state champion Holmes in the regional finals after beating them in the regular season. In 2010 Boone lost in the semi's of the Region by 9, and then Holmes lost by 26 to Newport, and the Wildcats were bounced in the first round of the Boys Sweet 16 tournament.

 

 

I have zero personal knowledge of coach Downs so no ax to grind here. I am simply saying they (Boone) have underperformed to peoples expectations based on what they did as younger players.

 

AAU is a different animal-where you recruit the best players you can and then roll out the ball. High school is a little different, a little more structured whereby, IMHO, better coaching comes out. He is not the head man, but the thread title said assistant coaches.

 

FYI,

Coach Downs never recruited the players that are currently at Boone, he made them from coaching them from 3rd grade up to their freshman year, always stayed with his kids, never cut a kid to make his team better. Very commendable in this time of win at all cost.

So you're saying Boone playing in the Regional Championship game and loosing to the Stae Champion Team Holmes by less than 5 was not winning where it counts? Downs is a well respected and great basketball coach that has the ability to get the most out of his players. Like him or not as a person, but to say you question his coaching ability is a joke. Travel to any AAU Ky state tournament and I believe he will be well known for the winning teams he has brought to many tournaments in the past, and that's with a combination of talent and good coaching.

The success of Coach Downs AAU program sells him enough to anyone that knows basketball.

 

Agreed!

Many JV coaches may not get the praise they deserve for the reason that people feel that they are "game coaches". Go behind the scene and you will see who is always in the ear of the head coach throwing out ideas, game plans, preparation drills, practice ideas, etc.

 

I agree with all that you have said, they are an important part of the preparation for the Varsity. My point was that they sometimes/often do not get to practice or prepare with their team only. Many times the JV is the scout team, or doesn't get much court time.

FYI,

Coach Downs never recruited the players that are currently at Boone, he made them from coaching them from 3rd grade up to their freshman year, always stayed with his kids, never cut a kid to make his team better. Very commendable in this time of win at all cost.

 

I never said he recruited anybody to Boone. I simply said AAU is MUCH different coaching than high school ball, and to many of the Boone faithful, they were disappointed big time that the Rebels didn't go down to Rupp in 2009 and 2010- including some in the administration.

I never said he recruited anybody to Boone. I simply said AAU is MUCH different coaching than high school ball, and to many of the Boone faithful, they were disappointed big time that the Rebels didn't go down to Rupp in 2009 and 2010- including some in the administration.

 

After watching their inconsistancy, I would say many were not suprised or disappointed that they did not make it to Rupp. I thought this thread was about assistant coaching and I don't believe Coach downs had a hand in this Senior groups AAU growth in the past. The upcoming class is the what he has worked with since I have know him and probably since they have been able to shoot a basketball, and if you look at their past success AAU, freshman and JV to this date, this group has done nothing but win. It's hard to believe they accomplished this all on their own.

 

Yea a few changes in the coaches decisions may have made a difference here or there in game outcomes, but in the end it's the kids that have to put the ball in hole and prevent the other team from doing the same thing and Boone just didn't get it done consistantly as a team.

 

I agree with you that AAU coaching is different when you have recruited talent, but Down's group is pretty much home grown. So I'm going to stick with what is probably a fact; that he is one of the better if not the best assistant coaches in the area.