From what I know, Russ has a degree, its just not in teaching and he is working on a teaching cert. A lot of coaches are already certified teachers, but some work on a cert in an area (special education) to get a position in the building. Each person has to start somewhere and Russ will work hard to make things right.

 

Congrats!

I agree with heart of a champion

Congrats to Coach Shearer! He recruited me out of high school, although i didn't go to Cumberlands it wasn't because of him. He is a great guy and will be missed at Cumberlands. Good luck Russ.

Congrats to Coach Shearer!!

Congrats to Coach Shearer, I am sure that he will do a great job at Bellevue. He has always treated the kids right at Oldham County that is for sure...

Coach Shearer recruited my son this past year, we met him on the campus of UC he seem like a really nice guy. I think he told me he was originaly from this area.

Congrats to Coach Shearer!

The hiring of Chad Montgomery, everyone in Dayton and Bellevue and if you know Chad you would have expected it. Probably would have gotten the job if they had an open teaching position.

I know that Estill County runs a veer option/ wing t offense. Is he going to retain any of the assistant coaches from the Eckstien era? IMO if he doesnt it will hurt his chances of bonding quickly with his new team! Best of luck to him though Everyone knows the community of Bellevue is a very supportive group and that should benefit him in the best way possible.

 

Well first of all Estill runs a Double Wing Offense not a wing t. Second, Coach Shearer will prob not run any offense close to Estill just because he is from Estill. Coach Shearer will do a fine job.

Is it me or does anyone else think that from reading the link from VOR think that this will be a "stepping stone" job for Coach Shearer?

 

Did you not ever have to start somewhere (stepping stone) to get somewhere. Some of your best coaches started as youth league or middle school coaches.

I agree Tressel. This guy will be gone in two years. He may be a great coach and a great guy, only time will tell. But everything in his history demonstrates he likes to "move on" every year or two. That would be my concern as a Bellevue fan. Just look at his resume. He's been all over the place in a short period of time. I hope I'm wrong.

Did you not ever have to start somewhere (stepping stone) to get somewhere. Some of your best coaches started as youth league or middle school coaches.

 

Yes, they have you are correct but im pretty sure if you look at each one they dont have five or more schools listed on there resume, which is exactly my point he was a college coach. You dont leave college to coach a 1A team that just lost almost twenty seniors and looks up to Beechwood every year, unless your not planning on staying long....... Look at Dayton Coach Lickert built them up leaves for Holmes, Dayton has one good year after that (8-3) now someting like 2-8 & 3-7.... IMO they should have hired someone either internally or very close to the program this is a stretch for them. Now let me say that they only way this isn't a "stepping stone" is if he doesnt win then he gets canned after a reasonable amount of time.

 

As the offense goes they will run a power offense either veer or stay with what they have been running. IMO if he tries to open it up this will be a mistake, everyone knows Bellevue has the big boys up front and traditionally a very good running back but no quaterback. We shall see in less then a week, I would hope thats when Bellevue starts summer practice.

Coach Shearer is a good friend of mine and would do anything for anybody. That is the type of man I would want my son playing for. I talked with Russ and he is going to be teaching Business Education. He is enrolled in a Masters of Arts and Teaching Program to get certified. Good Luck to Coach Shearer and Go Tigers!!!

I am typically not a message board guy as you can tell by the number of posts. However, I felt that it may be best to post and answer any questions as far as my intentions as the coach at Bellevue. To address the doubters first. I took the job at because I am 100% supportive of my family and we made the decision as a family to accept the job. At the time I applied for the job it appeared as though my 3 month old son may have cystic fibrosis. Thank God that is not the case but if he had the disease it would have required being at Cincinnati Children's Hospital a great amount of time. The second reason is that I am able to step into a position in a tradition rich program that is coming off of a 9-4 season. The third reason is that being in a more metro setting allows my wife (a web designer) more opportunity to work from home and raise our son which is important to us. Finally, I have recruited the school for four years and developed a relationship with Coach Eckstein and several of the players. I am blessed to work at a school that supports its teachers, coaches, and football the way that Bellevue does. I have worked hard in my life to overcome poverty as a child and growing up. Football and Coach Niece at Estill County were instrumental in seeing that I was taken care of. I can remember several days in high school where Hoover allowed me to shower at school in the locker room because the water at my house was turned off to keep me from being made fun of. When I got into college I decided that eventually I wanted to have the opportunity to make a difference in a young man's life the same way that coach Niece had made in mine. I have moved up the college ranks and each of those moves have led me closer to where my heart is in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and serving a community in need of strong male leadership. The reason that I left college ball is in the last calendar year I have been away from home 73 days between recruiting and signing and speaking engagements. I have been married for 2 years and now have a son and I am tired of not being home for my wife and son. It would have been much easier to return to the great position at the University of the Cumberlands and continue to win conference championships because my wife is employed here and I would not have to take the classes in order to become certified, but my wife wants to raise our son from home. And I feel that I am being called to make a difference in a different part of the state.

I can handle criticism and doubters as that is just a small part of the job. However, I thought that I would give them the answers as to why I applied for and accepted the Bellevue job.

God Bless each and every one of you that supports high school football and the young men that play the greatest game,

Russ Shearer

Thanks for coming forth and putting the doubters to rest Coach Shearer, and thank your for sharing your thoughts and philosophy. I wish you luck at Bellvue and hope you have an opportunity to make a difference.

 

And who knows, you may become a message board guy before long, we would love to hear your thoughts on all things football.

The last line should have said young men and women. I am blessed to have a very good athlete as a kicker who happens to be female.