Coach Grahm didn't seem like the type of guy to throw these kids under the bus like that, but i guess i was wrong. Henry County has a great staff and there are two people that should be highly considered for the head coaching job. Lyndon Johnson, knows football as well as anyone and he knows the players very well,s has been around them all of his life. The only problem is he is not a teacher, HC will most likely be looking for a teacher/coach. Dennis Ledford, proved last year that he knows his stuff on the defensive side and has experience being a head coach at Franklin County. He also knows the offense that these kids are used to very well because he ran it at FC (the tony franklin offense) The edge he has over coach Johnson is he is a teacher. It is a little late to search for a new coach, Gilley should hire someone already on staff. Dont count out Coach Eades if he applies or Coach Dawson they both qualify for the position as well. Any of those men would make great head coaches, HC will be just fine. Go Cats.

I have to agree with BigCatDaddy. Coach Graham should not have taken the job if he even sniffed that Coach Rains was leaving LCA. Hopefully Coach Gilley will get someone in there that is in it for the long haul to continue what Coach Engstrand had built......quickly.

'Ol Leonard is not a happy camper today. News yesterday that head coach MR. RAY GRAHAM has left the Henry County Football program just two weeks before practice begins is stuck in my craw. MR. RAY GRAHAM, a man thought to be of high moral and ethical character, has slapped the faces of the Henry County players and their families, the administration that hired him, the football staff, and the community. MR. RAY GRAHAM, in short what you did was not ethical or moral. It was an act of a person thinking only of himself. The entire county today knows all they need to know about MR. RAY GRAHAM. You may think of yourself as a good person, but what you have done at this time of the year, barring any family or health emergency, stinks. No one and I mean no one, can come in here now and make all the connections needed for our football team in two weeks. And, by the way, MR. RAY GRAHAM, you should not feel as if you have two teams now. You only have one. A person should not burn their bridges in their life as you have done here. I could continue on but what good is iit, really. You, MR. RAY GRAHAM, are gone and our football team is scramblin' trying to right the ship. Don't you give the Wildcats another thought. We will be just fine. These are tough kids and they will make the best of a rotten situation that you and only you created for them. Be careful what you wish for LCA. You could be next. Get me outta' here Percy, somethin' smells bad 'round here.

'Ol Leonard is not a happy camper today. News yesterday that head coach MR. RAY GRAHAM has left the Henry County Football program just two weeks before practice begins is stuck in my craw. MR. RAY GRAHAM' date=' a man thought to be of high moral and ethical character, has slapped the faces of the Henry County players and their families, the administration that hired him, the football staff, and the community. MR. RAY GRAHAM, in short what you did was not ethical or moral. It was an act of a person thinking only of himself. The entire county today knows all they need to know about MR. RAY GRAHAM. You may think of yourself as a good person, but what you have done at this time of the year, barring any family or health emergency, stinks. No one and I mean no one, can come in here now and make all the connections needed for our football team in two weeks. And, by the way, MR. RAY GRAHAM, you should not feel as if you have two teams now. You only have one. A person should not burn their bridges in their life as you have done here. I could continue on but what good is iit, really. You, MR. RAY GRAHAM, are gone and our football team is scramblin' trying to right the ship. Don't you give the Wildcats another thought. We will be just fine. These are tough kids and they will make the best of a rotten situation that you and only you created for them. Be careful what you wish for LCA. You could be next. Get me outta' here Percy, somethin' smells bad 'round here.[/quote']

 

I understand you being mad.

 

But it has nothing to do with morals or ethics. It has more to do with he went back to place he has been and won a state championship. He feels LCA is a better job than Henry County. When is the right time to leave? Never. If you think about kids and it is about kids then it is never a good time to leave.

 

That is why coaches do it for themselves. Henry County has a guy on staff that will do a great job. Don't worry to much unless they choose someone else.

I understand you being mad.

 

But it has nothing to do with morals or ethics. It has more to do with he went back to place he has been and won a state championship. He feels LCA is a better job than Henry County. When is the right time to leave? Never. If you think about kids and it is about kids then it is never a good time to leave.

 

That is why coaches do it for themselves. Henry County has a guy on staff that will do a great job. Don't worry to much unless they choose someone else.

 

I have to disagree CB. You make a committment to a school, a team, a community, you stick with it. What he did does show his ethics and morals. He had only been at Henry County for 2-3 weeks. As I said in my previous post, if he had even sniffed that Coach Rains was going to leave, (I can't believe that Coach Graham and Coach Rains hadn't talked about this) you should not have taken the job.

 

We teach our kids to stick things out, through the good or bad times. Why would a coach be any different or held to a different platform.

I have a feeling that the there is more to the LCA situation. Neither LCA nor the Head Coach would pick this time to do this. Something unexpected had to have happened. :idunno:

This sometimes gets drawn out to what is right and what is wrong, but the reality of this is that it is a business and business people move around and take other jobs for certain reasons not matter when. People take jobs either because its a "dream job,' challenge or closer to home, but things happen for a reason.

 

Granted it is a rough situation, but good administrations and programs will find a way to adapt and overcome the odds they are put in.

How long did Henry County really think someone was going to drive from Harrison County to Henry County? IMHO this was a one year deal at the most, turned out to be about 1/4 of a year. I was close.

How long did Henry County really think someone was going to drive from Harrison County to Henry County? IMHO this was a one year deal at the most, turned out to be about 1/4 of a year. I was close.

 

Not only that, but what those at Henry County are also failing to realize is the financial opportunity that LCA presents for Coach Graham. Had he stayed at Henry County, he wasnt going to be teaching because he has put in his 27+ years for the state and now drawing full retirement, thus only receiving an $8,000 stipend for coaching on top of his Kentucky Teachers retirement that he is drawing. On the other hand, at LCA, Coach Graham can still pull his full teachers retirement and earn who knows how much in coaching and potentially a teaching salary at LCA (the term "double dipping" is often used for this).

 

Fact of the matter is, when it all boils down to it, teaching and coaching is a business- just like the business(es) that all of those on here upset with him are involved in with their careers. Coach Graham did what all of us ultimately do when it gets down to it, and that is, putting him and his family first. The sooner that all who are upset with him recognize that, the better off all will be. I wish nothing, but the best to all parties involved. LCA will keep on rolling under Graham, and somebody will step in and be a great fit to keep Henry County rolling as well. Best of luck to all.

Not only that, but what those at Henry County are also failing to realize is the financial opportunity that LCA presents for Coach Graham. Had he stayed at Henry County, he wasnt going to be teaching because he has put in his 27+ years for the state and now drawing full retirement, thus only receiving an $8,000 stipend for coaching on top of his Kentucky Teachers retirement that he is drawing. On the other hand, at LCA, Coach Graham can still pull his full teachers retirement and earn who knows how much in coaching and potentially a teaching salary at LCA (the term "double dipping" is often used for this).

 

Fact of the matter is, when it all boils down to it, teaching and coaching is a business- just like the business(es) that all of those on here upset with him are involved in with their careers. Coach Graham did what all of us ultimately do when it gets down to it, and that is, putting him and his family first. The sooner that all who are upset with him recognize that, the better off all will be. I wish nothing, but the best to all parties involved. LCA will keep on rolling under Graham, and somebody will step in and be a great fit to keep Henry County rolling as well. Best of luck to all.

 

In all seriousness, this is a great lesson for the youth of America. Life is a business, when it comes down to money, throw your integrity and character out the window, because when dealing with the youth, you view this from a business perspective. Since when has High school football become a mirror of the NFL? Anyways, I really feel bad for the players and parents of Henry County, although the Henry County administration got exactly what they asked for. But Ray Graham does have great stories. I hope the administration does the right thing this time around and hire Coach Ledford.

No one has mentioned the Graham had a cookout with players and their families 4 days before jumping ship. He professed "this is the right place" , talked of his love of the team, the community, his staff and the administration that hired him. He should have been a carnival sideshow barker or snake oil salesman instead of a high school football coach.

Whats next in Henry?? Shock should be over now?

Agreed. Who's being talked about going into the weekend?

What HC needs to do is hire one of the assistants for this year, and open it up after this season to everyone.

Maybe, but if they were going to do that, I don't think they would have opened it up again. They would have just promoted and been done with it.