BC 71

I don't think there is a vendetta. It's just we've seen him coach and don't think he is as great as some make him out to be. Ask any kid who has played under him how much he worked on fundamentals with them. "None" will be their answer. All of his practices consisted of the starting 5 on 7th scrimmaging the starting 5 8th graders. How does that help develop players? You HAVE to do fundamental work. Just hope he does a better job at this level of play. If not, it's gonna be a long season.

Need to learn how to play D. If it had been stressed more in middle school maybe they wouldn't be so weak in that area now.

That is NO reason to hire him! You hire someone for their ability not because they live in the county.

IF Persinger would happen to get this position he SHOULD have to give up softball. In order for the boys program to be successful the new coach needs to devote most, if not all his spare time to the program. Let's not forget he is also a teacher. NO WAY can he give 100% in the classroom, 100% to the boys basketball team and 100% to softball. NOT gonna happen!!! Are we forgetting that coaching basketball is a year around job now?? How is Persinger supposed to work with these boys this summer and take them to camps when he is out doing the same with the softball team? How is he supposed to work with these boys in the spring during open gym when he is out coaching softball? Bracken needs someone who is committed to basketball and basketball only. That's the only way to build this program back up. If the administration is not smart enough to see that then the boys will once again suffer due to the lack of intelligence higher up. Come on Bracken, let's try to get it right this time. Don't go into the interview process already knowing who you want to hire. For once really listen to what these applicants have to say. Ask why they think they deserve the job? How are they gonna help these boys become better players? Don't just hire someone because he lives in the county and you think he deserves a shot. Hire someone who is ACTUALLY qualified this year!!!!

I know you go to the ball games because I've seen you there, but how long have you actually been around the game of basketball? Is it long enough to know who is really a good coach? Just curious.

First of all, I believe if you check the high school schedule you'll see that there are alot more teams on there than that. Second, I'm not going to argue with you. From everything I've heard, site base was really pulling for Persinger last year and it looks and sounds like that is who YOU want again this year. I'm just saying I don't believe he would be much better than last years coach. I've also heard this from parents who have had kids play for him, even from parents who had kids that were his starters from previous years!!!

Doesn't always take a good coach to win games with good players. Look at Tubby Smith's first year at UK! He won because somebody else did all the ground work for him.

And that team was coached for years by Jamie Rigg. He taught those boys how to play ball. He taught them their fundamentals. By the time they were in 8th grade they were a good, solid team, not because of their 8th grade coach!!!

You need to go ask these boys how many fundamental drills they did in practice under Persinger. I think you'll be shocked with their answer.

Take a peek at who is in Bracken's middle school conference and you'll see why he is successful.

The last few years there have been several teams who have gone to play in the St. Pat league. These are the teams he has had the most success with. If they hadn't, they would have gotten very little experience during their middle school play. The kids who don't start don't play, during games OR practice. Can't get better sitting on the bench or standing on the baseline. Gotta work with them all to have a good TEAM. Deep benches win ball games.

Just because they are kids doesn't mean they aren't smart enough to know if they learned anything under him. I would think the opinion of past players would count for something. It's hard to play for someone if you don't respect them as a coach. Been there done that. If he was that qualified looks like they would have come to him and asked him to step up. Maybe the administration knows that 8th grade to head varsity is too big a jump.

Don't quite understand how you can say that. If you look at the teams he has actually been successful with you will find that they were all coached by other coaches for 2 or 3 years prior to him coaching them. If you ask most of the kids he has coached you will probably find very few who can say they learned anything from him. If he was that good, he would work on developing these kids as a team, not just working with 2 or 3 players. Middle school is where your fundamental work is the most important and it is not worked on in BC. If it was, our high school teams would be better!! BC needs to look elsewhere for a better candidate. One actually applied last year and was overlooked. Bracken's AD needs to wake up before she ruins BC basketball.