Region2 Hype Man

You have connections, just ask around McCracken and know that he made the move before he was moved. Some of it was unfair as influential parents weren’t happy, but others weren’t happy with results. Who could assure him of that? I would think they’d actually do a legal search where they’ll post the jobs and do interviews. I’d almost say they legally have to post the job and do interviews. I mean hiring a white coach who already quit this are once to coach a school/team with a lot of African Americans certainly isn’t fair. There’s a qualified guy like Coach Keith that deserves an interview. Fletch you’ve got some of the best connections around the state, you and I both know they could go get a big name for this job. This job will pay pretty good too. If the best they can do is Marc Clark, then somebody is not doing their job or they’re just putting him in out of friendship/bias. Reminds me of when Clayton left the first time. Everyone knew Steve Lovelace should get the job. But the HHS Principal graduated HS with Dixie Jones and gave it to him. Lovelace went on to bring my Colonels to state twice while HHS never had any real playoff success until Craig returned.

2 really good jobs and dominating weak teams. Go over his time and find games where he beat teams with winning records. Name a big time program he beat in his years? Not “oh he almost beat” type stuff, I want actually big wins and playoff wins. I want someone who wins against the best teams in the state. I’m fine if he’s just the Hoptown coach as I’m a a Colonel. But this consolidated job needs a big time winner. Clark is a winner on a smaller scale WKY level, but not on a BG, Louisville, Lex, ETown, etc type level. This town and this school wants to compete for state titles. The talent level is there to do it. Do an actual coaching search.

Rusty is a great football mind, but I can tell you that he’s not a HC because he just does not want that pressure and he’s happy with life. He loves calling plays and not dealing with all the crap that comes with the top job. If he wants a job as a HC, he’d find one easily. But he’s a guy that grew up and saw his dad be one of the best coaches in KHSAA history and saw how much time it takes.

Clark for OC Lopez for DC Go get a winner for HC For all those who say “it’s already happened!!!!” I actually have talked to those in the know at both schools. For starters, the Hopkinsville High School Principal and AD made the hire. Clark was the only applicant that had good HC experience. No one wanted this job without assurances they’d get the big job, as to why you didn’t get a lot of applications. Clark knew his time wasn’t long at McCracken, so he’s taking this job hoping he’ll impress the Board. The Hoptown Principal is not under influence by the board as he was up for the job when the former Christian principal got the job. The HHS principal and AD have no power to promise the consolidated job. The HHS principal likely won’t be around for the consolidation. Kerry Stovall is district Athletic Director and he probably will lead the actual search for a new football coach. How I know this? Someone in here mentioned a Louisville coach will be the new coach. I talked to a big time HC in Louisville. He said he was approached 3-4 weeks ago saying the Board was planning on hiring the Consolidated coach to oversee both programs for the 2022 season and then combine in 2023. There were major names being talked to from in state, out of state, and college. A title 9 interpretation stopped them from doing this as they’d have to do this for all sports, male and female. So as of 3 weeks ago, they were doing an actual search that included big names. That got shelved. Clark shortly after accepted the Hoptown job, as there is still a shot he could get the big job. Clark wanted the big job, but it wasn’t likely he’d get it with the names on that list. But now that he’s in the district, he feels he can prove himself in 1 season. They were having conversations a few weeks back with names that you’d expect for a job that big, so I doubt they’d just promise Clark the job now and change course. The new CCHS coach could have the same shot as Clark to coach the consolidated school, or could be the OC. It all depends. But one fact remains, the HHS people that hired Clark have 0 power to promise him that job and if they claim so then it’s a lie. The HHS job search hired the best man, but there will be a separate search for a consolidated coach. Nothing has been promised.

A cluster of a mess. Where will they practice and how will kids get moved across town to those practices?

Which would be insanity that they wouldn’t do an actual coaching search for that job. The pay will be much higher for the 2 school job, I’d assume people from all over will apply.

Well if they wanted to bring the community together behind a winning football team, this definitely wasn’t the hire. A guy that’s being pushed out of a 6A school just west of you shouldn’t be the one you target to coach the largest school in the state.

No one smart will take CCHS. Likely 0-10 on a roster that knows this is the last year of CCHS. A toxic situation nobody wants to be around.

Ok but we’re in his 11th year of coaching and what has he shown? Great character. Hard worker. Can’t win against bigger teams in 5A and 6A. He also was given HHS as his first job and McCracken as his 2nd job. 2 schools with size, resources, and athletes. Not many other coaches have been given programs like that so this whole he could do well with more talent does not make sense. If this was Trigg County or Caldwell, he’d be the perfect hire. For a 1 year stop gap at Hoptown, great hire. For a 6A school that will be top 3 public school enrollment in the state and wanting to win titles, he’s a coordinator for that staff.

The jump to 5A was also bigger deal. Jones beat the Paducah Tillman 3A state champs with a 3-8 team. Hoptown’s old district was PT, Madisonville, Calloway, Hop Central, and Union. The 5A move changed it to Christian, Owensboro, and Madisonville. You can see the last year Hoptown was in the old 3A they lost their region title to a 3A champion BG. Moved up to 5A in 2007 and only had 1 year with a winning record until they moved down to 4A. Hoptown under Jones was a team capable of winning the 3A title in Jones’ final year, but wasn’t a 5A contender. Clark got Hoptown back to where Jones was basically, 4A district champs but not really a team that could compete in 5A. Thats the point I’m making. Clark wasn’t really any better than Dixie Jones, just had an easier schedule and went down to 4A. Not bad, but not special. Winning in 5A and 6A is HARD. There are really good coaches like Jones and Clark that could dominate the lower A’s, but not fit for the bigger classes.

Dixie Jones last year they beat a state champion Paducah Tillman. Played Craig Clayton’s Franklin Tennessee team. A Christian County team that went to the state title. Owensboro and Madisonville. They weren’t great, but go look at the KHSAA scores for that year and they lost 3 district games to Owensboro, Madisonville, and Ohio by 1 score. 3 plays in that season and they’re the 2 seed. So it’s not like they were far off from being competitive. Clark arrives and it’s 0-10 and a running clock every game. His last 2 years he moved down to 4A from 5A and played a very soft schedule. Had a record setting QB and some of the most talented players in school history. And in those 2 years they don’t really have 1 win of note. Played 3 really good teams and went 0-3. Clayton is also leaving it in better shape than what he took over from Clark in 2017. All 11 starters on offense were gone. Had a starter tragically pass away in the season. But then went further then Clark did with much better teams and had state finalist Franklin Simpson down 20-0 in the region finals. Clayton also started playing teams like Mayfield, Bowling Green, Louisville Ballard, etc and toughened up the district. Clayton also faced Logan County and Madisonville teams who were some of the best in their schools history.

It’s a good hire for Hoptown for 1 year, but no it’s not a good hire for Consolidation at all. HHS was a job that used to regularly beat Mayfield and Bowling Green. Christian County has been a power until recent days. This is a job that should be aiming to compete against the Louisville schools. This is a job that people want and I’ll put a lot of money they’ll get a big time hire for that job next years. Clark is good if your aim is to compete with Henderson County and McCracken, but not if you want to win state titles. You’re combining 2 schools that have proud histories and many division 1 athletes through those doors. This will be the best 6A job outside of Louisville.

I mean are they not going to do a search? Seems weird they’d hire a guy that was very unsuccessful in the 6A district they’ll be moving to and this will be a job that would attract a large field of qualified candidates nationwide. A guy that was on his way out in McCracken as they were likely to let him go soon enough with his poor records. A great guy, but not all are cut out for 5A and 6A football. He’s been at Hopkinsville High School and McCracken County for 10+ years, 2 areas with plenty of talent, so you can’t really say that he just needs more talent to do better. I think he needs to be at a place like Murray, Trigg, Caldwell, etc. He’d do well in that type of environment.

Clark is the man it seems. He was secretly meeting in town. He had some influential people that were big on him due to friendships. There was a lot of access and control given to some last time he was there and they wanted that back. They were hoping to hire a coach to oversee both programs from what I was told and the coaches at each school would come on as coordinators at the consolidated school. Weird move for Clark unless he has a job ready somewhere else in 2023.

When you go meet in another city for a job after a 2-11 season, people are not gonna be happy. He knew his time was ticking. Hes gonna take the Hoptown or Christian job for this year as no one wants those jobs since the schools will consolidate after the season. He’ll either stay on as an assistant or find another job. This is his stop gap as they won’t hire him as the consolidated coach.

Well this county has become a laughing stock due to the poor academics, might as well have a name that’s a joke too?

Word here at this CCHS/HHS basketball game is that they’re going to hire a coach to oversee both programs for 2-3 years before consolidation. Meaning that both the CCHS and HHS jobs will just be guys holding the spot for a bit until it happens. So these jobs aren’t going to attract much attention now. I feel bad for the kids as it seems the focus will be towards moving to the consolidated team rather than focusing on winning games the next 2-3 years.

I wonder if Pat Gates would ever get back into coaching? He’s a CCHS alumni and one of the best to ever do it in this area.

0.00% chance 1. they’d never hire him 2. he’s moving out of the area

HHS and CCHS now are both looking for new coaches. The Colonels will now be on coach #3 in 3 years, with consolidation looming. Ricky is a great guy and has a bright future, but a lot of more qualified names were turned down to give him this job. Gonna be much harder to find a name that wants the job now.

I remember Deno’s is close or related to a legendart Colonel when i was in school at CCHS. Tony McCombs. We thought he was gonna move and enroll at CCHS in 2010 to play with the Hickey team, but it did not work out. But I’m sorry I need to clarify D1 FBS rather than FCS. The last HHS FBS signee was Pulley in Clayton’s last year, then the next one was Jesse last fall.

I’ll rephrase, FBS D1 signing. And don’t give me that about Jesse. He’s a preferred walk-on at UofL, but had offers to Uk and many other places. He’s at his dream school, not some walk on. And Mercer is going to sign soon. 3-7 in 5A while losing to teams like Franklin Tennessee, Christian County (made state), etc is different than 0-10 losing to Warren East. Dixie Jones went 3-8 in 2009, but you’ll see they beat 3A champion Paducah Tillman, beat them again in 2010. In Jones last year, they lost to Owensboro, Madisonville, and Ohio County all by less than 1 score in district games. One was like a missed extra point. 3 1 score losses and plays, flip that around and it’s 6-4 and the 2 seed. That’s a team that just couldn’t execute, better coaching and luck wins. Poor offensive play calling too. Some bad losses, but a much tougher schedule. A team that is 1 play away in 3 games isn’t a team in shambles, a team that should go winless for 2 years. Every game was a running clock. Thats not inheriting some mess. Thats coming in and running everyone off the team. Clark’s wins over his 6 years at Hoptown? Since you want facts. Allen/Scottsville, Apollo, Ohio, Greenwood, West Creek TN, Calloway, Warren East, a 4-8 Christian County, Graves County, Murray, Madisonville, Logan, Hopkins Central, Logan, Graves, Fort Campbell In his 6 years, he had 2 wins against teams with a winning record. A 7-5 Murray and a 6-5 Graves County. Clayton’s 5 years? Paducah, Calloway, Hop Central, Logan County, Greenwood, Warren East, Caldwell, Kenwood, Henderson, Christian, Madisonville, John Hardin Let’s not even get into that Clayton’s first year he had 11 starters to replace on offense, he took undefeated regular season Christian County to the last drive and had State bound Franklin Simpson down 20-0 in the 4th. All that in a year he had a player tragically die. Or that in year 2 his starting QB and backup QB both go down with season ending injuries and had to run a WR at QB or this year he had ti convert a punter to QB an go against Mayfield and BG like that. It’s just an eye test. In 2019, Hoptown lost 22-27 to a strong Mayfield team. Or you like to talk Madisonville and Logan, but you don’t mention how they both weren’t very good during the Clark years and had top 4A teams during this Clayton run, historic teams by their standards. Clark had a great team in 2016 and fell short. That was one of the most talented groups in HHS history, but only beat one team with a winning record. The group left, he cut out of town. Has done pretty much the same at McCracken. He is what he is, but he’s not Craig Clayton. This isn’t to down Clark, but it’s to show that Clayton even in older age, has this program at a higher level. He didn’t inherit much and has kept them doing well, even during a time that Madisonville and Logan had become great programs.

Not assuming, he’s interested and in talks. Several around the program are all talking about it. Friends in Paducah say he wants to get out before he’s pushed out. That program wasn’t in bad shape when he arrived, Dixie Jones had solid rosters but just wasn’t a good offensive coach. The teams were talented, but not 5A talented. He came in and they lost all their games for 2 years. It was some of the worst football this area had ever seen. And they will find a coach, but in 2011 they waited until the last minute and got Clark. Never did I say he was a bad guy or didn’t work hard, I just think he’s not fit for the jobs in this area. And i saw at CCHS last year when a small group try to bring in a coach they can control, it does not work. I see the same happening at HHS. A few people know they can have more access and say so if they get in who they want. Sports in this area have been destroyed by parents and boosters trying to get coaches they can control rather than good coaches who push their kids.

Not when that coach is trying to get the job currently. I wonder if the folks in Paducah know about his talks with Hoptown? This matters because once the schools combine, my colonels will be joined with the Tigers. It’s a 6A job and we need a big time hire. And if you followed the basketball situation in Haworth’s last year, both of those players were out the door and were a big reason Tim didn’t play due to eligibility issues. Clayton inherited a bare roster. You’ll also see the strength of schedule is much tougher under Clayton. The program he inherited dominated weaker schedules, this current program can at least be on the same field as a team like Mayfield.

From what i remember, Clark took over a program that had some bad records against tough schedules. Then he arrived and they went winless for 2 years. They struggled mightily in 5A. They dropped down to an easier district in 4A and did well against a much easier schedule, but fell flat in the playoffs. Never got past the 2nd round. I don’t think he ever had a kid play Division 1 football. I can’t think of one big win he had his time at HHS. I know my Colonels went 5-1 against him and that wasn’t a great era for CCHS either. Clark left town when a very talented group all left the team, a team that should’ve went much further. Clark would’ve had a losing record had he returned. I think the year Clayton arrived they had to replace all 11 offensive starters. Clayton immediately won a 2nd round game with a team with much less talent and experience and about took down a State title Franklin Simpson team when they went up 21-0 before some lights went out. Clayton’s era features the Jesse kid who went to UofL and now the Mercer kid has an offer from Miami Ohio. Hoptown was a program that routinely beat Mayfield and BG. A program that could stand toe to toe with Male, Boyle, St. X, and those type of teams. That’s the type of program it can be and imagine what the 6A consolidated school could be. Clark is a nice guy, but he has a 10 year track record of being around average. Which that isn’t bad, but I think this area needs a guy that can beat big boys. A guy that can do more with less.