Calico Jack

Been an assistant several years with Kevin Wallace, both at Bowling Green and then went with him to St.X. He went to WKU, maybe played there as well and might be an X grad, too?

This is also true. I guess I'm speaking in terms of the athlete(s) being relatively familiar with them both.

That's why unless it's laser timed, like they do at the NFL combine, the Adidas camps (and, others, but their circuit immediately comes to mind), etc.? Take 40 times more times than not with a large grain of salt. Most studies show that the difference between the two is that hand held is usually anywhere from .1-.2 difference (+/- a hundredth of a second or two). Advantage? Hand held. That doesn't sound like a lot, but you can more or less equate .1= one full step/stride at said athlete(s) max speed. To put that in a football scenario? That's the difference between a 6-8 yard first down run compared to breaking away and putting 6 points on the board (obvious variable in that is the speed of those you're playing, too).

...and, there are a whole lot more teams out there across the state than not who fit into this category. So many programs out there when it comes to one team in the district (and, some have multiple) are, as the saying goes, "going into a gun fight with knives" & almost as many have the same thing going on come playoff time. Fight for a 2 seed, snag a playoff win, and then come round 2? Twin engine prop vs an F-18, a pit bull vs a chihuahua. Being able to compete for/win your district and then have a glimmer of hope, let's say even 2 out of every 4 or 5 years is a huge deal.

The green soccer lines are a nice touch.

You'll probably be shocked to find this out (I was), but Coach Lasley was there for 7 seasons, which I would guess is probably on the top end of average tenure(s) at one school (no way of knowing for sure, but fairly confident and then some in saying that). Something else you'd be shocked (and, others I'm sure), but they pay teachers extremely well. I guess they are in the upper 1/3 of the state in that regard. According to 20-21, the Head Football Coach made $6,000 (+ an added $500 weight room stipend). You take a, let's say, Year 2-6 teacher who has a Rank 2 to Rank 1 and you're sitting between $53,650 - $63,345. Year 27 teachers alone cap out this year at $69,035. It sits right on I-65, well, technically 31-W North, about 30 minutes north of Bowling Green. They'll always have some guys who can run. Plus, DYK the only other Independent school district that sits/shares multiple counties other than Caverna? Corbin (Whitley, Knox, Laurel). Caverna sits right between Horse Cave (Hart County) and Cave City (Barren County) and funded by both.

In the process of what will be one of the most eye popping facilities in the state, Class 1A school in a wide open district, has tradition, success and least we not forget...The Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club (serious about that). It's late in the year, very few current head coaches bounce around these days as is- especially if it involves packing up and moving, regardless of the time of year, unless its A) Much better job across the board (town, school system, day job, pay, better chance to compete/win) and/or B) some kind of personal/family connection to the school. Current assistants wanting to be a head coach, of any age? Single and/or recently married? No kids? Young kids not of school age yet (although, grandparents close by and/or are retired + willing to drive to be involved is a life hack-cheat code)? Now is the time of year to apply. You might have to move, but as its said, success (be it now or down the road) often comes with 'getting comfortable being uncomfortable'. Who knows? You might take a chance and a "do this for a few years" turns into 30 years from now and their naming the new stadium after you or you jump ship for something that's better for you 1-5 years on the job (which I would say somewhere in the time frame inlies the average tenure of all high school coaches at one school- all sports, but especially football, basketball, baseball).

One of few Jefferson County schools where it's still very much a 'community' school. Fairdale and PRP, you could also consider J'town and Fern Creek in that, but I'm not so sure the community support is still in place as much as it is in the aforementioned two- all are schools named after the actual towns w/in Louisville-Metro where they actually reside. Fairdale is the only Jefferson County school that's south of the Gene Snyder Parkway and PRP being all the way out on the SW edge of Jeff Co around the Greenbelt. When I say "community" in regards to Fairdale (and, PRP)- I mean so in a sense where families are "Fairdale", generations are "PRP", etc. That may very well be true for J-town and Fern Creek, both very well known for their successes- J-town more on the hardwood, and Fern Creek more across the board in all.

Great school, even moreso with them having just built a new one in the last few years, new athletic facilities under way, the community really gets behind their athletics and not to mention it's only 30-40 minutes depending on where you live from anywhere in Lexington you want to be. Richmond also a short 25-30 minute drive. As noted, though- the downside? Your district and region. It's one thing to have one of those stacked against you, it's another when its both. This place has had some good coaches, especially the last two in Cooper and Young. Although their overall records might not show it to those that don't take into consideration just how hard it is to win any at all at some of these more rural, county schools. As it was said earlier, the last 15 years it's unfortunately been a revolving door. Anytime there has been more coaching changes than there has been winning seasons, since, oh, let's say the turn of the century? It's not a good thing- in any ratio/scenario- and what success(es) look(s) like in the eyes of many (unfortunately) as they judge those heading up ball clubs in high school sports, will take some time. (By my math, I think? There has been 11 coaching changes- 10 coaches if you count Cooper's two stints, and only 5 winning seasons since 00-01? I'm sure I'm off some, so apologies in advance)

I can’t ever think of one. And not just one or two guys, but overall team speed, epitomized.

I will say this, though, Quisenberry absolutely would be getting the same offers if he stayed at Garrard. He snagged his first one at EKU last summer before every playing a game for Boyle. He had 2,500 yards as a freshman, both rushing and passing.

@Voice of Reason I thought you and some others might like that. I mean, it just blows my mind why so many want to don’t want to acknowledge the obvious role that speed and having better players has when it comes to high school football, college or even on the pro level. It’s like the time I heard an extremely decorated coach in this state, who at his first stint as a head coach for, oh, let’s say 5-10 years land a job at a household name program despite having a less than eye popping resume to say the least his first several years go ‘round as a HC. He goes, “people think I got better as a head coach from school A to school B, and like most things, I guess you do to an extent with more age and wisdom that come along. But, you know what I really realized? ‘There is a reason why mules don’t run in the Kentucky Derby.’ “

Agreed whole heartedly on all of this, especially that next to last paragraph. Although I will give somewhat of a counter, or another side of the coin way to look at the “grass isn’t greener” part. I once heard a very wise man say in a conversation - “you can water your grass all you want, but sometimes it doesn’t grow and won’t ever grow like you expect, despite the work you put into help it…because of the soil.” …whole lot of merit to that, as well. I never had heard that before.

I totally agree. It’s always been about this on Friday nights and it always will be. Obviously “culture” is the big buzz word now, but that’s always been around, essentially doing things the “right ways” and how you handle your business. But there are plenty of programs that have good culture, both high school and college. I guarantee you that Akron, Toledo, WKU etc have great culture, as do Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, etc. Know what those first few don’t have? The dudes and talent of those others. But some coaches like to throw around “culture” as the key to their success(es) more because it’s a ‘low key’ way of it puts their program(s) success on THEM and what they did. When you say “we were good / had that run bc we just happened to have better players or one game changing dude more than most of the people we were playing”, well, then, that doesn’t reflect as much on what the coach/staff did. Although I know some out there who don’t care one bit to to adamantly admit that.

Shocker. Amazing what that does. They ever had that before?

In other words, "dude's matter". In the end, it's all that matters (or 90%+ of the time). All the other stuff that gets flaunted, talked about, success(es) attributed towards is just 'feel good' fluff.

You are EXACTLY right. People that know football (in this case, Beechwood) KNOW when they see someone that KNOWS football (in this case, Volker). Places that have revolving door’s, which are a whole lot more than not (let’s say coaching tenures that last at max of a handful of years, and usually less) do so for, not a reason, but reasonS. Conversely, jobs that rarely come open? Also reasonS for that as well, in particular this one right here (only their 4th in almost 50 years). Others: - Bardstown (3 or maybe 4 ?? in almost, what, 70 years give or take?) - Mayfield (3 in almost 60 years). - Bowling Green (3 in almost 40) - Highlands (5 in almost 50) You get the point, well, you and some others out there do, I know. Andy Reid, Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Jim Harbaugh, etc could all be on the same staff(s) and they’d struggle to consistently have .500 seasons or better at half of the programs in this state, one’s like Volker just left in Ohio and all across the country.

Honest questions here for general conversation, but why do you say that you will not believe it? His resume?

It's one of those things you realize, but still find it astonishing. Forty seasons at one school will never be seen again, or if it is, most of us won't be around to see it, at least not to see the start or early stages at one school. The only other two I can think of that are next in line at one school are Joe Morris at Mayfield (took over in 98 I believe) and Johnny Hines at Pulaski County (99).

Yes he was, and has proven he can coach despite some down years. Pointing out the obvious here, but he won a 5th Region title at Taylor, his first year at Marion they won their district to cap of a 20-25 win season and before all of that he led a Casey County bunch to a 12th Region Final in his first head coaching job. Sometimes, or a lot of times, all you can do is all you can do. Some of these places are just hard to win at, be it Basketball, football or chess. Programs that have a good rate of turnover are usually like that for a reason(s), and some of these jobs (all sports) that have had 5 or more coaches at the helm over the last 15-20 years or so? There are even more reasons as to why they come open & none of which are because all of them thought “This is a place we can sustain some success at.” They either get in there for a year or two and realize “What in the heck have I done?”, see/hear of ‘one of those groups of kids’ coming through and ride them (followed by riding off into the sunset with them and onto a better job before the bottom falls out again) OR as their own kids start getting older and more involved they then come to another realization of “is all this time, effort and energy spent on other people’s kids just to hover in and around .500 at best most years really worth it?” Best of luck to Maze, his family and Marion County. He will have other opportunities if he so chooses in the future. They might not be powerhouse programs, but those job openings are rare anyway.

….says it all right there.

Right you are on all accounts.

Great points on all and a heavy emphasis on this one. Quality/Eye Popping resumes also largely hinge on already quality/eye popping programs. Those jobs rarely come open unless it’s due to retirement (or near). It’s about making the best of what you have in a lot of places if you’ve had the chance to be a head coach, who you’ve learned under, connections (presumably in the college world w his stop + his brother), and people can say what they want…but, pedigree means a little something (again, his brother). Beechwood being Beechwood, I’m pretty confident that the powers to be making this decision recognize a football mind, leader and personality that it would take to continue leading this program that it expects.

Usually how it goes and always has. It's not really anything new. Coaches at good jobs usually don't leave for other good jobs, and if jobs average a turnover rate of every 2-4 years, then there are usually reasons why that's the case too. You ver seldom see head coaches play leap frog these days and if they do it's likely because they have a chance to go from: 1) A good job to a great job 2) they have some ties to the school (their alma mater, their spouse, family there, etc.) 3) In an area where they don't have to move (Jeff Co, Fayette Co, NKY, etc. among others, even more rural parts of the state and a next county over and it's just time for a change) and it's a better job, be it football and/or their day job Exceptions to those rules? Always, but few and far between. These are some that come to mind over the year and even this year, in no particular order, that fit in one or even all of the above: Sean Thompson- Crittenden County to Paducah Tilghman. Not a far move, both in WKY, Crittenden is a good job, Tilghman though? The town, resources, athletes, tradition, and I'm sure even the pay? Kevin Wallace- Bowling Green to St.X. Hit the needed years for KTRS, then able to double dip in the private side and also being another Powerhouse? Makes all the sense. Justin Haddix- Perry Co. Central, after a few years and a couple playoff wins? Corbin and then to Boyle. Great job to an even Greater job. Steve Stonebraker- back to Casey County several years ago for a 2nd stint there, and a couple months ago to neighboring Adair County. David Buchanan- First stop at Paris, then to Mason County for almost 20 where I'm sure is considered a "home", only job he would have left for? His home/alma mater, Mercer County. Craig Yeast- The criteria above is even for those in college. Leaves a head job at KWC for where? His home Harrodsburg/Mercer County to replace Buchanan after retiring. Frank Parks- Lexington/Richmond area of central Kentucky guy. Resigns/let go at Bryan Station, assistant for a year at Madison Central, takes head job just a few miles down the road at Berea, leaves for a better job and relatively close by Danville. Brian Weinrich- longtime assistant/alum of Highlands, then gets the head job, unfortunately let go and then to Newport for a year, then to Campbell County. All three of which within the same county. Spencer Crutchfield- Lincoln County to a few short miles up the road to Garrard County, his alma mater. Josh Jaggers- LaRue County, a home. Back to where? Lincoln County, another home. Mark Clark- Hopkinsville head coach, to relatively upstart McCracken County in Paducah and then back to Hopkinsville. Clark is from? Nearby Logan County. Jason Chappell- Pineville to North Laurel. I believe lived and maybe still lives in and around nearby Corbin, either way- home area. Also previously HC at South Laurel, then for a year which was I'm sure a big move in going to Campbellsville in 2009. John Edge- Longtime Owensboro Catholic coach, then makes a change right across the river into Indiana, then back to Owensboro Apollo. Doug Preston- after leaving Bullitt East, he goes to Franklin-Simpson (good job for a better one), but his oldest daughter also had started attending WKU. After she graduates and son graduates/finishes playing at Franklin Simpson, he enrolls at UofL. What's another good job, in a good town (E-town), facilities, rich history, but also much closer to UofL? John Hardin. Mark Dixon- Hazard to Perry County Central. Same county. Football history between the two the same? No. Could be? Certainly. Day job more lucrative? Absolutely. Mark Palmer- Anderson County. Retires from Virginia, I'm not sure if any family ties to the Anderson County area, but see Kevin Wallace. Financially very lucrative- able to draw full retirement benefits from Virginia Public Schools + start a new in Kentucky with those years of completed experience. David Jones- Phelps, to Bourbon County, to Mingo Central (WV). Played at Belfry in Pike County & then onto UK & from Mingo County (WV). Takes first job in Pike County at Phelps, then to Bourbon County (short drive up the road from college years), back to Mingo County and Mingo Central a month or so back. Ethan Atchley- LCA to Bullitt East. Good jobs, but one had/has a lot better pay in Bullitt County + the KTRS benefits. Then to Frankfort High, nearby Lexington. Not positive, but maybe originally from the Lex/Frankfort I-64 area? Hunter Cantwell- Carroll County for three years, and by the standards of some on here, probably wasn't seen as a doing a good job (one winning season, one playoff win and a win percentage of 44%) but people that actually know football, especially in this state, know how hard it is to have any type of success at some of these more rural county schools. CAL comes open? Football wise no brainer. The rest has been history. Jason Foley- Taylor County to Southwestern. He was also the former longtime head coach at Northern Pulaski, played high school football and neighboring Russell County and college days at Campbellsville University (Taylor County). Coach Lickert- Dayton, then Holmes, then Campbell County and then Newport Catholic. Same county. Jep Irwin- He was the head coach at South Laurel maybe in the late 90's, early 2000's and then goes to Georgia. Comes back a few years ago to Whitely for a year, then to South Laurel for a year before becoming their AD. Moral of the story, is there almost always a rhyme to a reason for if and when a current head coach plays leap frog to another school or schools, and more times than not it's not to traditional powerhouses, because those jobs seldom come open. When they do? It's usually internal hires, at least at first. Mayfield has hired internally the last 40-50 years between Jack Morris, Coach Leahy and now Coach Joe Morris. Highlands hired alum Dale Muller, that job only came open because he decided to fully retire and then they hired another alum in Weinrich. When Kevin Wallace retired from Bowling Green, they promoted Mark Spader who had been a long time assistant (Kevin Wallace was a BG alum that was promote as well before the '96 season, after spending 10 of the previous 11 seasons as the head coach at Warren East where he had, by the opinions of many on here, as not a very good resume- no winning seasons, no playoff wins, some 15-20 games below .500 in that time). The late Robbie Lucas was promoted from within at Somerset after Jay Cobb left. Lexington Catholic has done the same. Lexington Christian has as well on multiple occasions. Owensboro Catholic is another one, when they hired Jason Morris who had been there as an assistant for a couple years, after he resigned at McLean County where his W/L resume was less than stellar in the eyes of many. South Warren promoted Brandon Smith after he was an assistant under Mark Nelson who started the program and had been a very successful coach In Tennessee (successful playing career at WKU in college). Obviously, Brandon has taken them to the next level. Very successful high school and college QB. Played under legend Chuck Smith, then went and learned from another in Mark Nelson. Owensboro recently? Within. Glasgow did the same after Rick Wood retired. Hazard did after Dixon went to Perry County Central. Frederick Douglass did with the hiring of Nate McPeek. Elizabethtown had been on a roll since hiring Mark Brown, he retires and the reigns are handed over to his son, Ross who took them to a 3A State Final Appearance in his first season in 2020. Chris McNamee was promoted as Head Coach at Pikeville after he went back there to be an assistant after spending a few years as the HC of Pike County Central (see similar results as Cantwell at Carroll, Morris at McLean, Wallace at Warren East). McNamee is also a Pikeville alum. The rest is history. Ashland recently promoted from within after their State Title win & I think they have done so with their last two coaches? Trinity comes open two years ago, what do they do? Hire from within. Boyle County essentially did the same on two different occasions with hiring Chris Pardue after Chuck Smith resigned to go to UK, and then hired Coach Smith back after Coach Larry French left to go to Southwestern. Those are just to name a "few" and a little rhyme/reasons to explain moves that are made from current head coaches.

A lot easier said than done. That’s why you see the same jobs coming open over and over, while some don’t, and why some coaches jump to those certain jobs if they don’t hire from within, which is usually the case (as they should) (ie: Mayfield, BG, Beechwood, etc).