Ordell

Nice win for Henderson!

The concern seems to be that OHS has lost quite a few kids from the program the last year or so. When Fallin stepped down I think the thought was there needs to be a hire that could bring some excitement to the locker room. Someone that could relate to kids and would make Red Devil football “fun”. A players coach so to speak. I believe that’s why Ganaway was so high on the list. Rector, from what I’ve heard, kind of has an old school business approach to coaching so I think there is some concern with him from a perspective of fit. And I think they feel Coach Hall’s personality/coaching style may be a lot like Prince and Fallin’s since he coached with those guys. Whatever the thought process is this thing has drug out way too long!

I’m hearing Rector and Ganaway were both interviewed. From the current staff Drew Hall was to be interviewed yesterday. But it supposedly had to be pushed back due to a scheduling conflict. Not sure anyone else will be interviewed. I think it comes down to Hall or Ganaway.

No. I’m saying a lot of the people/fans that have been in support of hiring from within have kids in the program. Either in high school or middle school. And I’m not 100% sure who all will get an interview that is currently on staff. I’ve only heard the one name mentioned.

No. I believe he’s been the defensive coordinator the last several years.

Yeah I heard that rumor too. But I believe the truth is the coach I’m talking about applied, and interviewed, when the position was open the last time. Got passed over but stayed on staff. Probably heard things like “Stick around and get a little more seasoning so you’ll be more prepared the next time the job opens up.” 10 years later the job opens back up. Said coach reapplies. Only to be told no one currently on staff will be interviewed IF what I’m hearing is true. That is until there was outrage from the Red Devil community. Calls get made. Emails/letters got sent. Now all of a sudden there is going to be an interview on a Saturday(today). (Btw I’m hearing that has now been pushed back due to scheduling conflicts.) And no I don’t believe there will be a mass exodus of players because a lot of the folks pulling for this particular assistant coach have kids currently in the program or kids in the middle school program.

I told y’all there would be blow back….I’m sure Ganaway is a good guy who cares about the kids. He seems to be very connected and has had experience being a head coach. But I find it hard to justify hiring him over an assistant coach that has given his blood, sweat, and tears to the program. A coach who was one of the best players to EVER play on Frederica Street. Then on top of that he’s given the program 10+ years as an assistant coach. Look around this board. Blake Powers just got the Meade Co. job. JT Haskins just got the Bryan Station job. And I’m sure there are tons of other examples of former star players being hired. The only justification, IMO, for OHS not hiring this assistant was if you had a candidate that had a championship caliber pedigree you went with. You don’t skip over him for someone with a losing record and the locals not pull out the pitch forks. Hell I had mine sitting by the door!! (Ha!)

This!! And what you said in the post before that too. I can’t remember what those Ohio County teams played like under him. I just know there were 7 wins. Then 1 win. Then 4 wins. This is with a schedule that consisted of programs like Muhlenberg County, Grayson County, Butler County, Hancock County, McLean County, Daviess County, Breckenridge County,& Hopkins County Central. I was convinced OHS would go after someone more proven since we finally went outside the program. I would have hired Rector if those two were my final candidates. He has shown he can coach at multiple stops. I’ll be in Rash to cheer on my Red Devils in 2025 but I’ll be skeptical until I see us play….

Just what I’m hearing….

Calico Jack I truly believe you and I could coach Owensboro to 8 wins in most years. (Idk about you but I personally have never coached at any level.) So if Ganaway is the hire I don’t think he comes to OHS and suddenly goes 4-7. I, and other folks associated with OHS I talk to, were just expecting a more proven hire now that OHS was finally stepping outside the program.

There is a coach currently on staff that is an OHS legend. He has been very loyal to the program through the years. And it seems he is going to be passed over in favor of a coach with a losing record. (Ganaway is like 12-32 as a head coach.) Had Rector been hired I could see going in that direction because he at least has a state championship pedigree. I don’t see how they justify passing on the current staff member and bringing Ganaway in with his record. Get your popcorn ready because social media is going to be a circus….

I’m hearing a lot of folks saying Ganaway….there is going to be a ton of blow back if this is true….

Can you break those stats down by what player(s) accounted for what? I could be wrong but I think some of the defections lately have been because of the inability to spread the ball around to playmakers.

You’re exactly right! I tell folks historically OHS plays in a state championship game about twice a decade. The other 8 years the Red Devils will probably make 2-3 semi-finals appearances. Then the rest of the time a 2nd round playoff run. For the last 40+ years Paducah and Bowling Green have usually been a thorn in our sides in the playoffs. Recently I think most OHS fans just hate the way the offense looks. It’s been too run heavy. CAL, Bowling Green, Owensboro Catholic, etc have come in and had imaginative offenses. While we run right. Run left. Play action pass. Whoever is the next head coach needs to have some creativity on offense. Personally I’m not excited to hear Ganaway’s name.

What names, outside of the individuals currently on staff, have applied?

Yes! IMO Owensboro should do away with the city games except for the Catholic game. (I realize Apollo is now a district game.) But I would like to see OHS do away with the Apollo, Daviess County, & Henderson County games. Other than them being good $$/gate games I don’t think the Red Devils get much out of playing those teams.

Carothers is going to put up big numbers in this offense the next two years. I don’t see Catholic making it back to Lexington next year . But the year after that I wouldn’t be surprised.

If I’m Daviess County I look for a proven leader. I would try and get McLean County’s coach.

Historically, for Owensboro High School, I would say a state title game appearance twice in a decade. Of course it’d be great to win a ring during at least one of those visits. Then maybe another two semi finals appearances in a decade. We seem to have been that program for the last 50 years.

Hire Rector, if the Franklin system is what he runs, and let Barnes remain the OC.

I would be ok with OHS running that offense but I’d rather have an experienced championship caliber head coach leading the program.

If that’s true I think players, and fans, would be happy with that offense. You can fling it around and still have a solid rushing attack.

As other people have said I’m confused why Rector isn’t a good candidate, because of losing seasons, but Edge isn’t penalized for his losing seasons at South Spencer and Apollo?? Why Gannaway isn’t penalized for his losing seasons?? I personally wouldn’t choose either. I think for this hire OHS needs a coach who has won a ring. Let the young coaches learn under someone who’s succeeded at the highest level. (Of course they can’t hire someone of that caliber unless they apply.) Anyway, IMO, the biggest reason kids have left Owensboro recently is the offense’s inability to spread the ball around. I also think that’s what has upset OHS fans the most. Mayfield(scrimmage), Bowling Green, Boyle Co.(scrimmage) and Catholic have all run an imaginative offense against us while we look like the 1985 Owensboro Red Devils on offense. Run right. Run left. Play action pass on 3rd and 6 under heavy pressure from the blitz. I know of several kids relocating to Owensboro, or leaving other area schools, that had no desire to be on Frederica Street due to the offensive philosophy. Red Devil QB’s for the last 50 years have been more game managers outside of the year the kid transferred from Catholic High. No reason there shouldn’t be a 3,000 yard passer at OHS every year. Does anybody know what offense Rector ran in the past or how he’s been at developing QB’s??

Yes. Ohio football is better overall. But I think Beechwood, Highlands, & Cov Cath would play with most similar sized SW Ohio teams. I’d love to see Beechwood play Ironton, Hamilton Badin, etc. Highlands, Cov Cath, or Cooper play Anderson, LaSalle, Winton Woods, etc. Ryle play Lakota West, Princeton, or Withrow. I’m not sure who I would suggest to take on the GCL South teams. I know Highlands and Cov Cath have played them in the past but it’s not been pretty. (And it’s not supposed to have been IMO.)

Another crossover matchup that I love too see. (Ashland vs Alter was the other.)