J. Peterman

Appears there will be an announcement today or tomorrow as for the next head coach at Frankfort. I am not sure who it is, but I do know the two that I thought deserved the job won’t be named coach. Both alumni and know the ins and outs of the community. Two very experienced coaches withdrew during the process. Based on the remaining pool of candidates appeared to be all even with experiences. I wish nothing but success for the next head coach. Those kids deserve the best.

Let’s just say they have their own mess to deal with. I don’t believe it is proper to discuss these issues publicly just to prove point. They should learn, "People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones."

What is taking so long at 328 Shelby Street? I was hopeful when this process started. The Athletic Director put together one of the best committees I have seen. Full of alumni and former players. Along with current Assistant AD at KSU. All those on the committee I believed would put kids first. They have interviewed 7 applicants. Two very experienced coaches. Some alumni were in the pool. A good mix of different levels of experience. I know parents are getting discouraged and starting to reach out to other programs.

As you are entitled to yours. I guess it’s about perspective. You been away from 20 years, and I live blocks away from the school.

I will agree that there is a narrative by some people stating that conspiracy theory. Having conversations with many people around the program and those that support both the program and other aspects of the district it isn’t the truth based on what many heavy hitters in the community have shared with me. Their explanation of what happened was best describe as “You can’t keep spitting in your bosses face and expect nothing to happen.” I know the previous AD and will say that isn't his style.

There are alumni that help. Many of them help because of relationships established by previous coaches and other alumni that want what is best for kids. There are two groups of alumni at Frankfort. Those that actually want help and those that complain about those helping. Those that complain are a loud minority. Many of those complainers are not even invested in success of kids. That is why I laugh at the administration at the school because they bow down to the ones that don’t give anything but lip service. For example, grumpy board members listen to those and assisted in running off Coach Foley.

I can't wait for the naming of the next Coach. Class of 86 in the house today. He will be a good hire.

Last thing anyone from Franklin County should do is lecture Frankfort people about baggage. What is currently going on at Franklin County right now isn't something many want public.

First, I have no axe to grind. Wanting to address the topic with my perspective which is obviously different from your position and that is okay. I can agree that Foley was loved by many. BUT not all. I also can agree that after being in a place as long as coach Foley you can rub people the wrong way. In the end the obviously there some people that got there way. As for not liking Coach Foley staff my question would be why? Those guys were not perfect. Like Foley did they show up for kids and give effort? During those victories did they also not assist in those? Based on what I witnessed with them and other coaches at other schools in Frankfort/Franklin County they wanted to be there for kids.

Let me say I am not blaming Fan support or Alumni. What I am trying to say is there has to be a common goal among everyone who cares about the Frankfort program. That those two groups should be involved in the program if they care about it. If you don't care about the program, then they don't have to help. But to bash what others are trying to do without offering support is like you say weak. Then I am sure they are thankful. You appear to be someone who cares. I would encourage you to be involved. Even though you don't live in the city you can support by challenging others to be supportive. One of the toughest things to do in today's world is support high school students and coaches. I travel central ky. on Friday nights trying to catch some of the premier games in the area. It doesn't matter which town I am in I hear fans tear down men and women who trying to help kids. Coaches and officials are getting tougher to find. Frankfort community is the worse when it comes to being supportive. Craig Foley and staff won over 150 games during his tenure. Went to state semi-finals twice in a class loaded with powerhouse Beechwood and Mayfield and it was never enough.

You use the word unconditional. What conditions are required of high school athletic program that would gain your support. I can agree that help should be sought after. But I also know the word of volunteering. As someone who volunteers in the community, I often contact places and ask how I can help. Can we agree seeking help and volunteers wanting to be supportive both have responsibilities in reaching out? As far as crapping on individuals that is a broad statement. Can you give specific examples of how people have been crapped on? See often it’s about perspective. I also would ask, if you been crapped on by, I assume the coaching staff, have you or the person you know that has felt this way met with the coach or coaches that hurt/mistreated? Reason I ask because that would be a lot better than social media attacks. I assume you live in the community. Have you attempted to help?

Frankfort is a very unique place. There has been some success at Frankfort. Ollie Leathers, Raymond Webb, and Craig Foley have been the most successful coaches in Frankfort’s long proud history. Frankfort also has the ability to quickly get back into the Class A elite with not only the right coach but the right minds in the district wanting it to be successful. I have read many posts in this current thread and yes majority of the post are accurate. Yet they still don’t cover the dynamics that exist at Frankfort. The next head coach has to be creative in overcoming the setbacks of the job. I will lay out some of the most critical issues. 1. Administration and Board of Education – Based on what I have seen from afar doesn’t appear the administration is committed to competitive athletics. They seem okay with fielding teams but not serious about making sure they compete at a championship caliber. Now out of fairness to them I haven’t looked at the money situation but even, so they still haven’t supported athletics the way they need to. I will clarify more with examples. 2. Facilities – Sower Field is awful. They did recently add a sprinkler system and some grass seed. But walk into the Sower Fieldhouse and it is in bad shape. I do know recently according to some coaches Foley and his staff did paint the weightroom and tried to put lipstick on a pig. But there has been no investment into the weightroom. Not enough bars, not enough racks, the weightroom takes on water after a hard rain. The entire fieldhouse doesn’t have heat, only the locker room are heated. There isn’t consistent cleaning schedule to assist staff in keeping the facility clean. Bathrooms smell and often very dirty. Do you know Frankfort couldn’t practice at their practice facility last season because the school didn’t want to pay to have it mowed consistently prior to start of the season. It had to be bush hogged. 3. Program Funding – I do applaud the BOE. The cover all travel cost and reconditioning of the helmets. They also have all the athletic programs on a uniform rotation every couple year. But Frankfort doesn’t have enough funding to purchase all the essentials needed to run a program, such as pads, girdles, practice equipment, and other things. Frankfort this past season didn’t have a camera to video games until end of the season. They borrowed one and if a teacher didn’t assign it to a student they went without. 4. Booster Clubs/Fundraising – The school will not allow a buster club. Coaches are required to fundraise any extra funds needed. When you have same students playing multiple sports, they are easily tired of fundraising and often same business are tired being hit up in a small community that has two other high schools doing the same thing. 5. Assistant Coaches – Frankfort has hard time hiring coaches. The high school has roughly 14-15 teaching positions and the elementary/middle school has about 26-27 positions. That’s about 42-43 positions to hire teachers. Frankfort doesn’t have a high turnover because the district does a great job of retaining quality teachers. So how can a new coach hire a staff? They have to hire paraprofessional guys in the community or find a guy in the next county willing to travel for $2K stipend. That won’t pay for gas driving back and forth in a year. Now there are plenty of good guys in the community that have played high school sports and some even went on to play college athletics. The majority of them can’t pass a background check. Coach Foley was constantly beat down about his staff. He had a bunch of guys that loved the community and loved football. They all worked hard and won a lot of ball games. Yet that wasn’t good enough for many of the so-called alumni. 6. Alumni and Fan support – At Frankfort they are all front runners. If things are good everyone comes to games. Talked to Coach Foley when he was Coach and AD. He said biggest issue with Frankfort fans they all want in games for free. Many people enter very few pays. Now there are some that do a great job of giving. They have given time and money over the years. They have supported Coach Foley and others. Recent years this community that many of you speak about they setback and complain. They don’t volunteer, donate, or offer help. The are social media all-stars bashing coaches that are giving an all-out effort to take care of kids and a program. I read a social media post last year of Alumni complaining about coaches and they wouldn’t support the program as long as they coached. How foolish is that? You won’t support kids because you are mad at a coach or coaches. Not one of them has ever asked who pays for the pregame meals or who purchased player x’s cleats, or how does this child get home. No, they are experts at complaining and blaming about not winning every game. How many of you know that a coach and his wife provide the meal at this year's banquet and paid for all 100 people that attended to eat at no charge? When I asked him why he told me because the kids deserve a first-class banquet. Something they haven’t had in a while. 7. Culture – yes, the head coach is responsible for culture of the program. But at Frankfort the culture has matched its commitment from Administration, Parents, Alumni and Community. I will end with in order for Frankfort to return to being a Class A power the adults in the community need to check themselves and ask are we doing what’s best for kids? How have I helped recently? Have I offered to stripe the field, wash clothes, provide a meal, or encourage family or friend to go to a game and support? Why would a kid want to play at a school that has subpar attitude.