[Gummie Bear]

I dont think any of the highlighted teams could have beaten Knox last season!

I didnt mean it that way. I have no idea if they could or not but it was said that Knox had a better prorgam that most mtn schools, not if they wouldve beaten someone last year. Sorry if it looked that way but beating a team last year does not mean you have a better program than them. I only listed teams that have a better program imo. For the record I hope Russell gets that job cuz he deserves it and he will keep KC where they are at and improve them also.

[Xerxes]

A better job to me means where they are now. The state of the program at this time. I agree that programs tradition is another matter. As far as facilities the Indoor Turf Practice Facility sets them apart from most. The support and interest today is at an all time high. The JOB now is what I was talking about. Not tradition. They are looking for a coach not because things are bad and have gone wrong and someone has to rebuild. Things are good and getting better. That is why it is a better job.

[SLHSCard]

I just don't see Knox being as good of a job as those other schools. I am not even sure that Knox would be a better job than Clay. But it is better than the Laurel County schools so I can't really say much.

[SLHSCard]

I think Chapman would be a great hire at KC if he was indeed interested. He is one of the best defensive coordinators in the state. I'd like to see Russell get the job but Chapman definitely has the better resume.

[Football1]

A friend from work is on a committee that is hiring a football coach for his son's high school in the north east. He asked me if I had any thoughts on what they should ask which was alot like asking a barber if he has any thoughts on the right way to cut a short hair. This is what I suggested to him via email:

Football is about building a program more than it is a team. I would look for men who can describe an innovative plan for building a program that young men will count as instrumental in playing a part in their development toward becoming the man they were intended to be. That man would likely answer questions around that by describing a few of the following:

1. Strength and Conditioning Program: one that is flexible enough to support multi-sport athletes and demanding enough to rapidly improve an athletes 40, Bench, Squat, and Power Clean max's.

2. Recruitment: Coaches can't subscribe to "build it, they will come" nor "its built, they will stay". They should have a plan for reaching into the community to find young talent who will benefit from the program and visa versa.

3. Structure: Great football programs present a "family" atmosphere that welcomes underclassmen and gives Seniors and Juniors a roll in team leadership. Hazing must be forbidden from the outset and seniors groomed to lead by example with work ethic and character.

4. Community: will he embrace the culture and people of the area where the team plays? Every interview and radio show becomes sort of a test for a football coach to keep the support of the area.

5. Discipline: the days of the ultra rigid drill instructor type coach have passed us. Young men are not raised like today and fail to respond to that approach. Still, great coaches find a way to push even "troubled kids" to get the best out of them. Might be an area to ask a candidate to cite an example where his approach worked to get the best out of a player.

6. Tactics: Much can be said of X's and 0's and the specific Offense and Defense a coach prefers. And while they all may have a core plan here - the best ones will want to carefully assess the players he inherits and bend around that nucleus a play book that maximizes the strengths of those kids.

7. Assistant Coaches: no sport relies more on the guys who work for the head coach. Does he have his own he must bring? Can he work with those who remain. How does he manage them. A question that might provide insight into this is "what instructions do you give the guys who sit in the booth so you get the best information to make in game decisions on the field?".

I hope the folks who are selecting our coach asks these questions.

[HawksRule]

I think Chapman would be a great hire at KC if he was indeed interested. He is one of the best defensive coordinators in the state. I'd like to see Russell get the job but Chapman definitely has the better resume.

I would be in tears..

[Coupon21]

Is Mike Copley in the running?

[Football1]

A better job to me means where they are now. The state of the program at this time. I agree that programs tradition is another matter. As far as facilities the Indoor Turf Practice Facility sets them apart from most. The support and interest today is at an all time high. The JOB now is what I was talking about. Not tradition. They are looking for a coach not because things are bad and have gone wrong and someone has to rebuild. Things are good and getting better. That is why it is a better job.

Very well stated. No program develops a winning tradition over night. But Knox Central is on its way. The last 2 out of 3 years have been record setters for wins in school histroy. 9-3 in 2008; 7-5 in 2009; 10-3 in 2010; and the best Senior/Junior mix ever getting ready to hit the field in 2011. If you want to coach HS football - this is a great job.

To compare it to other schools is not relevant. Corbin, Belfry, Bell, and many others have great programs in their own respect.

[Jumper Dad]

Better facilities
District Championship
Regional Championship

Knox cannot claim those things over LCC. Knox does a new school and new football field but it is acookie cutter field, nothing spectacular about it, heck Knoxs scoreboard is just the size of LCCs jumbo tron.

I would also rank Breathitt, Belfry, Harlan Co, Bell Co, Corbin, Whitley Co, Hazard, Johnson Cent, LCC, Pikeville, Prestondburg, Rockastle, Russell, Sheldon Clark, Williamsburg above Knox.

I dont think any of the highlighted teams could have beaten Knox last season!

I like KC, I've saw them play each of the last two seasons. But Belfry, Sheldon Clark and Breathitt would have beaten them, maybe a couple of others as well. KC is a quality program but they are not a top 10 mountian program year in and year out. I hope they get there (depending on who they hire) but they haven't been consistant enough the last several years. They haven't had very much playoff success which is the easiest way to to compare teams over a period of time.
Good Luck KC,hope you get the right guy for the job!

[Football1]

I like KC, I've saw them play each of the last two seasons. But Belfry, Sheldon Clark and Breathitt would have beaten them, maybe a couple of others as well. KC is a quality program but they are not a top 10 mountian program year in and year out. I hope they get there (depending on who they hire) but they haven't been consistant enough the last several years. They haven't had very much playoff success which is the easiest way to to compare teams over a period of time.
Good Luck KC,hope you get the right guy for the job!

Always appreciate your perspective - but I'm not sure how winning 2 games in the playoffs 2/3 years is not considered playoff success. That's 5 playoff vicotries in 3 years. I'm sure most teams would trade their performance for ours.

And the best is yet to come.

[Xerxes]

Their playoffs have included Bell. In 4A the past few years have 3 teams. Boyle, Bell and Lex. Cath. after that Knox. I don't want to argue who would have beat who....but those teams you listed..... no way.

[WhyLie]

Heard that interviews finish up this week. Should hear something next week. Any names moving to the top?

[Poseidon]

I dont think any of the highlighted teams could have beaten Knox last season!

Last season is last season and means nothing now. New coach, new playbook, new style of coaching, all will be hard to overcome and make it out of the 1st round of the playoffs against the District they play this season. Just an opinion.

[WhyLie]

What does Knox's schedule look like?

[Football1]

Last season is last season and means nothing now. New coach, new playbook, new style of coaching, all will be hard to overcome and make it out of the 1st round of the playoffs against the District they play this season. Just an opinion.

Good observation; but none of this will be true if we are smart enough to hire Russel.

[Football1]

Heard that interviews finish up this week. Should hear something next week. Any names moving to the top?

My son got to meet a couple of candidates when they toured our indoor practice facility. He was impressed with one and not so much on the other. But he too is pulling for Russell.

[insideinfo]

They 're doing more interviews monday

[insideinfo]

they can't get anyone to play them, the last i heard they had harlan co. and three schools from tenn.plus there district games

[Fly Like a Duck]

My son got to meet a couple of candidates when they toured our indoor practice facility. He was impressed with one and not so much on the other. But he too is pulling for Russell.

I've been by the school several times, but have never actually been in the indoor facility. Do you have any pictures from the inside? Knox is just another example of what a program can become when it has 1) Great administration 2) Community that is hungry and wants to support all that they can and more 3) Players that buy into a system and beliefs 4) Hard working, knoweledgable head coach who surrounds himself with assistants that do whatever it takes.

Kudos to the K-N-O-X program. There is no doubt in my mind that they will find the right replacement for Mills.

[Football1]

I've been by the school several times, but have never actually been in the indoor facility. Do you have any pictures from the inside? Knox is just another example of what a program can become when it has 1) Great administration 2) Community that is hungry and wants to support all that they can and more 3) Players that buy into a system and beliefs 4) Hard working, knoweledgable head coach who surrounds himself with assistants that do whatever it takes.

Kudos to the K-N-O-X program. There is no doubt in my mind that they will find the right replacement for Mills.

Thanks. I don't have any pics but the next time I'm up there I will try to remember to snap a few on the phone.

And you are right - football was a joke in this county a few years back. And while I do credit Coach Mills for being a part of the turn around - he was only a part. Two local men - Steve Bailey and David King brought Junior football to Barbourville. That was the real beginning. Chaz Martin has single handedly volunteered 1000s of hours of his time to bring a world class weight lifting program to our school. He leads a program that routinely adds 30-40 pounds to max lifts per kid in off season - and the inseason program sees personal bests continue. People and businesses are behind it as well as our Administration.

We have a LONG way to be the program we want to be. But we surely are headed in the right direction. That means whoever gets the nod to lead this program inherits the responsibility to "first do no harm" and then continue to improve on what we have started.

[Fly Like a Duck]

Thanks. I don't have any pics but the next time I'm up there I will try to remember to snap a few on the phone.

And you are right - football was a joke in this county a few years back. And while I do credit Coach Mills for being a part of the turn around - he was only a part. Two local men - Steve Bailey and David King brought Junior football to Barbourville. That was the real beginning. Chaz Martin has single handedly volunteered 1000s of hours of his time to bring a world class weight lifting program to our school. He leads a program that routinely adds 30-40 pounds to max lifts per kid in off season - and the inseason program sees personal bests continue. People and businesses are behind it as well as our Administration.

We have a LONG way to be the program we want to be. But we surely are headed in the right direction. That means whoever gets the nod to lead this program inherits the responsibility to "first do no harm" and then continue to improve on what we have started.

I'd agree with that. Every coach when they take over a program is going to put their own little spice in there, they have to, but at the same time; If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That is a fine line that is often crossed. The Knox program is rolling, and it obviously has been done right. Whomever the new coach is should fully acknowledge that, while at the same time, making the program what he wants it to be also.

Taking over the good program, especially up and coming ones like Knox when they are at their highest pinnacle to-date is always a tough thing, but it can also be a great one- as I'm sure it will be.

[footballfever]

My son got to meet a couple of candidates when they toured our indoor practice facility. He was impressed with one and not so much on the other. But he too is pulling for Russell.

Who were they?

[PBR]

Why has this process taken so long ? I would have thought that Russell would have already been given the "keys to the kingdom".

I would imagine that if they hire anyone other than Russell, there will be a great deal of fall out from the locals. Unless they have a chance to hire a coach who has been in the semi-finals or later, than they need to go ahead and hire Russell so that business can proceed as usual.

[William Muney]

Why has this process taken so long ? I would have thought that Russell would have already been given the "keys to the kingdom".
.

Great question????

[WhyLie]

Here is some news from a great source.....the principal doesn't want to hire Russell. He is looking and trying to persuade many to take a look at these other guys. He may end up hiring Russell..just depends on how much heat it gets to do so.

[Hitters_Count]

I heard the AD wasnt even aloud to sit in on any of the interviews. That seems kinda weird to me. Although I think KC needs a better AD, one who actually knows sports and is fair with ALL the programs.

[BigBlueBell]

Here is some news from a great source.....the principal doesn't want to hire Russell. He is looking and trying to persuade many to take a look at these other guys. He may end up hiring Russell..just depends on how much heat it gets to do so.

I heard this too from an outside source and didn't pay much attention to it because it wasn't from a secure source and I cannot imagine what the problem could be. IMO Russell is a no brainer, but I'm not a part of KC, so what do I know?

[redstorm]

The word is the interviewing is over, but they are bring in the top 3 for a second interview. This tells me that Russell is not a clear cut favorite and the principal doesn't want him. He is a excellent coach and should pursue other avenues. This IMO is wrong, cause he has paid his dues and time to be the head man.

[Football1]

It's ok for them to run a good process. This is a decision that we have to live with for 20 years. Russell will earn the job and all will be well. I think...

[William Muney]

I heard the AD wasnt even aloud to sit in on any of the interviews. That seems kinda weird to me. Although I think KC needs a better AD, one who actually knows sports and is fair with ALL the programs.

He should have not been involved. He is an idiot. The AD should be someone that knows some sports. Not a guy who owns a runners shop. :devilflam