[KYcoach]

This past year has been my first as a coach in the state of Kentucky. Before this year, I was a coach in Indiana. About once a year, we'd have a discussion about schools in the state that did not have football and the possibilities of them having a program. In fact, I coached at a program that was new to football. There is actually a school in Indiana that has over 900 students but no football and another school with 720 that is just beginning this year as a program.

My question is this; what schools in Kentucky do not have football but could? Did they previously have programs? What schools are they and where are they located. I just find the historical information very interesting and like the intrigue of the possibility of schools potentially having programs. Every male student deserves a chance to play the great sport of football. Thanks for any of your insights.

[Stardust]

Only one's that I know of are small schools like Calvary Christian

[MVP2]

These are the schools in the 14th region that dont have a football team.
Cordia
Owsley Co
Wolfe
Riverside Christain
Lee Co
Buckhorn
JBS
Jackson City

[More Cowbell]

All the schools in the 15th region have a football team, unless you want to count Piarist.

I do know there are some in the 16th who don't play. Elliott County and Rose Hill are two that come to mind right away.

[blue1424]

The schools that I know don't have football are:

Williamstown
Whitefield Academy
Louisville Collegiate
Trinity (Whitesville)

[DollarBill]

From northern kentucky schools without football teams include St. Henry , Silver Grove, Calvary Christian, Heritage Academy, Villa Madonna and Covington Latin. Most of those are very small schools but St. Henry (Erlanger in Boone County) has around 550 or more students in its four grades and likely is one of the larger schools in the state without a football program - I believe that size school would make them a large 2A team or perhaps a small 3A team). Some in the area view that as providing some competitive advantage to nearby Covington Catholic allowing them to draw students interested in both football and a Catholic education from the large populated Boone County area in addition to Kenton County--two of the largest school districts in the state). Next largest schools without football in the area are Calvary Christian and Villa Madonna which each probably have about 175 students in 4 grades so it would be tough for those private schools to take that on the costs of football.

[LWC]

I don't think either of the Christian schools in Somerset have a football team.

How many of the Christian or Catholic schools listed are part of the KHSAA? There are many of those types of schools that belong to a different sports association for only Christian schools. Not all of the schools in my mind have 9-12 grade though, some of them only have K-6, or 1-8, etc...

[Tica]

In western Ky.

Dawson Springs
Livingston Co.
Lyon County
Carlisle Co.
Hickman County
St. Mary's

[KYcoach]

Could any of these schools have football? In other words do they have the enrollment that would allow for it? Why do these schools not have football if they have the enrollment? Money? Interest? In Indiana the problem we see is the school considers itself a "basketball school," though the reality is they usually aren't even good at that. Did any of them have football previously and shut it down? Are there any talks or plans for any of them to get football? Just questions out of interest and conversation.

[RoShamBo]

I don't think either of the Christian schools in Somerset have a football team.

They don't, but they are not in the KHSAA either. They do play Basketball and I believe Baseball as well. Monticello and Barbourville are a couple from this end of the state that don't play football. Kentucky has a lot of high schools that don't play football, it's more of a numbers thing. Lot of high schools in KY with <100 enrollment.

[Fly Like a Duck]

I'm just going off of actual KHSAA member schools:

Western KY (From Fulton County- Bowling Green)
Carlisle Counnty
Hickman County
Community Christian (Paducah)
Lyon County
Livingston Central
Heritage Christian Academy (Hopkinsville)
University Heights (Hopkinsville)
Whitesville Trinity
Dawson Springs
St. Mary's

Louisville area
Collegiate
Brown
Portland Christian

NKY
St. Patrick
St. Henry (maybe all girls, though?)
Williamstown

Lexington area
Sayre
Burgin (Mercer County/Danville area)

NEKY
Elliott County
Rose Hill Christian (tried few years, but defunct now correct?)

EKY
Jackson City
Barbourville
Red Bird
Wolfe County
Lee County
Piarist
Cordia
Monticello (not really EKY, more Southeast-Central if there is such a thing)
Owsley County

I can't think of any others right now off the top of my head.

[itzAmazing]

Piarist was the only one I could think of. But because of their very small attendance it is easy to understand.

[Jarons]

I'm just going off of actual KHSAA member schools:

Western KY (From Fulton County- Bowling Green)
Carlisle Counnty
Hickman County
Community Christian (Paducah)
Lyon County
Livingston Central
Heritage Christian Academy (Hopkinsville)
University Heights (Hopkinsville)
Whitesville Trinity
Dawson Springs
St. Mary's

Louisville area
Collegiate
Brown
Portland Christian

NKY
St. Patrick
St. Henry (maybe all girls, though?)
Williamstown

Lexington area
Sayre
Burgin (Mercer County/Danville area)

NEKY
Elliott County
Rose Hill Christian (tried few years, but defunct now correct?)
EKY
Jackson City
Barbourville
Red Bird
Wolfe County
Lee County
Piarist
Cordia
Monticello (not really EKY, more Southeast-Central if there is such a thing)
Owsley County

I can't think of any others right now off the top of my head.

They did about 3 or 4 years ago. They had hired Bill Tom Ross to start the program. I think they had a JV team for at least one season. The year they were going to field a varsity team, they suddenly dropped the program.

[Dragonsdad]

Gateway Christian in Middlesboro doesn't have football. I'm pretty sure they have basketball. William Boyd Bingham,the pastor at Binghamtown Baptist is over the school and he is a fan of football. Probably the number of enrollment is the reason why they don't have football. I would like to see it though. Go Eagles!!!

[Cat Daddy]

You would think Lee County and Wolfe County would have football programs by now.

[Old Henry Man]

I am surprised that Lee and Wolf Co does not have Football.
What is their enrollment?

[Cat Daddy]

I am surprised that Lee and Wolf Co does not have Football.
What is their enrollment?

According to Highschool's.com, Wolfe County has an enrollment of 359 students while Lee County has an enrollment of 369 students. These two school's have a high enough enrollment to support a football program but the issue is problably $$$.

[nky]

I'm just going off of actual KHSAA member schools:

Western KY (From Fulton County- Bowling Green)
Carlisle Counnty
Hickman County
Community Christian (Paducah)
Lyon County
Livingston Central
Heritage Christian Academy (Hopkinsville)
University Heights (Hopkinsville)
Whitesville Trinity
Dawson Springs
St. Mary's

Louisville area
Collegiate
Brown
Portland Christian

NKY
St. Patrick
St. Henry (maybe all girls, though?)
Williamstown

Lexington area
Sayre
Burgin (Mercer County/Danville area)

NEKY
Elliott County
Rose Hill Christian (tried few years, but defunct now correct?)

EKY
Jackson City
Barbourville
Red Bird
Wolfe County
Lee County
Piarist
Cordia
Monticello (not really EKY, more Southeast-Central if there is such a thing)
Owsley County

I can't think of any others right now off the top of my head.

St. Henry is co-educational. They've won the boys cross country state title 8 years in a row

[Wideleft01]

I could name some teams that think they have football, but from the results it shouldn't be called football.

[toussaints]

Could any of these schools have football? In other words do they have the enrollment that would allow for it?

Saint Henry in Erlanger could and SHOULD have football. They have the students and they lose a good number of boys from their feeder schools to CovCath, Dixie, and their starting to lose some to Covington Holy Cross. They already have a nice stadium and they have talked about starting a team before.

[KYcoach]

I did a little research using the KDE website and found the best enrollment numbers I could and came up with a list of schools without football and their enrollments.

Barbourville 690 (K-12)
Notre Dame Academy 614
Sayre 575 (K-12)
Elliott County 540 (7-12)
St. Henry 480
Williamstown 430 (6-12)
Jackson City 425 (K-12)
Livingston County 425
Owsley County 375 (7-12)
Wolfe County 375
Hickman County 350 (7-12)
Lee County 326
Menifee County 317
Cumberland County 310
Dawson Springs 310 (7-12)
Lyon County 305
St. Mary 298 (6-12)
Carlisle County 287
Burgin 245 (6-12)
Silver Grove 235 (K-12)
Monticello 218
Villa Madonna 184
Augusta 169
Trinity (Whitesville) 135
Cordia 127 (7-12)
Piarist 68 (6-12)

Now I know nothing about the Notre Dame Academy, but I'm kinda guessing it's an all girls school with an enrollment that high and no football. All in all, it seems as if there are a good deal of schools that could field a team, or at least have the apparent numbers. The ones that seems obvious include the ones from the top of the list like Barbourville, Sayre, Elliott County, and St. Henry. But I think everyone on that list down through Augusta could have it. Here is some perspective: Fulton City has an enrollment of 198, but it's grades 7-12. Now, I realize they are not very competitive, but still. If they can have it, why can't others? Just some thoughts.

[toussaints]

Notre Dame Academy is all girls, but some of them are pretty physical

Now obviously, a reason why some schools don't have football is because they can't afford it currently and/or its too big of a risk to keep it successfully going. then there are schools that can afford it and have facilities to hold practices and even games (st.henry), but theyre state and local powers in other sports that it may hurt both programs

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

I did a little research using the KDE website and found the best enrollment numbers I could and came up with a list of schools without football and their enrollments.

Barbourville 690 (K-12)
Notre Dame Academy 614
Sayre 575 (K-12)
Elliott County 540 (7-12)
St. Henry 480
Williamstown 430 (6-12)
Jackson City 425 (K-12)
Livingston County 425
Owsley County 375 (7-12)
Wolfe County 375
Hickman County 350 (7-12)
Lee County 326
Menifee County 317
Cumberland County 310
Dawson Springs 310 (7-12)
Lyon County 305
St. Mary 298 (6-12)
Carlisle County 287
Burgin 245 (6-12)
Silver Grove 235 (K-12)
Monticello 218
Villa Madonna 184
Augusta 169
Trinity (Whitesville) 135
Cordia 127 (7-12)
Piarist 68 (6-12)

Now I know nothing about the Notre Dame Academy, but I'm kinda guessing it's an all girls school with an enrollment that high and no football. All in all, it seems as if there are a good deal of schools that could field a team, or at least have the apparent numbers. The ones that seems obvious include the ones from the top of the list like Barbourville, Sayre, Elliott County, and St. Henry. But I think everyone on that list down through Augusta could have it. Here is some perspective: Fulton City has an enrollment of 198, but it's grades 7-12. Now, I realize they are not very competitive, but still. If they can have it, why can't others? Just some thoughts.

All but 6 of those schools have bigger enrollments than Paintsville.

[HDE]

Gateway Christian in Middlesboro doesn't have football. I'm pretty sure they have basketball. William Boyd Bingham,the pastor at Binghamtown Baptist is over the school and he is a fan of football. Probably the number of enrollment is the reason why they don't have football. I would like to see it though. Go Eagles!!!

They aren't in the KHSAA. They wouldn't have anybody to play unless they joined. Cost is probably another reason.

[joejoe]

This past year has been my first as a coach in the state of Kentucky. Before this year, I was a coach in Indiana. About once a year, we'd have a discussion about schools in the state that did not have football and the possibilities of them having a program. In fact, I coached at a program that was new to football. There is actually a school in Indiana that has over 900 students but no football and another school with 720 that is just beginning this year as a program.

My question is this; what schools in Kentucky do not have football but could? Did they previously have programs? What schools are they and where are they located. I just find the historical information very interesting and like the intrigue of the possibility of schools potentially having programs. Every male student deserves a chance to play the great sport of football. Thanks for any of your insights.

I have one ? When you say every male deserves a chance, should'nt we only use the male enrollment of the school? Some of the schools mentioned may not have enough young men now or in the future to field a football team.

[Stardust]

I have one ? When you say every male deserves a chance, should'nt we only use the male enrollment of the school? Some of the schools mentioned may not have enough young men now or in the future to field a football team.

That's a fair statement, but can you provide examples of schools like that. There are very small schools that field football teams, some with very little male enrollment that still have a football team

[KYcoach]

I have one ? When you say every male deserves a chance, should'nt we only use the male enrollment of the school? Some of the schools mentioned may not have enough young men now or in the future to field a football team.

Stardust makes a good point below. I can't really answer it much better. I'm not really decisive on whether or not male enrollment is a good figure. I can see where it would be. But I don't know that it's a big issue.

That's a fair statement, but can you provide examples of schools like that. There are very small schools that field football teams, some with very little male enrollment that still have a football team

Excellent point. Can't say it any better.

[Tica]

Some Carlisle County parents and boosters had set up a meeting a year ago to talk about starting a football program. I don't know what came of it. Carlisle County has been randomly competitive in other sports such as basketball and baseball. But the underlying issue is resources. It is like the Menifee County of the west - there is just very little tax base or development there.

[DollarBill]

I did a little research using the KDE website and found the best enrollment numbers I could and came up with a list of schools without football and their enrollments.

Barbourville 690 (K-12)
Notre Dame Academy 614
Sayre 575 (K-12)
Elliott County 540 (7-12)
St. Henry 480
Williamstown 430 (6-12)
Jackson City 425 (K-12)
Livingston County 425
Owsley County 375 (7-12)
Wolfe County 375
Hickman County 350 (7-12)
Lee County 326
Menifee County 317
Cumberland County 310
Dawson Springs 310 (7-12)
Lyon County 305
St. Mary 298 (6-12)
Carlisle County 287
Burgin 245 (6-12)
Silver Grove 235 (K-12)
Monticello 218
Villa Madonna 184
Augusta 169
Trinity (Whitesville) 135
Cordia 127 (7-12)
Piarist 68 (6-12)

Now I know nothing about the Notre Dame Academy, but I'm kinda guessing it's an all girls school with an enrollment that high and no football. All in all, it seems as if there are a good deal of schools that could field a team, or at least have the apparent numbers. The ones that seems obvious include the ones from the top of the list like Barbourville, Sayre, Elliott County, and St. Henry. But I think everyone on that list down through Augusta could have it. Here is some perspective: Fulton City has an enrollment of 198, but it's grades 7-12. Now, I realize they are not very competitive, but still. If they can have it, why can't others? Just some thoughts.

Good research but presenting the numbers this way (based on number of grades) is a little confusing. For example, St. Henry is over twice as big as Barbourville about 120 students in a grade as compared to around 50 in a grade.

[Dragonsdad]

Someone earlier mentioned thier was a league for Christian schools. If there is does it have foofball?