[Bluecat1959]

My wife and I had our second opportunity to see the girls play this year........we saw them at the Boyd County Shootout in January and on Feb. 23rd at Russell.......Let me say that we are just fans of the game and the kids........we have never been lucky enough to have children, so we go to many games at lots of different venues.........being retired, it is one of the luxuries of our "Golden Years"........we have no favorite team, only favorite players, some of the kids we know personally and some only by watching them perform on the court.......having read the Ashland paper's pre-season magazine, we found that JCHS coach Wireman has been at the school and enjoyed quite a lot of past success....this year with a young team, he has a pretty tough go of it......we noticed a young lady #22 (Chessi Griffith) since I am retired from the Old Chessie System Railroad, immediately she became our favorite Lady Eagle, as we watched her perform on the court and show her senior leadership, we were very impressed.........Coach Wireman got upset with her a couple of times for committing fouls and by getting beat backdoor.......he spent his time-outs rebuking her for something she was well aware of......on some of the plays she got no weak-side help and committed the fouls.......the kids that did not give any weak-side help were not chastised...........Coach Wireman spent a lot of time telling the girls what mistakes they had committed and said very little about playing the next play......I think those rants and raves should be taken care of in the gym at practice and the games should be played one possession at a time........he must be comfortable with his coaching technique.......if we had a child with talent to play I would hate for her to have to take the verbal abuse that he expressed during the Russell game..........by focusing on the next play, he could have beaten a much bigger and more experienced team that night...........the girls were playing hard and did not need to be treated in such a manner......good luck in the tournaments Chessi !! Your new fans in Flatwoods will be rooting for you........sorry this post was so long, just had to express our opinions...............

[The Guru]

Very nice post directed to a very special person, Griffith is a dandy!!

[Bluecat1959]

These insights were from our vantage point, which happened to be behind the JCHS bench........maybe the coach does not always act in the manner that we observed........I hope it was an anomaly and not his normal behavior......all of the girls accepted him with a calmness that is rarely seen by players of other programs......I admire them for that.

[noXcuz1]

Not to say you are wrong... but you are way off on this one. Yes Wireman yells, screams, stomps his feat, and tells the girls everything they did wrong, but when something goes right he is the first one to tell them good job. Coming from someone who is close to the program, Coach Wireman is a respected and loved coach from all of the girls. When he coaches they know what he expects of them. If he were to quit yelling they would know he has given up on them. He got onto Chessie because she made freshmen mistakes, espically on the 3rd foul. Those are plays seniors just don't make. Chessie is a very hard worker and a great leader your right on that, however, to say Coach Wireman didn't get onto other kids on the team is just flat wrong. Did you not see him jump on his niece #11 when she came out of the game, or his daughter #54, or #21, or any other players who played. He is in my opinion the best coach around this area and one of the best in the state. He gets the most out of his players because they know what he expects out of them. Just because he may yell and tell them what they have done wrong doesn't make him a bad person or coach. And personally if I had a daughter I would absolutley want her to play for Phillip Wireman because he loves the girls on his team and cares about each one of them not only during basketball season but the whole year. And that my friend is what great coaches are supposed to do.

[Big_Ben#7]

Not to say you are wrong... but you are way off on this one. Yes Wireman yells, screams, stomps his feat, and tells the girls everything they did wrong, but when something goes right he is the first one to tell them good job. Coming from someone who is close to the program, Coach Wireman is a respected and loved coach from all of the girls. When he coaches they know what he expects of them. If he were to quit yelling they would know he has given up on them. He got onto Chessie because she made freshmen mistakes, espically on the 3rd foul. Those are plays seniors just don't make. Chessie is a very hard worker and a great leader your right on that, however, to say Coach Wireman didn't get onto other kids on the team is just flat wrong. Did you not see him jump on his niece #11 when she came out of the game, or his daughter #54, or #21, or any other players who played. He is in my opinion the best coach around this area and one of the best in the state. He gets the most out of his players because they know what he expects out of them. Just because he may yell and tell them what they have done wrong doesn't make him a bad person or coach. And personally if I had a daughter I would absolutley want her to play for Phillip Wireman because he loves the girls on his team and cares about each one of them not only during basketball season but the whole year. And that my friend is what great coaches are supposed to do.

Excellent post my friend

[Bluecat1959]

As I said before, I don't know the man and have only seen him coach twice....once across the floor and once behind his bench....I don't live in his school district nor do I pay taxes in his district......I was just stating an opinion that I formed by watching his actions and listening to him during a game.....he must have good qualities or he would not have stayed in his position for as long as he has.......I just happen to not agree with the way he communicates with his team...... I haven't the slightest idea who his daughter or his niece is, nor do I know any of the girls on his team....I was impressed with how the girls handled his actions......he may be the second coming, for all I know.......if I had a child I would not want her exposed to his verbiage.....my point was that my wife and I were very impressed by #22 (Chessi)......I wonder if, during his playing days, if he was exposed to that same kind of treatment that he gives his girls...........

[jchsrulz]

These insights were from our vantage point, which happened to be behind the JCHS bench........maybe the coach does not always act in the manner that we observed........I hope it was an anomaly and not his normal behavior......all of the girls accepted him with a calmness that is rarely seen by players of other programs......I admire them for that.

I assure you that if you ask the girls that play for him what their feelings for Wireman are, they would probably tell you that he is the only coach they would play for. I understand this was the only time you saw him coach, so it is hard to make a judgement on someone without studying them a while.
All coaches have their quirks that fans and players don't like, but the one you point out is percieved by a few other people also. Yes, he may scream at a player, but I know for a fact that he would do anything in the world for the girl. He would protect her just like he would his own daughters. And, most players will do the same for him.:fight:

Phillip is a great christian man, with a heart of gold. I've been told he leads his team with the pride and determination he was taught as a great player for JC in his day. Guess that makes him "Old School"LOL!! :lmao:

He may act crazy at times, but I rather have that than having a coach cuss my child or call them something derogatory(sp?)!:bow:

Keep your head up Coach Wireman, we're behind you all the way!:theman:
I hope this will help you to percieve the coach in a different manner.:Wave:

[rippinnet]

[/QUOTE] my point was that my wife and I were very impressed by #22 (Chessi)

You are so right to be impressed with Chessie, she works hard and is a wonderful young lady both on and off the court.

[QUOTE]And that my friend is what great coaches are supposed to do.

A great coach? A great coach has only the best interests of ALL his players at heart. A great coach does not show favoritism, he treats ALL players the same. A great coach boosts the self-esteem of ALL his players, he does not destroy it. A great coach is not there to serve his own needs and ego. Some of you seem to think that Phillip Wireman is a great coach, well that's your opinion and you are intitled to it, as I am to mine. I have watched many Lady Eagle games over the years. And like so very many others do not think Wireman is a great coach. I have seen him make huge mistakes and lose Big games. In the 03/04 regional tournament game, his daughter Ashley (who was a great player) was not having a good shooting night. He left her in the game, without giving the 2 very good junior players (Daniels and Dials) a chance and they lost. In last years district tournament game against Paintsville, he took the only 2 players out of the game that came to win (Griffith and Ritz) and they lost. This year has been all about his freshmen. These girls are great players but they are allowed to make repeated mistakes/turn-overs without being taken out of the game. The other girls get to sit down with 1 mistake, no matter how minor or how well they're playing otherwise. Don't you think it's strange that there's only 1 senior, and 1 junior left on this team? What happened to the rest? They got fed up with the way they were treated. They were good enough to practice everyday and work all the fund raisers but not good enough to play. To me and MANY others this is not a great coach.

Bluecat1959...You & your wife are very observant and right on the money!

Good luck to ALL the Lady Eagles!!!

[Envy~Me~Always]

Rippinnet, I agree with your post in many ways. I, too, have witnessed some of his rantings and actions. I remember his daughter as a player as well several others, she was a good player not a great one. I had several friends that played under him who gave their all everytime they were on the floor. But with one mistake they were on the bench and he was in their face. But there will be arguments on how good of a coach he is due to the fact he has done so much for that school and that program. I respect him for all he has done for girls' basketball, I just don't agree with all of his methods.

A great coach is someone who udnerstand their players' needs. Some players can handle being yelled at and screamed at. It is a way to get them fired up and ready to play. (Trust me I know from personal experience). Then there are other players who must be talked to in a calmer, more relaxed tone. A great coach recognizes that the same method doesn't work for all players.

A great coach never forgets what it is like to be a player going through both good and bad times.hh:

[Eagle Eye]

I think Coach Wireman is a great coach and I love to watch him coach. I have no ties to his program but if I had a daughter playing basketball then I would want her to play for him. He is a great Christian man and teaches them that they must work hard to accomplish their goals. This is something they can take with them after high school and college. I have never seen him show much favortism. I see him get after his daughter just as much as any other player. I never see them getting angry with him because they understand how he coaches and wants them try and play their best at all times. He expects their best everytime they step on the floor. That is not being a bad coach. Sure he screams, yells, stomps, and other things that ALL coaches do but I have never heard one cuss word or anything similar come out of his mouth. If you ever get a chance to come to a senior night you might like to come and watch as every lady hugs him like he was their father. As well as the parents. I guess since he wants the best out of his team you can say he has an ego but I just think it is confidence in knowing what he is doing. I don't know what game you came to watch if any but he takes the freshman out just as much as any of the others and I have been to more than a few. He tells them what they done wrong just like any of the others. I don't think it is strange to have just 1 senior and 1 junior left on the team. Ask the boys team across the creek who start 5 sophomores. A coach can't help but play the players that are more talented even if they are younger. If a player quits because a younger player is more talented or better than the older player, is it the coach's fault? Or am I just hitting too close to home for you to understand. They might have done fundraisers or whatever but does that give them the right for playing time? Well, I would like to see the MANY others that don't think that Coach Wireman is a good coach. You might find a handful if that many. You don't find a good coach and a good person much anymore and Coach Wireman is both. I hope he continues to coach as long as possible. Bluecat1959, I am sure that you saw Coach Wireman yell or scream and try to get the best out of his players but that does not describe what type of person or coach he is. You might have been observant of the way he coaches but you were not on the money on what type of person he is or how his team feels about him.:thumb: I know that no one is going to agree with every method by every coach but that is how he does things. The girls know that before they play. He doesn't try and hide anything. I guess the one thing that he has to deal with is the parents nowadays that think no matter how good thier son or daughter is, they should play no matter what. :Thumbs:

[Bluecat1959]

Some folks like tea and some like coffee, some like coke and some like pepsi.......some think the beer should taste great and some think it should be less filling..............some think a coach should scream and rant and get in a players face the moment he or she makes a mistake and is taken out of a game.........as for me, I think a coach should devise a game plan and try and get it executed during the game, if something goes wrong with plan A, then go to plan B...........as for the rants and raves, those things should be done during practice.... at practice, long, long ago our coach would tear our butt's pretty good, however, during a game, if we made mistakes (and there were many) he would tell us why we errored and then go on and try to stick to the game plan...........he instilled in us a love for the game that we still have, after all these many,many years........today, my hope would be that every coach would instill a love for the game that our coach gave to us, oh so long ago!! I stated before, my wife and I love the game, when we see a special child, (as in the case of Chessi) wish them the best!! We see how they act on the floor and on the bench, they will do well in their lives........her parents must be proud of her, I know if she were our child, we would be very proud of her....Good Luck Lady Eagles !!!!!!!! Remember you are "Making Memories" every day, so make them wonderful ones, just as we made ours, years and years ago.......basketball is a great game, learn more about it and then you can enjoy it more as time goes by........

[EKY Spectator]

I think Coach Wireman is a great coach and I love to watch him coach. I have no ties to his program but if I had a daughter playing basketball then I would want her to play for him. He is a great Christian man and teaches them that they must work hard to accomplish their goals. This is something they can take with them after high school and college. I have never seen him show much favortism. I see him get after his daughter just as much as any other player. I never see them getting angry with him because they understand how he coaches and wants them try and play their best at all times. He expects their best everytime they step on the floor. That is not being a bad coach. Sure he screams, yells, stomps, and other things that ALL coaches do but I have never heard one cuss word or anything similar come out of his mouth. If you ever get a chance to come to a senior night you might like to come and watch as every lady hugs him like he was their father. As well as the parents. I guess since he wants the best out of his team you can say he has an ego but I just think it is confidence in knowing what he is doing. I don't know what game you came to watch if any but he takes the freshman out just as much as any of the others and I have been to more than a few. He tells them what they done wrong just like any of the others. I don't think it is strange to have just 1 senior and 1 junior left on the team. Ask the boys team across the creek who start 5 sophomores. A coach can't help but play the players that are more talented even if they are younger. If a player quits because a younger player is more talented or better than the older player, is it the coach's fault? Or am I just hitting too close to home for you to understand. They might have done fundraisers or whatever but does that give them the right for playing time? Well, I would like to see the MANY others that don't think that Coach Wireman is a good coach. You might find a handful if that many. You don't find a good coach and a good person much anymore and Coach Wireman is both. I hope he continues to coach as long as possible. Bluecat1959, I am sure that you saw Coach Wireman yell or scream and try to get the best out of his players but that does not describe what type of person or coach he is. You might have been observant of the way he coaches but you were not on the money on what type of person he is or how his team feels about him.:thumb: I know that no one is going to agree with every method by every coach but that is how he does things. The girls know that before they play. He doesn't try and hide anything. I guess the one thing that he has to deal with is the parents nowadays that think no matter how good thier son or daughter is, they should play no matter what. :Thumbs:

Good post! Just seen him coach a few times but seems to me that is the way he is. If a coach has a certain philosophy then why change?:Thumbs:

[noXcuz1]

All I can say is his record speaks for itself. 298 wins in 13+ years, $ regional titles, about 8 or 9 district titles, and making the regional tourney every year except 2. Name another coach in this region with near the success he has had. He is a great coach and an even better person. And if you don't believe me, numbers don't lie!

[jchsrulz]

Rippinet and bc1959,

I agree you have your opinions on whether you like him or not. Just like we do. I just like the way he treats his girls off the court. He loves them to death!
I also like that he doesn't have to cuss the girls to get a point across.
Wireman is a competitor plain and simple. When he and his team walks on the court, it is business 1st! The players know that, heck, the whole region and several state-wide know that.
Another coach I loved to watch work his players is Charlie Adkins. Eventhough I didn't care of his language sometimes, i really got a kick listening to him. His players knew what to expect, and he settled for nothing less.:bow:

Wireman, like him or not, has an impressive record::worthy:
Started coaching in 1991 - 8 District Championships, 4 Regional Championships, 2 Regional Runner-ups!

Best in this region by far!:Thumbs:

[halfstep]

Rippinet and bc1959,

I agree you have your opinions on whether you like him or not. Just like we do. I just like the way he treats his girls off the court. He loves them to death!
I also like that he doesn't have to cuss the girls to get a point across.
Wireman is a competitor plain and simple. When he and his team walks on the court, it is business 1st! The players know that, heck, the whole region and several state-wide know that.
Another coach I loved to watch work his players is Charlie Adkins. Eventhough I didn't care of his language sometimes, i really got a kick listening to him. His players knew what to expect, and he settled for nothing less.:bow:

Wireman, like him or not, has an impressive record::worthy:
Started coaching in 1991 - 8 District Championships, 4 Regional Championships, 2 Regional Runner-ups!

Best in this region by far!:Thumbs:

:Thumbs: Coach Wireman is not only a great coach but a great guy.:Thumbs:
I remember when I played grade school ball in the early 80s and my brother through the mid 80s and he was a heck of a boys coach back then.
I also remember that the comparison you made to Coach Adkins was pretty darn close back in them days! :bow: LOL!! You def. knew Wireman was in the gym!:coach: LOL!!! Great Coach and person though. Keep it up coach! Good luck in districts!

[Hoopla]

I for one don't think that Wireman is as good as his players have been. The reason I feel this way is that I had the unfortunate opportunity of watching a girls basketball game that was being played at Magoffin County when the Magoffin County program was just starting. The score was 30 to 0 right before the half. One of Magoffin's girls got a rebound and put back to end the half. That made the score 30 to 2. Coach Wireman had the nerve to keep his players on the court, during halftime, and made them run sprints for the entire half because they allowed Magoffin to score. Is this the attitude of a great coach? In my opinion I think not. This was a time that Magoffin County was getting beat by an average of 40 points. And an opposing coach gets upset because his team allows the other team to score. It's unfortunate that a team gets beat in any case, but when a team is totally demolishing another team and then punish your players for allowing the other team to score. Come on. Then you consider him to be a great coach. Their is a problem here. Sure, he may be loved by most of his players, but someone said it in an earlier post that he is related to half the team. I love all of my family. I'm sorry, but after an incident like the one that I witnessed, I can't say that this man is a great coach. This is my opinion and if I have offended you in anyway, I appologize for that in advance. But coach Wireman doesn't mind to ridicule his players. I just can't figure out how he has lasted as long as he has due to all of the Johnson County politics. He has had some of the best talent in the 15th region and should have won all of those regional titles that he has won. Others in Johnson county have been fired for a lot Les. (And that is not a mis-spelling.) I hope the Johnson County girls do well and go far on and off the court, because they have a great group of girls. I just don't think coach Wireman is as great as everyone thinks he is.

[Envy~Me~Always]

Way to go Hoopla. Excellent post!! You know what you are talking about!!!:Cheerlead :worthy: Records don't always speak for the coach. It is a representation of players abilities and their hearts. There are better ways to judge a coach. His actions on and off the court, players' thoughts and feelings, and from your own intuition. :Nodding:

[jchsrulz]

Everyone don't think he is great. But if you play for him you will play his way! He doesn't Les (oops,Let) his players run the show!I guess that is why he is still coaching.
I wonder if the Lady Eagles had a shot to tie the game in the regional tournament with a few seconds to go, and he asked one of his girls to check into the game to make the shot, would they tell him NO? Would that make him Les of a man? :no: Yep!

[The Fan]

[QUOTE="Hoopla"]I for one don't think that Wireman is as good as his players have been. The reason I feel this way is that I had the unfortunate opportunity of watching a girls basketball game that was being played at Magoffin County when the Magoffin County program was just starting. The score was 30 to 0 right before the half. One of Magoffin's girls got a rebound and put back to end the half. That made the score 30 to 2. Coach Wireman had the nerve to keep his players on the court, during halftime, and made them run sprints for the entire half because they allowed Magoffin to score. Is this the attitude of a great coach? In my opinion I think not. This was a time that Magoffin County was getting beat by an average of 40 points. And an opposing coach gets upset because his team allows the other team to score. It's unfortunate that a team gets beat in any case, but when a team is totally demolishing another team and then punish your players for allowing the other team to score. Come on. Then you consider him to be a great coach. Their is a problem here. Sure, he may be loved by most of his players, but someone said it in an earlier post that he is related to half the team. I love all of my family. I'm sorry, but after an incident like the one that I witnessed, I can't say that this man is a great coach. This is my opinion and if I have offended you in anyway, I appologize for that in advance. But coach Wireman doesn't mind to ridicule his players. I just can't figure out how he has lasted as long as he has due to all of the Johnson County politics. He has had some of the best talent in the 15th region and should have won all of those regional titles that he has won. Others in Johnson county have been fired for a lot Les. (And that is not a mis-spelling.) I hope the Johnson County girls do well and go far on and off the court, because they have a great group of girls. I just don't think coach Wireman is as great as everyone thinks he is.

[rippinnet]

[Well, I would like to see the MANY others that don't think that Coach Wireman is a good coach. You might find a handful if that many. You don't find a good coach and a good person much anymore and Coach Wireman is both/quote] :no:

Eagle Eye...obviously you don't get out much.  But I guarantee, without a doubt, that you could fill JCHS gym to the rafters with people that think Wireman is not a good coach.   Employees, Students, Faculity, and Parents from Johnson County Schools.  Coaches, Players, Parents from other schools.  And people that come just for the love of the game...like Bluecat1959.  It's amazing what you hear while sitting in the stands or in line at the concession stand. 

A coach can't help but play the players that are more talented even if they are younger. If a player quits because a younger player is more talented or better than the older player, is it the coach's fault? Or am I just hitting too close to home for you to understand. They might have done fundraisers or whatever but does that give them the right for playing time

   

So why have them on the team in the first place...if they're not good enough to play?  Why humiliate them?  Why waste their time?  If they're not good enough to get any playing time...they shouldn't make the team in the first place.

8 District Championships, 4 Regional Championships, 2 Regional Runner-ups!

 

jchsrulz...I think that Hoopla & Envy~Me~Always said it well...

He has had some of the best talent in the 15th region and should have won all of those regional titles that he has won

:thumpsup:

Records don't always speak for the coach.  It is a representation of players abilities and their hearts.  There are better ways to judge a coach.  His actions on and off the court, players' thoughts and feelings, and from your own intuition.

:thumpsup: