[EKY Sportster]

Coach West has only been coaching 3 years, he does a great job!!

Good coach, and after 25 years he may have a long list of accomplishments, but you will be hard pressed to find a coach that will be able to match the accomplishments of Coach Runyon, and also a coach that is willing to stay at one very small school for his entire career. Just think what BMR may have accomplished had he moved on to a larger school during the many chances that he has had. But he passed it all up to stay at Paintsville. You won't find that sort of loyalty or dedication in many coaches today!! Like him or not, but the proof is in the accomplishments.

[Belfry Wins]

I could get on here and be a homer and say Casey, and I will say Im as happy with Casey as anybody Belfry could have, and I do think he is better coach than Booher. But IMO without a doubt BMR is the best. Stats dont lie. Year in and year out Paintsville a little tiny school competes as one of the favorites. That says something.

[BeaverCreek Connection]

We hear of threads like these year after year. Some people pick coaches who are having a good year, others call for the removal of those who are not far removed from having good years and being praised. I know I played for Paintsville and I work for him, but Coach Runyon is the best coach in the region hands down and has accomplished more than any coach in the history of the 15th Region.

Accomplishments (off the top of my head - I will get more if needed):

493 wins (25 years as head coach - 19.7 wins a year)
7 15th Region Titles
4 KHSAA "Sweet 16" Final Four Appearances
2 KHSAA "Sweet 16" Championship Game Appearances
1 KHSAA "Sweet 16" State Championship (1996)
6 15th Region All "A" Titles
2 All "A" Classic State Final Four Appearances
1 All "A" Classic State Championship Appearance
8 Division 1 Signees
2 Mr. Basketball's

I would add Best Recruiter to that list.

[IRISH4]

I would add Best Recruiter to that list.

Huh??? Explain...curious to know about this.

[warriorpride]

Eric Ratliff. Just my opion, dont make fun of me lol. I think he has done a good job with all he does for the school, coaching football, basketball, and teaching. Wow now tell me A coach who does all that all year.

[J. R. VanHoose]

I would add Best Recruiter to that list.

Who has he recruited - accoring to your sources?

[Playboy5]

Easy....bill Mike..hands Down!!!!!!

[Big Jim]

Who has he recruited - accoring to your sources?

\

That's a good one. I don't know alot of the guys now, but I find it difficult to believe they are as good as Bill Mike. I'm sure Bart is a great coach because I know him. Coach Runyon has alwyas improved over time. He has continued to learn and adapt over his career and his longevity of success speaks to that.

He's had many different types of teams with many different strengths and weaknesses, yet, he always seems to get the most out of the kids, especially tournament time. He plays whatever style he need to win, while teaching his kids about toughness and commitment. Most other coaches are just looking for the next best thing, while his teams continue to be the most consistent in the region over the long and, most times, the short haul.

GO TIGERS!!

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

BMR no doubt...
but a few more to add in here...

Eugene Lyons- was a very good coach back in the day

David Rowe- Does alot with nothing but still has not won that 15th Region Championship probaley the best coach w/ the most heart breaking losses...

Booher- is making his name known but no chance the best coach in the region...

Casey- Another Dandy as a coach he has done alot with the Belfry program and is developing a class act..

Randy McCoy- i know many f you will diagree w/ me...but this guy did alot w/ his programs at EC when it was still a school...

[nasticus]

BMR no doubt...
but a few more to add in here...

Eugene Lyons- was a very good coach back in the day

David Rowe- Does alot with nothing but still has not won that 15th Region Championship probaley the best coach w/ the most heart breaking losses...

Booher- is making his name known but no chance the best coach in the region...

Casey- Another Dandy as a coach he has done alot with the Belfry program and is developing a class act..

Randy McCoy- i know many f you will diagree w/ me...but this guy did alot w/ his programs at EC when it was still a school...

I have to agree that BMR is by far the best coach in the 15th, to even argue that is preposturous. I don't see any other coach around there with a Sweet 16 ring.

I would also like to add Raymond Justice here, he had several good squads and regional crowns at Belfry in the early 90's

Lyons was a good coach, had several good teams at JC.

If McCoy was still coaching I think he would be the second best in the region behind BMR.

The rest still need to prove themselves.

David Rowe has had some bad luck ver the years.
Casey has not really proved himself yet. Although a strong showing in the regional tournament has helped his cause. If he keeps it up he will have a top notch program.
Booher has had way too much talent to tell if he is a good coach, let wait till this freshman class is gone and see just how good he is with a less talented squad. That is if he is still around that long. I think his main goal is a principals job.

[J. R. VanHoose]

Guys, I must apologize, I messed up one of Coach Runyon's records. He has only been a head coach for 24 years (he began in the 1982-83 season). With his 493 wins in 24 years that gives him an average of 20.5 wins per year. Sorry for the confusion!!


I also wanted to add that he has won 13 District Championships and has had 30+ wins three times (1986-87; 1996-97; 1997-98). During that time his best record (as well as a school record) is 33-4 (1996-97 season). He has also coached 20 players who have made an Kentucky All-State Team (AP, Lexington-Herald, Louisville-Courier Journal). Not too bad!!!


I still haven't heard about the players he supposedly recruited!

[Buckeyex7x]

BMR Hands Down. JR has the stats to prove it! no one has dun what he has:1:

[.B.A.L.L.I.N.]

COACH RUNYON!!!! :letsparty

[BlueChipper]

I agree that stats speak for themselves as well as titles and winning records. But for Casey at Belfry look at what he has built up from, he has taken the program and rebuilt from the ground and I think that says alot about the determination of the coaching staff as well as the young athletes pushing for success also. They are tying to make a name for Belfry basketball, and that is hard coming from a football dominated school.
Keep up the work BELFRY!

[mcfan1]

BMR, without a questionable doubt.

[Big Jim]

I agree that stats speak for themselves as well as titles and winning records. But for Casey at Belfry look at what he has built up from, he has taken the program and rebuilt from the ground and I think that says alot about the determination of the coaching staff as well as the young athletes pushing for success also. They are tying to make a name for Belfry basketball, and that is hard coming from a football dominated school.
Keep up the work BELFRY!

Can you tell me how many sweet sixteens or team basketball success paintsville had before Coach Runyon?

Can you tell me what sport Paintsville was known for before he became the head coach?

Not to take anything away from Casey, but I guess he's got a measuring stick.

[BlueChipper]

and..............
If you would read the post correctly, I am not slammin' anyone or in anyway defending or taking away, sir. I am just merely saying sometimes success doesn't always come in the form of a championship during the building years. I am not comparing Casey to any other talented, successful coaches here, I just said he has done alot for Belfry's program, that is it!:igiveup:

[StrikeoutKing]

What about Johnny Martin at Allen Central? The last few seasons have been down, but he had some pretty dandy teams in the early-mid 90s.

[HazzBeen]

Booher? Amazing what replacing a top 3 coach in the region after he develops a HUGE AMOUNT of talent and having the 2 best feeder schools in the 15th does to someone that no one wanted.


1 - Bill Mike Runyon - State title, and more region titles than anyone living
2 - David Rowe - does more with less, has anyone I have ever seen what his feeder schools do year in and year out - nothing


Randy Casey has to be mentioned somewhere too. To have the success that he has had at Belfry is to say something considering how low the program had sunk to be fore he got the job

I think the Head Coach is responsible for the feeder schools too. You can say what you want he is a good coach. He just about beat PLD tonight and should have if not for a few mistakes. Yes he has talent but a coach must develope that talent and make them work together. If you watch a SV game they play together and pass better than most teams in the state. Coaches as well as players are responsible for that. I have heard you bash Coach Booher on all these web sites now for three years since he was at Belfry Next. Get over it.

[BeaverCreek Connection]

Who has he recruited - accoring to your sources?

I will not name names at this time. But if you want to push the issue it could be very embarrising for some folks. After the season is over, then I will tell you what I know. I realize that recruiting is a harsh word, but you of all people know that when a school basically has pick of City and County and surrounding County players for years then you are going to have good teams. Maybe a better word would be Key "transfers" over the years. I give coach Runyon credit for his longevity and success and a great program. But, I do not believe he is the best coach in the region. I believe he is a good coach whom has been blessed with some of the most talented players that ever came out out of the mountains. You can be the best coach in the world, but without the players to get the job done you dont win the Sweet Sixteen. IMO the best coach is a coach whom may not have the best of players year in year out but always gets the most out of them. JMO

[J. R. VanHoose]

I do not believe he is the best coach in the region. I believe he is a good coach whom has been blessed with some of the most talented players that ever came out out of the mountains. You can be the best coach in the world, but without the players to get the job done you dont win the Sweet Sixteen. IMO the best coach is a coach whom may not have the best of players year in year out but always gets the most out of them. JMO

I agree with you on that, you must have talented players to win big games. But a great coach must be able to devlop, mold, and blend talented players with each other to create a successful team. Talented players are not what win state championships, talented "teams" win. From my experiences you can have all the talent in the world, but without someone to guide you, make you work hard everyday, and motivate you to be the best that you can, you are just a talented player - not a successful talented player. For me, Coach Runyon made me the player that I was in high school. I attended pratices ever since my father started helping him when I was in the 4th grade and I watched and learned and knew what was expected of me. I had to work hard every day, was I good, yes, did Coach let me take days off because I was good - HELL NO!!! I probably got yelled at and had my mistakes pointed out more than anyone, did I say "wait coach, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be so successful?" No, I took the criticisim as motivation, pushed my self into not making the same mistakes, and became a better player. All of us on the teams that I was on did that. I will never forget the day Coach Rick Pitino and Manager Bill Keightly from Kentucky came to watch Todd Tackett and I practice at Paintsville one day in December 1997. Sitting there after practice within ear shot of Coach Pitino I heard him to say to Mr. Keightly, "That was the most organized and productive practice I have seen a high school coach put his team through in a long time."

Coach made us practice our fundamentals every day, he made us work harder than other teams every day, he made us into the teams that allowed us to be successful. Practices are where games are won and lost and Coach is the best at what he does. Not only does he prepare his teams for games and basketball, he prepared us for life after high school. Because of his teachings I was as prepared as anyone to play college basketball. I was taught to believe in myself, and not let anyone think that they were better than me (not just in basketball, but in life in general). That helped me through many rough games at Marshall and in my professional career. What many people don;t realize is that coach is not just a coach, he is one of the best psycologists around. He can motivate like no one I have ever seen.

Just because a coach has a team full of talent doesn't make him any less of a coach, it is what he does with it that makes him a great coach. I know in my heart of hearts that if it was not for the guidance, knowledge, and motivation I recieved from Coach Runyon, I would have not been the player that I was!!

[NEXT]

I think the Head Coach is responsible for the feeder schools too. You can say what you want he is a good coach. He just about beat PLD tonight and should have if not for a few mistakes. Yes he has talent but a coach must develope that talent and make them work together. If you watch a SV game they play together and pass better than most teams in the state. Coaches as well as players are responsible for that. I have heard you bash Coach Booher on all these web sites now for three years since he was at Belfry Next. Get over it.

At one time you are correct, I did bash him.

Not anymore though, I just don't thinkn he is worthy of being in the coaching elite just yet.

[The Governor]

I will not name names at this time. But if you want to push the issue it could be very embarrising for some folks. After the season is over, then I will tell you what I know. I realize that recruiting is a harsh word, but you of all people know that when a school basically has pick of City and County and surrounding County players for years then you are going to have good teams. Maybe a better word would be Key "transfers" over the years. I give coach Runyon credit for his longevity and success and a great program. But, I do not believe he is the best coach in the region. I believe he is a good coach whom has been blessed with some of the most talented players that ever came out out of the mountains. You can be the best coach in the world, but without the players to get the job done you dont win the Sweet Sixteen. IMO the best coach is a coach whom may not have the best of players year in year out but always gets the most out of them. JMO

The best coach is the one who can coach the most talent and still succeed -- much different as far as pressure on the team to produce, etc.

[Homer Simpson]

Bmr

[HazzBeen]

At one time you are correct, I did bash him.

Not anymore though, I just don't thinkn he is worthy of being in the coaching elite just yet.

This year so far, he is the top coach. All time, not even close. Don't act like no one wanted him either. If he can last at SV, than he could make it anywhere. Yes you still bash him.

[HazzBeen]

I agree with you on that, you must have talented players to win big games. But a great coach must be able to devlop, mold, and blend talented players with each other to create a successful team. Talented players are not what win state championships, talented "teams" win. From my experiences you can have all the talent in the world, but without someone to guide you, make you work hard everyday, and motivate you to be the best that you can, you are just a talented player - not a successful talented player. For me, Coach Runyon made me the player that I was in high school. I attended pratices ever since my father started helping him when I was in the 4th grade and I watched and learned and knew what was expected of me. I had to work hard every day, was I good, yes, did Coach let me take days off because I was good - HELL NO!!! I probably got yelled at and had my mistakes pointed out more than anyone, did I say "wait coach, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be so successful?" No, I took the criticisim as motivation, pushed my self into not making the same mistakes, and became a better player. All of us on the teams that I was on did that. I will never forget the day Coach Rick Pitino and Manager Bill Keightly from Kentucky came to watch Todd Tackett and I practice at Paintsville one day in December 1997. Sitting there after practice within ear shot of Coach Pitino I heard him to say to Mr. Keightly, "That was the most organized and productive practice I have seen a high school coach put his team through in a long time."

Coach made us practice our fundamentals every day, he made us work harder than other teams every day, he made us into the teams that allowed us to be successful. Practices are where games are won and lost and Coach is the best at what he does. Not only does he prepare his teams for games and basketball, he prepared us for life after high school. Because of his teachings I was as prepared as anyone to play college basketball. I was taught to believe in myself, and not let anyone think that they were better than me (not just in basketball, but in life in general). That helped me through many rough games at Marshall and in my professional career. What many people don;t realize is that coach is not just a coach, he is one of the best psycologists around. He can motivate like no one I have ever seen.

Just because a coach has a team full of talent doesn't make him any less of a coach, it is what he does with it that makes him a great coach. I know in my heart of hearts that if it was not for the guidance, knowledge, and motivation I recieved from Coach Runyon, I would have not been the player that I was!!

Great Post!! Great players don't always make a team.

[The Guru]

Runyon, without a doubt or hesitation.

[NEXT]

This year so far, he is the top coach. All time, not even close. Don't act like no one wanted him either. If he can last at SV, than he could make it anywhere. Yes you still bash him.

Like I said, at one time I did bash him, but I have a new found respect for the coaching profession, so no more bashing from me on any coach.

[Pirates~R~Us]

[QUOTE=J. R. VanHoose]I agree with you on that, you must have talented players to win big games. But a great coach must be able to devlop, mold, and blend talented players with each other to create a successful team. Talented players are not what win state championships, talented "teams" win. From my experiences you can have all the talent in the world, but without someone to guide you, make you work hard everyday, and motivate you to be the best that you can, you are just a talented player - not a successful talented player. For me, Coach Runyon made me the player that I was in high school. I attended pratices ever since my father started helping him when I was in the 4th grade and I watched and learned and knew what was expected of me. I had to work hard every day, was I good, yes, did Coach let me take days off because I was good - HELL NO!!! I probably got yelled at and had my mistakes pointed out more than anyone, did I say "wait coach, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be so successful?" No, I took the criticisim as motivation, pushed my self into not making the same mistakes, and became a better player. All of us on the teams that I was on did that. I will never forget the day Coach Rick Pitino and Manager Bill Keightly from Kentucky came to watch Todd Tackett and I practice at Paintsville one day in December 1997. Sitting there after practice within ear shot of Coach Pitino I heard him to say to Mr. Keightly, "That was the most organized and productive practice I have seen a high school coach put his team through in a long time."

Coach made us practice our fundamentals every day, he made us work harder than other teams every day, he made us into the teams that allowed us to be successful. Practices are where games are won and lost and Coach is the best at what he does. Not only does he prepare his teams for games and basketball, he prepared us for life after high school. Because of his teachings I was as prepared as anyone to play college basketball. I was taught to believe in myself, and not let anyone think that they were better than me (not just in basketball, but in life in general). That helped me through many rough games at Marshall and in my professional career. What many people don;t realize is that coach is not just a coach, he is one of the best psycologists around. He can motivate like no one I have ever seen.

Just because a coach has a team full of talent doesn't make him any less of a coach, it is what he does with it that makes him a great coach. I know in my heart of hearts that if it was not for the guidance, knowledge, and motivation I recieved from Coach Runyon, I would have not been the player that I was!![/QUOTE/]

SOOOOOO TRUE----WONDERFUL POST :Clap: :Thumbs:

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

I agree with you on that, you must have talented players to win big games. But a great coach must be able to devlop, mold, and blend talented players with each other to create a successful team. Talented players are not what win state championships, talented "teams" win. From my experiences you can have all the talent in the world, but without someone to guide you, make you work hard everyday, and motivate you to be the best that you can, you are just a talented player - not a successful talented player. For me, Coach Runyon made me the player that I was in high school. I attended pratices ever since my father started helping him when I was in the 4th grade and I watched and learned and knew what was expected of me. I had to work hard every day, was I good, yes, did Coach let me take days off because I was good - HELL NO!!! I probably got yelled at and had my mistakes pointed out more than anyone, did I say "wait coach, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be so successful?" No, I took the criticisim as motivation, pushed my self into not making the same mistakes, and became a better player. All of us on the teams that I was on did that. I will never forget the day Coach Rick Pitino and Manager Bill Keightly from Kentucky came to watch Todd Tackett and I practice at Paintsville one day in December 1997. Sitting there after practice within ear shot of Coach Pitino I heard him to say to Mr. Keightly, "That was the most organized and productive practice I have seen a high school coach put his team through in a long time."

Coach made us practice our fundamentals every day, he made us work harder than other teams every day, he made us into the teams that allowed us to be successful. Practices are where games are won and lost and Coach is the best at what he does. Not only does he prepare his teams for games and basketball, he prepared us for life after high school. Because of his teachings I was as prepared as anyone to play college basketball. I was taught to believe in myself, and not let anyone think that they were better than me (not just in basketball, but in life in general). That helped me through many rough games at Marshall and in my professional career. What many people don;t realize is that coach is not just a coach, he is one of the best psycologists around. He can motivate like no one I have ever seen.

Just because a coach has a team full of talent doesn't make him any less of a coach, it is what he does with it that makes him a great coach. I know in my heart of hearts that if it was not for the guidance, knowledge, and motivation I recieved from Coach Runyon, I would have not been the player that I was!!

i honestly think that may be one of the most inspiring and respectful posts i have ever seen on BGR...