[Old School Hound]

OldSchoolHound, you sound like you have been personally affected by Keith…are you okay? 
#makeamericasofter

No, I had nothing personal against Keith. Even asked for his autograph once when he came to a Corbin game to scout. He graciously obliged me. Admittedly, I didn't like him much as a youngster growing up because of how he stormed the sidelines, hair disheveled , shirt out of his pants, ranting and raving, and intimidating opponents and referees.  But the biggest reason I didn't like him back then wasn't because he bullied his opposition and the referees. The reason I didn't like him is because his teams were so damned good and my team could never beat his. He had his loud, intimidating style but the bottomline is the guy was a winner and a helluva coach. As much as I despised him as a student and alum of an opposing 13th region school, I would have LOVED for him to have coached at my school. He was the kind of guy you hate if you are on the other team but you love if he is on your side. Nothing but respect for what he accomplished. True legend.

Quick story.  Went to the 13th region tourney at Clay in '94 .  Corbin played underdog Jackson County in the opening round. The game was one of the most incredible in region history. Corbin , with All-State guard, Tony Pietrowski,  was the tourney favorite, along with a great Harlan team.  The game ended with a Jackson County win in triple overtime. Both teams scored in triple digits. Pietrowski's HS playing career came to an end, as did Corbin's hopes for a run in the state tourney.  As the game ended, Bob Keith was several rows down below me waving his arms and pounding that legendary fist into the air in celebration. I just had to say something. When I saw he was by himself, I went down and said to the old coach, " Coach , what are you so happy about? You haven't won this thing."  He grinned and said , "Son, maybe I just did."  *mic drop*

He was right.  His team upset Harlan and then finished off Jackson County by twenty points in the finals to get another regional title.  RIP Coach.

It would be silly to mention most any coach in the same vein as Keith but the fact is, Clay's current coach seems like a nice man and is a pretty darn good ball coach. Lack of talent is a much bigger issue than lack of coaching.