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http://www.dailyindependent.com/localspo...htmlDouble Duty
Watkins in unique role at Rose Hill
By ROCKY STANLEY / The Independent
ASHLAND — It’s an ambitious task, to say the least.

That reality is not lost on Mark Watkins, who will coach both varsity basketball teams at Rose Hill Christian this season.

The Class A school competes in the 64th District.

Watkins has added the boys’ head coaching position to the girls’ job that he took on last year.

“I must be a little crazy for doing this,’’ Watkins said one afternoon between practices.

But the 44-year-old decided to accept the challenge, largely because of his passion for basketball and coaching the sport.

“I’ve spent half my life in the gym, so it’s not a big thing,’’ said Watkins, a former Russell High School standout who has several years of local coaching experience. “I always put in extra time with the kids anyway.’’

Watkins, who owns a contracting business, will be making area history. Girls high school basketball returned to Kentucky in 1975, and no other person has served as head coach of boys and girls teams simultaneously in the 16th Region.

Not that Watkins made a snap decision to become the first.

“The day they called and asked me to think about it, I didn’t sleep that night,’’ he said. “Literally, not at all.’’

Watkins agreed after being assured of the necessary help. Former Boyd County High School point guard C.L. Thompson, whose wife teaches at Rose Hill, has come on board as the top boys’ assistant. Thompson was already assisting with the girls’ team.

“C.L. has been a big help,’’ Watkins said. “He has a lot of knowledge and the kids respond to him well. We’re both on the same page with our coaching ... old-school guys you could say.’’

Along with Thompson, several other parents are volunteering time.

“These guys all stepped up,’’ Watkins said. “I didn’t have to ask them. There is plenty of support, and that makes the whole situation easier.’’

As for Rose Hill’s schedules this season, Watkins had to do some juggling so that he can be on the bench for every boys and girls game.

“It wasn’t bad,’’ he said. “We combined some into boy-girl doubleheaders. I think we have three of those, and changed one other game.’’

During the preseason, Rose Hill players typically practiced six days a week with boys and girls alternating workout times.

As a coach, Watkins said going back and forth between the two squads requires some adjusting on his part.

“It’s like shifting gears a little,’’ he said.

Both Rose Hill teams are in transition after losing key transfers, but Watkins is impressed with the players’ attitudes.

“We have a bunch of unselfish boys and girls,’’ he said. “We are going to see what happens. What I’ve found, with all the kids leaving, is that it’s brought the rest of them together.’’

Because of the double coaching load, Watkins admits there will probably be times this season when he is wondering if he is coming or going.

“No doubt,’’ he said. “The biggest thing I have to do is let my assistants do more.”