[The Eagle has landed]

So how do you know that? Maybe if they gave him that he would fell better about them working with him. I will say this again, if you get divorced 1 or 2 times you can blame your spouse, but S. Laurel needs to take a good hard look in the mirror!!! You cant even keep one of your own there what makes you think anybody will stay or anyone that has the creditals that you all need will want to come there. It might be all day weigths, hey BG and Trinity treat their coaches great BUT they also give them things so S. Laurel and many other schools aren't them, so what are you going to do to get that great coach to come there. Listen I am not trying to dog you all out I am just telling the truth you and many other schools are runner ups to Ms. County Fair some of these other schools are Ms. Kentucky so you better kill the talent part of the beauty pagent if you want to win. In other words you have to offer more to a coach than an established program. You just do, do you think Larue Co. just got EKU's DC by be petty about in school weight lifting?

[Fly Like a Duck]

LaRue County got EKU's DC because he is from there. Had been doing the college game for 20 years. Married. Two young kids. One on the way. Tired of traveling. He was just ready to come back home. And, obviously helped that he was coming into a situation where a whole freaking slew of young kids/talent are returning.. high numbers and involvement coming up and in across the board for that matter.

But, I totally understand what you are saying for sure.

[The Eagle has landed]

I am just guessing here but do you think they turned down any of the things he ask for?

[Fly Like a Duck]

South Laurel sounds to me like they have just had bad luck.

One coach leaves to take a college head coaching gig.

The next one leaves due to legit family reasons. Closer to family. Same county for that matter.

Grass isn't always greener...but, in those situations I'd say it is.

[walterwhite]

No dog in this fight, except for wanting kids to have the opportunity to play for a solid high school program. I don't understand why the powers that be won't take a look at Michael Sizemore. He has done a good job of building a program at Bracken County. Not many wins, but you have to consider what he started with. By all counts he has done a fine job. Who knows, he might not even be interested in the South job. No kin, not even a close friend. I just see a common sense answer to the situation. Sometimes the obvious answer is ignored.

[Fly Like a Duck]

I am just guessing here but do you think they turned down any of the things he ask for?

A lot of things were already in place there as is; in school weights was one of them and multiple periods of it. Assistant coaches in the building who were also teammates with him in high school and still friends. The AD and he were even college teammates and roommates, on top of growing up together.

[The Eagle has landed]

And listen I am truly not ripping on SL because they are like 200 and some other schools in this state they just don't get it at the admin levels. If you want to win ballgames you have to make it attractive to Mr. GQ!! Oh you might take a chance on a guy that has been an asst coach and he might become the man there but even then he is going to ask for more and when it doesn't happen he is going to roll for a better job, at least if he is smart. Because those same people slapping him on the back one year will be putting a knife in it the next. And that is not saying bad things about SL but that my friends is everywhere. In basketball 1 man can coach the whole team, 13 or 15 players 5 playing at a time but in football you better have some dang good asst and that is where I think admin don't get it because we live in hoopsville and they think "well basketball doesn't need 7 coaches". They just don't get it. Go south where they understand the game and you will see, it takes a major commitment to be competitive much less real good.

[The Eagle has landed]

No dog in this fight, except for wanting kids to have the opportunity to play for a solid high school program. I don't understand why the powers that be won't take a look at Michael Sizemore. He has done a good job of building a program at Bracken County. Not many wins, but you have to consider what he started with. By all counts he has done a fine job. Who knows, he might not even be interested in the South job. No kin, not even a close friend. I just see a common sense answer to the situation. Sometimes the obvious answer is ignored.

Here is the deal with that, do you not think people would look at his record and want the heads of the people that hired a guy that doesn't or has very few wins. He aint getting the SL job with those stats because I would guess I head coach with wins will apply.

[Fly Like a Duck]

^^Unless they are out of a job, I'd be really shocked and would gladly eat a huge plate of crow if they hire a HC with any kind of track record.

McCracken County, which many consider to now be the best job in WKY just hired a guy who had most recently been an OC in Georgia, but before that had been a HC at a school in West TN for 5 years (Obion Central) & he'd only won ONE playoff game, and had an O'fer and Two win season.

I would be absolutely FLOORED if South Laurel snags a big name. FLOORED.

[Cards93]

Me too!

[Fly Like a Duck]

Eagle..you and I are on the same page, though. There is so much behind the scenes that define a succesful program.

Has anybody read Coach Haywood's book yet? If it's not a floor plan for all head coaches, their SCHOOLS and their COMMUNITIES, I don't know what is.

I've already mentioned them in the 'school weights' talk, but in the spring of 2012....a buddy of mine and I went decided to go up through the mountains to golf (or should I say, attempt to play). We stopped in at Wasioto Winds, made our way up through Stonecrest, played at the course just right outside of Jenkins (the name slips me) and made our way up to Yatesville Lake State Park.

...anyway, we made a pitstop one afternoon at Belfry on our way up to Yatesville/Lawrence County. We walked into Belfry's field house, and what do we see? Three of their assistant coaches in the office. No big deal, right? Well, come to find out....they all had the same lunch? Again, no big deal, right? Well..come to find out more, not only did they have the same lunch...but, it was the LAST LUNCH & they also had the same PLANNING which followed after that last lunch. Coach Haywood is one of the guidance counselors, and what are they largely in charge of? Scheduling. So here sat three or his coaches who were not only in the building, but had roughly 90 mins with each other everyday to meet during the season.

....oh, and to top it all off, we walk into the weight room and there is this thick built, good looking freshman who is sitting on one of the weight benches eating his lunch (a can of Tuna...I remember it like it was yesterday), his name? Austin Hatfield. HE HAD JUST finished up with WEIGHTS....in school weights...as a freshman.

[Fly Like a Duck]

I'm not exactly positive on the parental involvement, influence and overall general feel is at South, but my advice to them would be to follow the path of that school 3 miles up the road from them.

Talking about staying the course and allowing Chris Larkey to do what he does (by the way, a chapter in Coach Haywood's book is called that 'Do What We Do'). In his first three years, they only won 9-10 games. Their first playoff win didn't come until this past year (year 6 at the helm). It's a process, obviously...and, everybody there has bought in. It's old school football, but it's doing the dang job.

Which, I'm not so sure that wouldn't be a good change up for South. Go with somebody who has an old school, yet go for broke (somebody that is going to toss it around 10-12 times on average per game, but when they do, strike up the band) offensive mind set (Wing T, Wishbone, Flexion, SBV, etc).

SL has been spread, since Mumme ball first came about in our state back in the late 90's (with the exception of SL's 2013 team). The only time they have had success with it is with one guy who went onto star at Georgetown College (Warren) and a guy who broke freaking Tim Couch's records (Bowling). Those guys don't come around very often.

It's not about how many times you throw it, but how effective you are when you do it.

I've heard good things about the freshman at SL, Fultz.

[SLHSCard]

What about Matt Powenski, would he be an option? I don't know what the problem is but it seems the school obviously has something against the guy, He's been in the building there for a few years and should have been hired numerous times at SL by now IMO. Just get in 4 wide and pound it 50 times a game and throw the 10-12 passes, everybody loves the innovation and most wouldn't be the wiser.

[Real Badman]

I'm not exactly positive on the parental involvement, influence and overall general feel is at South, but my advice to them would be to follow the path of that school 3 miles up the road from them.

Talking about staying the course and allowing Chris Larkey to do what he does (by the way, a chapter in Coach Haywood's book is called that 'Do What We Do'). In his first three years, they only won 9-10 games. Their first playoff win didn't come until this past year (year 6 at the helm). It's a process, obviously...and, everybody there has bought in. It's old school football, but it's doing the dang job.

Which, I'm not so sure that wouldn't be a good change up for South. Go with somebody who has an old school, yet go for broke (somebody that is going to toss it around 10-12 times on average per game, but when they do, strike up the band) offensive mind set (Wing T, Wishbone, Flexion, SBV, etc).

SL has been spread, since Mumme ball first came about in our state back in the late 90's (with the exception of SL's 2013 team). The only time they have had success with it is with one guy who went onto star at Georgetown College (Warren) and a guy who broke freaking Tim Couch's records (Bowling). Those guys don't come around very often.

It's not about how many times you throw it, but how effective you are when you do it.

I've heard good things about the freshman at SL, Fultz.

It's always Coach Daddy and his assistants who want to run the FACEMELTER offense. This isn't just a problem at SL, but a problem nation wide. The idiots (I mean parents) who really don't know anything about football want to run NFL spread offenses, because they see it on t.v. They believe it's the incompetent coach's fault. Not to mention when a coach doesn't run the FACEMELTER offense, they think it hurts jimmy's scholarship to ALABAMA.

[Fly Like a Duck]

You are exactly right. The vast majority of them don't have a clue. Just concerned with Johnny Boy...as they should be, but what they don't realize is the way that they feel about Johnny on the field is how the HC and his staff feel about he x 60 others.

[Fly Like a Duck]

...and, in turn would help them defensively. Some coaches can blow smoke up others and their own ass all they want, but there is a big difference bt getting beat 28-7 than their is having 50 and 60 plus hung on you (and, your team still only hanging 7 or less).

[Real Badman]

...and, in turn would help them defensively. Some coaches can blow smoke up others and their own ass all they want, but there is a big difference bt getting beat 28-7 than their is having 50 and 60 plus hung on you (and, your team still only hanging 7 or less).

Coach Daddy doesn't know anything about defense. He doesn't know the difference between a 50 Slant w/ rolling coverage or 4-4 Cov2 robber. All he knows is what spotlights Junior in the facemelter offense.

[Fly Like a Duck]

Hilarious.

[walterwhite]

Here is the deal with that, do you not think people would look at his record and want the heads of the people that hired a guy that doesn't or has very few wins. He aint getting the SL job with those stats because I would guess I head coach with wins will apply.

I understand what you are saying. The really difficult part of this equation is the fact that they once hired a guy with a very poor track record as a head coach. Just a few miles across town to be exact. I just look at what he has done at one of the lowest bottom feeders in the state, and I'm not just talking wins and loses. He is building a feeder system (needed at South), he has got the younger kids interested in football (needed at South), he has developed a sound off season program (needed at South), and is familiar with the school, community, athletes and parents. Someone better just might apply, but don't hold your breath. And I might be beating a dead horse, because he might have zero interest in the South job. I'm just spouting off my opinion. Good luck to all concerned!

[SLHSCard]

Here is the deal with that, do you not think people would look at his record and want the heads of the people that hired a guy that doesn't or has very few wins. He aint getting the SL job with those stats because I would guess I head coach with wins will apply.

I am not so sure my good buddy, the heads haven't rolled before in the past at South Laurel and Mike has as good of a track record as Ledger, Irwin, Chappell, Welch, or Jackson at the point in their career when they were hired to coach at SL, in all honesty most of them didn't have any HC experience at all. Welch had success as an asst. at the rock, but rock was having success before him and has had success after, Chappell was struggling at PCC, I went to school with Irwin and he had just been an assistant at SL and turned out to the be the best of the bunch. Jackson was losing in Georgia with NFL/Div. 1 talent, hardly setting the world on fire.

Mike's record can absolutely be thrown out the window, most people don't realize he took over at a school that had something like 7-8 total wins in the ten years before he arrived. The guy has been stuck in a district with Paris, Eminence, and Frankfort not to mention having to play Beechwood in the first round every year of the playoffs since arriving at Bracken, I'm no rocket scientist but I am going to guess that any coach in the bluegrass would be losing to those teams if they were at Bracken as well, all of these are winning programs at the 1A level over the years. He has around half of the schools all time wins in only three seasons at the school and they have had football going on 15 years now. The dude has only had one assistant coach on his staff in his time at Bracken.

The guy has won more games the last three years at Bracken County than South Laurel has won in the last three years... put that in perspective, because I can assure you there is more talent, resources, etc. in London than there is where he as at.

With that being said, I doubt he's interested in South at this point in his career, but that's just coming from me, I know him personally but haven't talked to him since he was in London a month or two ago. I just don't think people realize what he's up against where he's at.

[Cards93]

Does he have Health/PE degree? If so, he has a chance..

[The Eagle has landed]

I understand what you are saying. The really difficult part of this equation is the fact that they once hired a guy with a very poor track record as a head coach. Just a few miles across town to be exact. I just look at what he has done at one of the lowest bottom feeders in the state, and I'm not just talking wins and loses. He is building a feeder system (needed at South), he has got the younger kids interested in football (needed at South), he has developed a sound off season program (needed at South), and is familiar with the school, community, athletes and parents. Someone better just might apply, but don't hold your breath. And I might be beating a dead horse, because he might have zero interest in the South job. I'm just spouting off my opinion. Good luck to all concerned!

I understand exactly what you are saying. But I would say he will have to have some wins under his belt, but maybe not. I am not against the guy but I would doubt they would hire someone that is a head coach that is young and doesn't have many wins. IMO HECK you never know he might turn out to be the best coach in the state.

[The Eagle has landed]

I am not so sure my good buddy, the heads haven't rolled before in the past at South Laurel and Mike has as good of a track record as Ledger, Irwin, Chappell, Welch, or Jackson at the point in their career when they were hired to coach at SL, in all honesty most of them didn't have any HC experience at all. Welch had success as an asst. at the rock, but rock was having success before him and has had success after, Chappell was struggling at PCC, I went to school with Irwin and he had just been an assistant at SL and turned out to the be the best of the bunch. Jackson was losing in Georgia with NFL/Div. 1 talent, hardly setting the world on fire.

Mike's record can absolutely be thrown out the window, most people don't realize he took over at a school that had something like 7-8 total wins in the ten years before he arrived. The guy has been stuck in a district with Paris, Eminence, and Frankfort not to mention having to play Beechwood in the first round every year of the playoffs since arriving at Bracken, I'm no rocket scientist but I am going to guess that any coach in the bluegrass would be losing to those teams if they were at Bracken as well, all of these are winning programs at the 1A level over the years. He has around half of the schools all time wins in only three seasons at the school and they have had football going on 15 years now. The dude has only had one assistant coach on his staff in his time at Bracken.

The guy has won more games the last three years at Bracken County than South Laurel has won in the last three years... put that in perspective, because I can assure you there is more talent, resources, etc. in London than there is where he as at.

With that being said, I doubt he's interested in South at this point in his career, but that's just coming from me, I know him personally but haven't talked to him since he was in London a month or two ago. I just don't think people realize what he's up against where he's at.

excellent points :Thumbs:

[Cards93]

Is SL Middle head coach in the mix for the Varsity job?

[Fly Like a Duck]

- New man will be the 4th coach in as many seasons.

- Graduated 14 seniors off a 2-8 team (one being a Senior QB who accounted for almost 2,000 yds of offense and 23 TD's, and two WR who accounted for 12 other TD's. So, almost 2/3 of the teams TD's....gone).

- 2015 Senior class to be of only 5.

- In a district with the defending 5A State Champions.

Despite all of that, for the right person, this can be a good job. Contrary to popular belief, there are coaches out there who are attracted to 'nowhere to go, but up' jobs. Expectations are great to have, no doubt, but there is also something to be said for taking over at places that will give you want you want (within reason), appreciate the good...the process...yet leave you alone.

The kicker in all of this is those last few things I mentioned in the last paragraph.

Whoever South snags, everybody better be 'All In' & understand this is going to be far from an overnight process. I wonder how many South fans realize that Johnny Hines had FIVE 3 wins or less seasons in his first 11 at Pulaski? My guess? Not many.

As my grandpa used to say......"It's hard to have Champagne taste with Beer money." Hines, Dudley, Holcomb, Larry French, Larkey, etc. aren't walking through that door.

[The Eagle has landed]

Great points!!!! Give a head coach what he needs and ask for. What would he need, when I say this some of you will put your principal hat on or your KY principal hat on and say #$%^^^ #@@^ #$%&& making excuse after excuse not to do what he ask for. Take that hat off and put on a southern principal hat for a min because this is what you need at SL if you want to have success and you can IF you will give a proven coach some things to come there. Keep in mind the post by SLHS Cards about the previous 5 coaches you have had and their head coaching records or lack of.
1. Weight lifting class offered every period of the day!
A. This will get more kids out because they will not have to stay after school everyday
B. It will also let him and kids see that your admin is taking football seriously. Which I think could be part of your problem there bc it is looked at as a school that doesn't take football seriously.
2. Give him a good schedule.
A. Don't give him all those bullcrap duties(dance,parking, hall, homeroom etc...), let him coach ball BC if you get the right guy he will out work everybody at the school and the BOE!
3. Let him bring in his staff!!!!
A. Yes this would be a must, he needs to bring in 2 or 3 (if not more)of his own guys and yes this means having them jobs in the building not at the elementary schools. Your coaches need to be recruiting the hallways all day long!!!! And they cant recruit the hallways if they aint in the building!!!!!
4. Pay
A. Yes you need to pay him and his coaches. Better than people you play pay their coaches. This will attract and keep coaches. Will it happen NO BC they would have to do it for NL and that is one of the bad things about a 2 or more county high school system.
B. Boosters should come up with some cash for him and his staff. Happens all the time in the south.
Just a few of the things they should do for the new head coach. Will they? Of course not and in 10 years after the next 3 or 4 head coaches have come and gone the message boards will be lighting up about what needs to be done at SL! Now I know there will be some getting all puffed up huffing and puffing "it is about education not sports". Well do away with athletics then if you are not going to do it right. WHY HALF ASS SOMETHING? WHY WHY WHY???? So many school systems do and they get the results they pay for.

[Cardfan1]

Athletes Are More Likely to Finish High School Than Non-Athletes

http://m.theatlantic.com/education/archi...es/283455/

[walterwhite]

Great points!!!! Give a head coach what he needs and ask for. What would he need, when I say this some of you will put your principal hat on or your KY principal hat on and say #$%^^^ #@@^ #$%&& making excuse after excuse not to do what he ask for. Take that hat off and put on a southern principal hat for a min because this is what you need at SL if you want to have success and you can IF you will give a proven coach some things to come there. Keep in mind the post by SLHS Cards about the previous 5 coaches you have had and their head coaching records or lack of.
1. Weight lifting class offered every period of the day!
A. This will get more kids out because they will not have to stay after school everyday
B. It will also let him and kids see that your admin is taking football seriously. Which I think could be part of your problem there bc it is looked at as a school that doesn't take football seriously.
2. Give him a good schedule.
A. Don't give him all those bullcrap duties(dance,parking, hall, homeroom etc...), let him coach ball BC if you get the right guy he will out work everybody at the school and the BOE!
3. Let him bring in his staff!!!!
A. Yes this would be a must, he needs to bring in 2 or 3 (if not more)of his own guys and yes this means having them jobs in the building not at the elementary schools. Your coaches need to be recruiting the hallways all day long!!!! And they cant recruit the hallways if they aint in the building!!!!!
4. Pay
A. Yes you need to pay him and his coaches. Better than people you play pay their coaches. This will attract and keep coaches. Will it happen NO BC they would have to do it for NL and that is one of the bad things about a 2 or more county high school system.
B. Boosters should come up with some cash for him and his staff. Happens all the time in the south.
Just a few of the things they should do for the new head coach. Will they? Of course not and in 10 years after the next 3 or 4 head coaches have come and gone the message boards will be lighting up about what needs to be done at SL! Now I know there will be some getting all puffed up huffing and puffing "it is about education not sports". Well do away with athletics then if you are not going to do it right. WHY HALF ASS SOMETHING? WHY WHY WHY???? So many school systems do and they get the results they pay for.

Great ideas but if you think all these things are going to happen at South all I can say is good luck with that. The money crunch most school districts are going through will certainly have a bearing on any spending. As far as boosters "coming up with cash for the coach and staff", I know it happens but technically is illegal by Redbook guidelines. In southeastern Kentucky school district jobs are like hens teeth in many cases. It's very difficult to bring in people and give them jobs when there's a stack of applicants that are from the area. I would love to see all the things you suggest take place, but I just don't see it. Untill something changes, schools have to truely do their homework and try to get the best coaches possible with what they have to work with. Not an easy task.

[The Eagle has landed]

That in my eyes is the problem. You don't give a head coach really the things that he needs to win and then when he doesn't they fire him.

[Thunder Lips]

Great ideas but if you think all these things are going to happen at South all I can say is good luck with that. The money crunch most school districts are going through will certainly have a bearing on any spending. As far as boosters "coming up with cash for the coach and staff", I know it happens but technically is illegal by Redbook guidelines. In southeastern Kentucky school district jobs are like hens teeth in many cases. It's very difficult to bring in people and give them jobs when there's a stack of applicants that are from the area. I would love to see all the things you suggest take place, but I just don't see it. Untill something changes, schools have to truely do their homework and try to get the best coaches possible with what they have to work with. Not an easy task.

There is the biggest problem with a lot of school districts. They are more interested in hiring "applicants from the area" than hiring the best applicant.