[Real Badman]

Who are the greatest coaches to coach in the mountains, past and present?

[samson81]

There's one name that immediately comes to mind, but I'll let a certain prominent fan base on this site jump on that one. irateSho

How about a blast from the past? The late, great Ed Miracle. Led Lynch East Main to eight state championship games between '59 & '71, winning four('59, '60, '63 & '68). Made five consecutive title game appearances('59-'63) in the old three class system.

[Big Five-0-]

The H factor of the mountains.
Hillard Howard--Pikeville
Phillip Haywood--Belfry
Mike Holcomb--Breathitt Co.
Dudley Hilton--Bell Co.

Past & present.

[Big Five-0-]

There's one name that immediately comes to mind, but I'll let a certain prominent fan base on this site jump on that one. irateSho

How about a blast from the past? The late, great Ed Miracle. Led Lynch East Main to eight state championship games between '59 & '71, winning four('59, '60, '63 & '68). Made five consecutive title game appearances('59-'63) in the old three class system.

Ed Miracle was one of the all time greats. Probably the first to bring a championship back to the mountains? I've done business in the Lynch area for years, and heard a lot of good comments about those great Lynch Bull dogs during their glory days.

[1/4bak]

Archie Powers (CORBIN) 1976 & 1980 state champs 1977 runner-up losing by 1 point to Mayfield

[pjdoug]

Archie Powers (CORBIN) 1976 & 1980 state champs 1977 runner-up losing by 1 point to Mayfield

Larry "Cotton" Adams is another Corbin coach that could be added to the list?

[1/4bak]

Ed Miracle Lynch
Phillip Haywood Belfry
Hillard Howard Pikeville
Mike Halcomb Breathitt
Archie Powers Corbin
Dudley Hilton Bell- Bourbon
Mark Dixon Hazard
Cotton Adams Corbin
Hines Pulaski
Tom Larkey Rockcastle - Harlan

[pjdoug]

Ken Roark

[samson81]

1. Philip Haywood, Belfry/Prestonsburg - 4 titles/6 runner-ups - 389 wins(#1 all time)

2. Ed Miracle, Lynch/Madison Central - 4 titles/4 runner-ups

3. Hillard Howard, Pikeville - 3 titles/2 runner-ups - 244 wins - Coached the states first three-peat champion

4. Dudley Hilton, Bell Co./Bourbon Co. - 3 titles - 349 wins(#2 all time)

5. Mike Holcomb, Breathitt Co./Letcher Co. Central - 3 titles/1 runner-up - 285 wins

6. Archie Powers, Corbin - 2 titles/1 runner-up

7. Tom Larkey, Rockcastle Co./Harlan Co. - 2 runner-ups - 292 wins

8. Walter Brugh, Paintsville - 2 runner-ups - 280 wins

9. Jim Matney, Sheldon Clark/Johnson Central - Great coach for a long time. Couldn't clear the Highlands/CovCath hurdle, but best days might still be ahead of him.

10. Mark Dixon, Hazard - 1 title/2 runner-ups

Is Somerset considered a mountain school? If so, John Cain deserves to at least be mentioned.

I'm admittedly not an expert on mountain football. This is just my two cents.

[pjdoug]

Roy Kidd should also be high on the list.

[Real Badman]

10. Tom Larkey - Rockcastle Co./Harlan Co./Perry Co. Central
9. Jim Matney - Sheldon Clark/Johnson Central
8. Walter Brugh - Paintsville
7. Jack Hall - Elkhorn City/Betsy Layne/Fleming Neon
6. Archie Powers - Corbin
5. Mike Holcomb - Breathitt Co./Letcher Co. Central
4. Dudley Hilton - Breathitt Co./Bell Co./Bourbon Co./Taylor Co.
3. Ed Miracle - Lynch
2. Hillard Howard - Pikeville/Letcher Co. Central
1. Philip Haywood - Prestonsburg/Belfry

[TopCat]

1. Philip Haywood, Belfry/Prestonsburg - 4 titles/6 runner-ups - 389 wins(#1 all time)

2. Ed Miracle, Lynch/Madison Central - 4 titles/4 runner-ups

3. Hillard Howard, Pikeville - 3 titles/2 runner-ups - 244 wins - Coached the states first three-peat champion

4. Dudley Hilton, Bell Co./Bourbon Co. - 3 titles - 349 wins(#2 all time)

5. Mike Holcomb, Breathitt Co./Letcher Co. Central - 3 titles/1 runner-up - 285 wins

6. Archie Powers, Corbin - 2 titles/1 runner-up

7. Tom Larkey, Rockcastle Co./Harlan Co. - 2 runner-ups - 292 wins

8. Walter Brugh, Paintsville - 2 runner-ups - 280 wins

9. Jim Matney, Sheldon Clark/Johnson Central - Great coach for a long time. Couldn't clear the Highlands/CovCath hurdle, but best days might still be ahead of him.

10. Mark Dixon, Hazard - 1 title/2 runner-ups

Is Somerset considered a mountain school? If so, John Cain deserves to at least be mentioned.

I'm admittedly not an expert on mountain football. This is just my two cents.

Looks about right to me. Well done:Thumbs:

[Sportsfanatic2015]

John Cain should def. be in conversation. Ed Miracle was a name I heard before I knew much about football.

[Warrior 2002]

10. Tom Larkey - Rockcastle Co./Harlan Co./Perry Co. Central
9. Jim Matney - Sheldon Clark/Johnson Central
8. Walter Brugh - Paintsville
7. Jack Hall - Elkhorn City/Betsy Layne/Fleming Neon
6. Archie Powers - Corbin
5. Mike Holcomb - Breathitt Co./Letcher Co. Central
4. Dudley Hilton - Breathitt Co./Bell Co./Bourbon Co./Taylor Co.
3. Ed Miracle - Lynch
2. Hillard Howard - Pikeville/Letcher Co. Central
1. Philip Haywood - Prestonsburg/Belfry

Take off Matney (for sure) and possibly Lackey or Hall and add Bill Music and Chuke Williams and the list would be perfect in my opinion.

[jim rome]

Since he is at South Western now, and South Western in considered a mountain team by many, Larry French is definitely top 5. :trolldad:

[pjdoug]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Kidd at least a couple of them need taken off and add Roy Kidd.

[pjdoug]

Since he is at South Western now, and South Western in considered a mountain team by many, Larry French is definitely top 5. :trolldad:

When I'm at Southwestern there isn't a mountain in sight. hills are rare.:truestory:

[Big Five-0-]

10. Tom Larkey - Rockcastle Co./Harlan Co./Perry Co. Central
9. Jim Matney - Sheldon Clark/Johnson Central
8. Walter Brugh - Paintsville
7. Jack Hall - Elkhorn City/Betsy Layne/Fleming Neon
6. Archie Powers - Corbin
5. Mike Holcomb - Breathitt Co./Letcher Co. Central
4. Dudley Hilton - Breathitt Co./Bell Co./Bourbon Co./Taylor Co.
3. Ed Miracle - Lynch
2. Hillard Howard - Pikeville/Letcher Co. Central
1. Philip Haywood - Prestonsburg/Belfry

I would defiantly add Jack Hall to the list. First to bring a trophy back to Pike Co., and great Coach. I thought about him earlier, and you beat me to it. Lol !

[HCS]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Kidd at least a couple of them need taken off and add Roy Kidd.

I'm a big Kidd fan and EKU grad, but how does Kidd get to be ranked among the top MOUNTAIN coaches? All his great teams were in Richmond.

[pjdoug]

I'm a big Kidd fan and EKU grad, but how does Kidd get to be ranked among the top MOUNTAIN coaches? All his great teams were in Richmond.

Well I cant argue with that but he was an All American player at Corbin and if Somerset is in the mountains Richmond is too lol

[Gitback Coach]

If you're west of I-75, you're not in the mountains. Sorry, Pulaski (and Rockcastle).

[HCS]

Mountains are basketball/baseball regions 13-15, in my opinion..

[pjdoug]

If you're west of I-75, you're not in the mountains. Sorry, Pulaski (and Rockcastle).

McCreary County has mountains but not Pulaski County.

[pjdoug]

Mountains are basketball/baseball regions 13-15, in my opinion..

and not all those teams are in the mountains lol

[Real Badman]

I forgot to put Ivan McGlone in there somewhere

[samson81]

I forgot to put Ivan McGlone in there somewhere

Don't sweat it. Russell's definitely not a mountain school. The greater Ashland area has some hills, but no mountains. I guess you could say Coach McGlone is the greatest "hill" coach of all time, lol.

[HCS]

and not all those teams are in the mountains lol

It's the best definition I've seen. Which ones aren't in the mountains?
When compared to Harlan and Letcher, most counties don't have much as far as mountains.

[HCS]

Take off Matney (for sure) and possibly Lackey or Hall and add Bill Music and Chuke Williams and the list would be perfect in my opinion.

Bill Musick was a great coach at Evarts and did a good job at Johnson Central, but there's no way he goes in ahead of Larkey as far as all-time coaching greats. I don't know Williams' record as well, but I doubt he would be ahead of Larkey either.

[samson81]

I'd put Chuke Williams as an honorable mention. He had a great run in Louisa, especially from '97-'99. I don't know what his career record was, but with no titles(or runner-ups) and a relative lack of longevity, I can't justify putting him above anyone on my list.

[pjdoug]

Don't sweat it. Russell's definitely not a mountain school. The greater Ashland area has some hills, but no mountains. I guess you could say Coach McGlone is the greatest "hill" coach of all time, lol.

Bowling Green could be called a hill school lol