[Hopalong]

With legendary coaches Haywood and Matney now gone, say you were an AD at a Highschool with a football program which had to be built from the ground up. You can only hire from active Head Coaches from the mountains. Who would be your top five candidates is n order and why ?

[Old School 18]

With legendary coaches Haywood and Matney now gone, say you were an AD at a Highschool with a football program which had to be built from the ground up. You can only hire from active Head Coaches from the mountains. Who would be your top five candidates is n order and why ?

1. Larry French
2. Chris McNamee
3. Dud Hilton
4. Mathew Chandler
5. John Hines

[Hopalong]

That is five good ones, I myself would probably have Hilton nd Hines a little bit higher. Mac would be my first interview on that list .

[Old School 18]

That is five good ones, I myself would probably have  Hilton nd Hines a little bit higher. Mac would be my first interview on that list .

Ill be the first to tell you I'm bias when it comes to French because of being a yellow jacket fan and due to what I watched him bring us back from. I couldn't argue with someone who has a different opinion as long as he's one of your top 5.

[SmashMouth17]

Due to age I would not be able to hire Dudley or French. While there resume coaching is legendary if I am to hire to rebuild a program from the bottom up realistically it would take longer than 1-3 years and I doubt either coach has that long left.

---

My top 2 candidates would be
either:

1. Chris Larkey
2. John Hines

Chris has already done this rebuild two times both successfully. In his first head coaching job he took NL a program who never had more than just a couple wins a season for over 20 year stretch prior to his arrival and turned them around into a contender. Took them to the playoffs multiple times and won playoff games. He has already turned Rockcastle back around in just 4 completed seasons heading into his 5th this year.

John Hines has a state title and numerous runner ups in his 25 year stretch with Pulaski. Now at South Laurel in year one he has already made a difference and looking to take another step in the right direction in year 2.

If neither of those coaches work out try Chris mcnamee.

All 3 coaches are young enough and experienced enough to build a program i believe.

[Medusa]

1. Coach Hilton - Bell
2. Coach Salmons - Corbin
3. Coach Macnamee - Pikeville
4. Coach French - Mboro
5. Coach Matthew’s - Letcher

[The Source EKy]

I would have to go with:
1. McNamee at Pikeville
2. Salmons at Raceland
3. Hilton at Bell County
4. Chandler at Hazard
5. Jarrel at Betsy Layne

what numbers 4 and 5 have done with their programs (turnarounds) are highly inmpressive
DUdley is one of the last legends left
Salmons is a great football coach
Macnamee - well, results speak volumes.

[Gridiron_Raid]

1. Mcnamee
2. Larkey
3. Hines
4. Dudley
5. Chandler

Dudley would be right up there but you have to factor in age. If this was Dudley in his 60s, its not even a question.
I want yall to really look into the amount passion and fundraising that Mcnamee has flowing at Pikeville, any program in the mountains would thrive with a coach that knows how to get the boosters involved. I mean a Jordan sponsership?? They are getting people to come to a practice at midnight on a thursday night in august.
Larkey is young, and he straight revived a dying species at Rock. Passion is back and now they got a new field within 5 seasons being there. Hines can win anywhere and either this year or next with have South fighting in district title contention. It would not surprise me to see the Pulaski/South game being the district championship even if they get blown out, which would have been blasphemous to say 3 years ago.

Chandler took maybe one of the worst situations I had seen in a long time, and in one year they are completely turned around and this year really in the 1A hunt. 20 months ago Hazard was getting running clocked by williamsburg, letcher, and breathitt.

I will make my decision on Salmons after this year, he walked into a golden situation last year where anyone of us could have won 13 games. This year is the test of all tests and if he finds a way to make it back to thanksgiving with this roster I will have to put him up there with Mcnamee.

[Hopalong]

I agree with you all the way however regardless of the age factor... Dudley Hilton is a living legend and has more of what I need at this time and that is expirence from dealing with and winning the trust and respect of the young talent I'm going to need to keep at my school playing football if I expect to stop the descent to rock bottom and start the climb back towards respect and tradition.

[Hi Risk Warrior]

Hilton is the best, hands down!

[Westside]

As stated earlier, it is sad we are having this discussion without the goat Phillip Haywood and without Jim Matney.  I guess time marches on.
 
Has Salmons ever won a state title?  Chris McNamee has won 4.  There, I can't put Salmons ahead of him.  Dudley very good. 

[EKUAlum05]

Going to look at this a couple different ways: I am also going to cheat and make this Eastern Kentucky and not just the Mountains. Names may surprise people.. bear with me.

Path A we will call the Wolfe County approach. School has never had football, doesn't have a feeder program, it is a true ground up.
1. Tim Champlin- East Carter
2. Chris Larkey- Rockcastle County
3. Charles Matthews- Letcher Central
4. Alan Short- Lawrence County
5. Kyle Moore- Breathitt County

I am prioritizing a couple things here. This is going to be a long process. I need someone still with some youth but I also need someone with the patience to do this for the long haul. I also need someone to build a culture. I want my community to grow old with this coach. I am prioritizing someone who has either successfully pulled off a major rebuild or someone who has taken a school not used to success and grew them to a sustained level of success.

Why I choose these specific guys:
Champlin- I love what this guy stands for. I love what he has done at East Carter... and I love that he does it under the radar but takes pride in the incremental growth and improvement needed.
Larkey- He has rebuilt twice already and you know you are getting a culture of punching the timeclock and just getting to work.
Matthews- Letcher Central is not an easy place to show marked improvement. He has done that and he also plays a fun style of Offense that will get kids excited.
Short- Short was handed the keys to a program who ahs known high levels of succcess, but when he took it over it was as low as it had been in decades. He has won the community over and he has built a powerful feeder program.
Moore- People forget how low Breathitt was... not just on the field.. but the entire school district was in deep mud. For as handicapped as he was he got Breathitt back to competing and winning.



Path B- We will call this the Harlan County path. This is a consolidated or newly formed school in an area where at least the kids have learned to put their pads on.

1. Chris McNamee- Pikeville
2. Mark Dixon- Hazard
3. Michael Salmons- Raceland
4. Clay Clevenger- Somerset
5. Dudley Hilton- Bell County

The priority here changes a little. This is about instant stability, instant results, but long term steady progress, with a goal of a title at the end of the rainbow. I want a coach who gets people excited in the community and a coach who talent wants to come in and play for. I want a coach who can be a CEO. I also want some long term potential here.

Why I chose these specific guys:
McNamee- He still has good years ahead, but he checks every box I prioritize. He will market, draw talent, win games, win big games, instantly gel your feeder program, and get boosters ready to write checks.
Dixon- As steady as they come. He knows how to run a program and knows how to level up a program. He still has plenty of hunt left in him.
Salmons- Raceland. Still early in his coaching tenure but a massive forward trajectory. He has Raceland all in as a community and is doing just fine at fundraising and having talent want to play for him. Has proven he can get you to Thanksgiving or later.
Clevenger- Everyone forgets about him and the Danville situation was odd and sad. We saw what he meant to Danville and he got a ring there. I think he will be just fine in Bunny land.
Hilton- 10 years ago he is #1. There isn't anythign Dudley hasn't done already. He still has some tricks up his sleeve... but you don't know how much longer he can sustain it for. We also see that when Dudley leaves it hurts... I want a coach building something that can be passed on.

Surprising Omissions:
Hines- Nothing against him and he is still a monster on the sidelines. My critique is he has hinted about retirmenet and I get the impression he is a little prickly to work with. I need a coach who is bought in side by side.

Salmons (Corbin)- Still in wait and see mode. He has proven he can do very good things but he has needed to be set up in the perfect situation. His tenure at Lawrence County worries me if we are talking about starting something fresh. His last two jobs have been a stocked Corbin job and the largest school in WV. Even then he had some big misses at Cabell Midland around some big success.

French- Great coach... but he is discount Dudley. You get all the age but without quite the same success.

[Real Badman]

Hogwash of a question. The coaches who are the best are the one with the better players. Any functioning adult with proper football IQ and a teaching pedagogy who are committed will win. The best coaches are the ones who take 1-9 talent and win 5 games with them.

I'll die on the hill that Donny Daniels was one of the best coach in the mountains. Just because South Floyd didn't win a state championship doesn't make him less of a coach. The same is said for anyone in that boat.

[EastKYeagle]

1. Matthew Chandler Hazard
2. Chris McNamee Pikeville 
3. Dudley Hilton Bell County 
4. Luke Salmons Corbin 
5. Michael Salmons Raceland  

If I were to build my program from the ground up i would pick Chandler. He has turned the Bulldogs from losing record to 1a contenders

[dodger]

I can't argue many of these selections, but surprised Jerry Herron from Williamsburg hasn't gotten any mention. He's a Yellow Jacket to the core and has stayed at his alma mater for his whole career, but to maintain a solid program with just okay resources and reach two state championship games says something. He's done a great job of mixing the old school physical nature from the 80's Williamsburg program with the spread attack that Jim Black brought in the early 00's.

[Hopalong]

You know Dodger, if I'm A D somewhere else I may not get him to leave Wburg but he is probably my first choice. He would be a smart hire for a larger school wanting to get better.

[Shogun]

Hogwash of a question. The coaches who are the best are the one with the better players. Any functioning adult with proper football IQ and a teaching pedagogy who are committed will win. The best coaches are the ones who take 1-9 talent and win 5 games with them.

I'll die on the hill that Donny Daniels was one of the best coach in the mountains. Just because South Floyd didn't win a state championship doesn't make him less of a coach. The same is said for anyone in that boat.

This is what keeps me from putting Larry French on a pedestal. For at least the past 20 years, he’s stepped into some great situations to make himself look better than he is. I have no doubt that Robbie Lucas would have had the same success at Lincoln if he was given the time. Boyle County was recovering in the post-Chuck Smith era, but having Lamar Dawson on your team doesn’t hurt. Southwestern was bad under Stephens, but the underclassmen when French stepped in had won multiple state titles at the middle school level. Middlesboro always has some talent, and their schedule softened significantly after French took the helm. I’m not saying the guy can’t coach. He clearly knows what to do with talent when he has it, but he’s not a program builder like some of the other guys being mentioned, and his name definitely doesn’t deserve to be up there with some of the all time greats.

[jetpilot]

1. Matthew Chandler Hazard
2. Chris McNamee Pikeville 
3. Dudley Hilton Bell County 
4. Luke Salmons Corbin 
5. Michael Salmons Raceland  

If I were to build my program from the ground up i would pick Chandler. He has turned the Bulldogs from losing record to 1a contenders

Whoa pump the brakes a tad there hoss! I like what Chandler is doing but he lost 3 games to Raceland and Pikeville last year by a combined 101-14 and doesn't yet have a win over a good Class A team. I think he will bring Hazard back but way too early to put him on the list, much less at #1.

[jetpilot]

As stated earlier, it is sad we are having this discussion without the goat Phillip Haywood and without Jim Matney.  I guess time marches on.
 
Has Salmons ever won a state title?  Chris McNamee has won 4.  There, I can't put Salmons ahead of him.  Dudley very good. 

Actually 5 but your point is right on the money.

[pjdoug]

Due to age I would not be able to hire Dudley or French. While there resume coaching is legendary if I am to hire to rebuild a  program from the bottom up realistically it would take longer than 1-3 years and I doubt either coach has that long left.

---

My top 2 candidates would be
either:

1. Chris Larkey
2. John Hines

Chris has already done this rebuild two times both successfully. In his first head coaching job he took NL a program who never had more than just a couple wins a season for over 20 year stretch prior to his arrival and turned them around into a contender. Took them to the playoffs multiple times and won playoff games. He has already turned Rockcastle back around in just 4 completed seasons heading into his 5th this year.

John Hines has a state title and numerous runner ups in his 25 year stretch with Pulaski. Now at South Laurel in year one he has already made a difference and looking to take another step in the right direction in year 2.

If neither of those coaches work out try Chris mcnamee.

All 3 coaches are young enough and experienced enough to build a program i believe.

Larkey is mediocre at best.

[EastKYeagle]

1. Matthew Chandler Hazard
2. Chris McNamee Pikeville 
3. Dudley Hilton Bell County 
4. Luke Salmons Corbin 
5. Michael Salmons Raceland  

If I were to build my program from the ground up i would pick Chandler. He has turned the Bulldogs from losing record to 1a contenders

Whoa pump the brakes a tad there hoss! I like what Chandler is doing but he lost 3 games to Raceland and Pikeville last year by a combined 101-14 and doesn't yet have a win over a good Class A team. I think he will bring Hazard back but way too early to put him on the list, much less at #1.

I’m saying who i would build a program with today mainly. Mac is a clear number 1 but he will be done shortly. So will Hilton

[Big Five-0-]

1. Matthew Chandler Hazard
2. Chris McNamee Pikeville 
3. Dudley Hilton Bell County 
4. Luke Salmons Corbin 
5. Michael Salmons Raceland  

If I were to build my program from the ground up i would pick Chandler. He has turned the Bulldogs from losing record to 1a contenders

Whoa pump the brakes a tad there hoss! I like what Chandler is doing but he lost 3 games to Raceland and Pikeville last year by a combined 101-14 and doesn't yet have a win over a good Class A team. I think he will bring Hazard back but way too early to put him on the list, much less at #1.

I’m saying who i would build a program with today mainly. Mac is a clear number 1 but he will be done shortly. So will Hilton

Will be done shortly? Explain please.

[BEChargers]

Hogwash of a question. The coaches who are the best are the one with the better players. Any functioning adult with proper football IQ and a teaching pedagogy who are committed will win. The best coaches are the ones who take 1-9 talent and win 5 games with them.

I'll die on the hill that Donny Daniels was one of the best coach in the mountains. Just because South Floyd didn't win a state championship doesn't make him less of a coach. The same is said for anyone in that boat.

This is what keeps me from putting Larry French on a pedestal. For at least the past 20 years, he’s stepped into some great situations to make himself look better than he is. I have no doubt that Robbie Lucas would have had the same success at Lincoln if he was given the time. Boyle County was recovering in the post-Chuck Smith era, but having Lamar Dawson on your team doesn’t hurt. Southwestern was bad under Stephens, but the underclassmen when French stepped in had won multiple state titles at the middle school level. Middlesboro always has some talent, and their schedule softened significantly after French took the helm. I’m not saying the guy can’t coach. He clearly knows what to do with talent when he has it, but he’s not a program builder like some of the other guys being mentioned, and his name definitely doesn’t deserve to be up there with some of the all time greats.

I personally think Larry is a great coach.  I don't think the Lincoln job was a great situation before he got there.  Took them to the semi's.  Took Meade to the Finals.  I agree that the Boyle situation was good but he has won everywhere he has been.  With the recent passing of coach Haywood, Larry is now the #2 all time winning-est active HC in Ky.   Just don't think you luck into all of that.  We can disagree.