Western Indians Coach

[hbk2016]

Board changed.

[Joesouth]

Western doesnt need a new coach they have several sitting in the stands. Like a back seat driver maybe if everyone would keep to their own business and let the coach coach maybe they could keep a coach longer. Now I'm sure Heckie had his back seat drivers but nothing like this! I wish the best for Mr.Harrop and thought his teams played to the best of their abilities and always were respectable. I can't see why if winning the league title and two sectional titles were not enough I feel sorry for the next coach and who would want to coach at Western and take all this abuse. I don't blame Mr. Harrop for resigning.

[60ft.6in.]

JOESOUTH-

EXACTLY!

[Competitor]

I refuse to comment on the job that Coach Harrop did and wish him the best of luck in the future with whatever he decides to pursue.

I have heard the name of David Kight mentioned as the next possible head coach. With all the naysayers and coaches in the crowd maybe it is a bad place to coach. Some have said don't just give it to someone in the system, find the best coach out there. Just going to give you my opinion and you know what those are like, and everyone's got one.

I think Western should go get the "best coach they can find". And yes, that means not to just "hand" the job to Gabby or David. But I PROMISE you this, if you hire David Kight to run the boys basketball program, as Jim Tressel said, you WILL be PROUD of your team, both on the floor, in the classroom, and in the community. Will he win? People, winning is 2 things, first, is the coach making you proud of your team, record EXCLUDED? Players that play for David Kight WILL play their guts out and act in a manner both on and off the floor that you like to see from someone representing your school. 2nd is wins, and just about any coach, good or bad, will win games with the right "Johnnys and Joes" regardless of the "Xs and Os". Mark this down, David Kight will not only win the games you "should" win (which any coach should be able to do), but he will win games that you "shouldn't" win. And he will put a probuct on the floor that the fans of Western will be proud to say, "that's MY school".

[thecinderellapick]

I have no clue who the Board is going to hire to replace Harrop. I hope they select someone who will agree to rebuild the program because whether anyone wants to admit it or not, this program is headed into freefall. You may win half your games next season IF you hire a good knowledgeable coach. But if you think you can lose Vince Shanks & Bobbie Smithson and not feel the difference, you are crazy. Harrop did not try to look to the future of Western basketball. He took a team that was loaded with talent and went along for the ride. Many times it appeared that Kight was having to do the coaching anyway. The board needs to realize they need to select a candidate who will go to the elementary kids and get them started. They need to specify in his contract that they demand he have organized ball for the kids. They need to hire coaches for the junior high kids that know what they're doing. There is about to be a mass exodus of kids from Western. People that want the best for their kids are going to move on because they feel there is no one looking out for the best interest of the kids. And why on earth would Western hire Van Henry or Gabby Smith??? Why look backward?????? In order to pass the levy that built Western they used the slogan "Our kids deserve the best". Why not mean what you say. And voters, why not get a better school board while you're at it.

[Out of Bounds]

I have no clue who the Board is going to hire to replace Harrop. I hope they select someone who will agree to rebuild the program because whether anyone wants to admit it or not, this program is headed into freefall. You may win half your games next season IF you hire a good knowledgeable coach. But if you think you can lose Vince Shanks & Bobbie Smithson and not feel the difference, you are crazy. Harrop did not try to look to the future of Western basketball. He took a team that was loaded with talent and went along for the ride. Many times it appeared that Kight was having to do the coaching anyway. The board needs to realize they need to select a candidate who will go to the elementary kids and get them started. They need to specify in his contract that they demand he have organized ball for the kids. They need to hire coaches for the junior high kids that know what they're doing. There is about to be a mass exodus of kids from Western. People that want the best for their kids are going to move on because they feel there is no one looking out for the best interest of the kids. And why on earth would Western hire Van Henry or Gabby Smith??? Why look backward?????? In order to pass the levy that built Western they used the slogan "Our kids deserve the best". Why not mean what you say. And voters, why not get a better school board while you're at it.

Pretty good post CP. I agree that the coach needs to get involved in his Jr. High programs, but I think the board needs to make it "his" program. He should have input on all the coaches in the program. Not the bitty leagues, but 7th grade and up that are affiliated with Western. Most of the good programs around the coach has this input.

[Trooper]

I do know what basketball should look like

WC-Macy

I guess everyone who doesn't agree with you obviously has no idea what real basketball should look like.

What does basketball look like? Please, tell us.

[frank-n-beans]

Good luck in your coaching search, Indians. Wasn't really impressed with the previous coach but I wasn't privy with what actually went on there. I know they had too much talent to be ousted in the first round of the District. And many are giving the previous coach WAYYYY too much credit. With he talent he had his last year, I should have been watching the Indians hoist the trophy at the Final Four.

[basketball]

lol haha i bet they can find the correct answer at Thelma-Joes or that BP gas station!

[Out of Bounds]

Good luck in your coaching search, Indians. Wasn't really impressed with the previous coach but I wasn't privy with what actually went on there. I know they had too much talent to be ousted in the first round of the District. And many are giving the previous coach WAYYYY too much credit. With he talent he had his last year, I should have been watching the Indians hoist the trophy at the Final Four.

I hope your being sarcastic! They had a descent post player, a work horse for a four man and a couple of mediocre guards. They weren't world beaters by any stroke of the imagination. They're are some pretty good D4 teams in the area, and Western was descent, but I definitely wouldn't call them final four material. I thought Coach Harrop did a good job. Hopefully they give coach Kight a fair shot. He has developed a great relationship with the JV players and the Varsity players returning. They all know and respect him, and would run through a wall for him. That is his coaching style and kids buy into him. He is a great motivator and if the Administration passes him over, they will have made a huge mistake!

[frank-n-beans]

Actually, I was referring to McCloud and White's Senior season, not this year. I know they lacked a true point guard this year but they should have gone farther than they did.

[Out of Bounds]

Actually, I was referring to McCloud and White's Senior season, not this year. I know they lacked a true point guard this year but they should have gone farther than they did.

I would call what they did pretty successful. Once you get to districts, it's usually anybody's ball game. You get to or three possesions where the shots don't fall and you lose. Sorry, maybe you have a difference of opinion, but I have hard time running Harrop down. Even if he was handed a smooth running machine, he still has to keep it lubed and running smoothly and he did just that.

[frank-n-beans]

Touche' OoB. Like I said, I don't know enough about Western's situation this year. But they should have been better the last 2 years.

[hoopin]

What are Harrop's credentials? Didn't he spend a short time at Peebles and coach jr. hi somewhere after that?

[Pavilion]

frank n beans

you must be one of the idiots there ( possibly one of the board members) if you put down a team and coach that literally lost at the buzzer in the regional final to a team that had three returning starters from the State Champion team ( they came over with the coach from Africentric to HP ). Plus basically they could choose their players from all over Columbus?

You don't understand how good and even more importantly LUCKY you have to be to get to the Final Four. I hardly think a loss at the buzzer in the regional final against that particular team was underachieving. I'd hate for you to be judging me! It cracks me up that some people around here think that if you have a team that is capable of winning half of their games they should win 18 and if they have a team capable of winning 17 or 18 you should be undefeated and state champs.

Besides that, who do you think groomed those kids from the time they were 5th graders - like Cinderella said, there was major involvement in the biddy league starting with that group of kids. The last 2 years of Howard's tenure they won 17 and 21 games. Then Harrop wins 16 and 16 and both are gone. Wait til they win about 5 next year and then listen to the natives, and guess what, the person that is at the helm might even be doing a great job. It is like competitor said, you can't judge everything on wins, otherwise someone will be the coach there one year and out, because wins will be few and far between even if they get John Wooden out of retirement.

This years team was absolutely lost without Zach Kier. He was the glue to that team last year and on the regional team also. He did a lot of things that don't show up in the score book. I heard Howard say one night on the radio about how important he was that year.

You've got one board member worrying about his kid being a star and another worrying about his kid moving up the coaching ranks and two or three others that don't give a crap or don't know anything!

Harrop deserved better!

Dave Kight should get the job but it should come with a 4 or 5 year contract!

[Joesouth]

That was a good post pavilion I totally agree. Kite and Harrop are good coaches and as far as being in charge of the younger kids such as Biddy ball I don't know if that is a good Idea or not I'm kind of on the fence because the varsity coach has enough parents,uncles, brothers,sisters and grand parents to worry about adding 20 to 30 more kids and relitives would be overwhelming I would think. Maybe his assistiant coach or reserve or somebody on his staff could do it. I agree it needs to be tied to the varsity coach. On the other hand if the board doesn't state that the varsity coach has to do this or is not paid to do this most wont. I do not know if coach Howard was paid to do it when he was there but I think he seen Jeremy and Michael's potenial and decided it would be in his best intrest to help the younger kids out. Kite would be a good fit but I hope the community and the board will give him time to prove himself but it may take longer than two or three years. Good Luck to who ever gets the job and Good Luck to Western.

[3sportSeason]

Wutcha know....another good group leaves and another coach leaves with em just goes ta show everyone in Indian nation just wants to coach the winners not a rebuilding team... first White and McCloud Inc. leave coach leaves now Shanks and Co. are gone coach leaves...

[Pavilion]

3sport,

what are you talking about ? The coaches aren't leaving there because the talent left. They left because they were not going to be rehired. There is a big difference in someone just coaching when the talent is there and then choosing to get out because they don't want to go through the lean years, and someone being ousted by the board. The only difference here is that Harrop did actually resign, but everyone knows he wasn't going to be hired back, so it wasn't like he had much of a choice. Howard on the other hand made them fire, non-renew, not hire back, whatever you want to call it with his contract. Both of those guys would probably have stayed there for a long time if they could have. Howard was from there, he probably would have retired from there if they would have let him continue to be coach and principal. I bet if he told you the truth he would still rather be coaching, even though I am sure he enjoys the money he makes as Supt. The program was in good hands then, and the board, by not rehiring him to coach, made it easy for him to leave. 2 years and 32 wins later they are not happy, and run another coach off. I hope they do the right thing and give Kight the job and a 5 year contract so he doesn't have to be looking over his shoulder the first year. He will do a good job as long as he is not judged solely by wins and losses.
Joe South, you bring up a good point. Most varsity coaches are not that involved in the biddy ball. They show up once in a while but someone else does the work. They don't have the time and / or energy to do everything! Plus, it is not like Harrop had a staff of 5 or 6 assistants.
This whole thing is crazy and a big mistake but it won't be proven until on down the road.

[thecinderellapick]

I don't think anyone will get a five year contract here. And can someone on here help me out? I have heard (from a very reliable source) that the reason Western pretty much doesn't have a biddy program since they ran Howard off is because Harrop doesn't believe in competition for children until they reach junior high! I personally think it's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard but if it's true then what kind of program is Western going to have??? If he didn't want to do it then why didn't the board hire someone who did believe in letting little Johnnie or Timmie learn to play the game? We are dealing with people of below average intelligence. No wonder the fans and parents are in revolt. You can gripe all you want but the people do have the right to complain. Socialism hasn't taken over America yet. Also can someone tell me why people who want to see their kids succeed even allow their kids to attend this school?? I'd like to see some CHANGE (not necessarily the Obama kind)...Phil you should be thanking God these people decided it wasn't a good idea for an administrator to be a coach. You have escaped.

[basketball]

To answer your question[quote="thecinderellapick"]Also can someone tell me why people who want to see their kids succeed even allow their kids to attend this school?? There probably isn't a lot of basketball players from Western Local School District in the NBA, Schools are for academics!! Athletics are extra-curricular activities that is why they have to have a certain G.P.A.