Ironton Head Coach Opening

[ohbuckeye2]

Looks like the Fighting Tigers will be looking for a new head Coach after Chris Barnes submitted his resignation. Thanks for all you’ve done Coach Barnes.

Go Fighting Tigers!!

[Penguin]

JD King?

[pembrook burrows III]

I list these potential head coaching candidates in no particular order, and with no knowledge of any particular individual's goals or desires. The speculations I have added are solely my own.

Nathan Speed (Fairland) - with over 330 wins and a State Tournament appearance under his belt, marking him as the Dragon GOAT coach, is it time for a change of scenery?

Jeff Lisath (Dayton Northridge) - with over 400 wins, an Ohio D3 COY award, and a State Tournament runner-up already in his pocket, would he consider a return closer to his roots, and if so, does Ironton City Schools have a job for him?

Josh Shoemaker (Minford) - with heavy graduation losses from a once-in-a-lifetime Falcon State Tournament team, does he seek a new challenge?

Rick Chaffin (Spring Valley) - having coached 5 different WV teams to the State Tournament (Tolsia, Cabell Midland, Spring Valley as a head coach, Huntington and CK as an assistant coach), does the lure of both a WV retirement pension and an OH salary make sense with the impending losses of four great seniors from his #4-seeded Timberwolves team now competing for a WV State Championship?

Randy Anderson (Boyd County) - with over 500 wins ands a resumè that includes State Tournament appearances for Logan (WV), Tolsia (WV), Ripley (WV), and Boyd County (KY), and college assistant jobs at Marshall, W. Va. State, and Northwestern St. (LA), will he want to escape second-fiddle status to rival Ashland Paul Blazer in the KY 16th Region to enjoy both a KY retirement pension and an OH salary, not unlike what a former Boyd County vet coach chose to do some 20 years ago at Ironton?

Mark Lafon (formerly Ironton) - having stepped away from coaching in 2019 at a relatively early age to more closely follow his daughter Samantha's high school and college playing career (which likely ended 2 weeks ago for App St.), is he satisfied with his lifetime 314 wins + a State Tournament appearnace with the Tigers, or is he rested and ready to write a second chapter of his successful coaching career?

Ryan Davis (Meigs) - with just one more opportunity to fancy a State Tournament appearance with his son Carson, a rising senior next year, does he stick with D4 Meigs, or does he take his 350+ wins, OH D3 COY award, and State Tournament appearance for Chessy, and drop down to D5 to roll with a young and athletic group of Ironton athletes that know how to win the big one (at least in football).

[TudorsGuy]

I list these potential head coaching candidates in no particular order, and with no knowledge of any particular individual's goals or desires. The speculations I have added are solely my own.

Nathan Speed (Fairland) - with over 330 wins and a State Tournament appearance under his belt, marking him as the Dragon GOAT coach, is it time for a change of scenery?

Jeff Lisath (Dayton Northridge) - with over 400 wins, an Ohio D3 COY award, and a State Tournament runner-up already in his pocket, would he consider a return closer to his roots, and if so, does Ironton City Schools have a job for him?

Josh Shoemaker (Minford) - with heavy graduation losses from a once-in-a-lifetime Falcon State Tournament team, does he seek a new challenge?

Rick Chaffin (Spring Valley) - having coached 5 different WV teams to the State Tournament (Tolsia, Cabell Midland, Spring Valley as a head coach, Huntington and CK as an assistant coach), does the lure of both a WV retirement pension and an OH salary make sense with the impending losses of four great seniors from his #4-seeded Timberwolves team now competing for a WV State Championship?

Randy Anderson (Boyd County) - with over 500 wins ands a resumè that includes State Tournament appearances for Logan (WV), Tolsia (WV), Ripley (WV), and Boyd County (KY), and college assistant jobs at Marshall, W. Va. State, and Northwestern St. (LA), will he want to escape second-fiddle status to rival Ashland Paul Blazer in the KY 16th Region to enjoy both a KY retirement pension and an OH salary, not unlike what a former Boyd County vet coach chose to do some 20 years ago at Ironton?

Mark Lafon (formerly Ironton) - having stepped away from coaching in 2019 at a relatively early age to more closely follow his daughter Samantha's high school and college playing career (which likely ended 2 weeks ago for App St.), is he satisfied with his lifetime 314 wins + a State Tournament appearnace with the Tigers, or is he rested and ready to write a second chapter of his successful coaching career?

Ryan Davis (Meigs) - with just one more opportunity to fancy a State Tournament appearance with his son Carson, a rising senior next year, does he stick with D4 Meigs, or does he take his 350+ wins, OH D3 COY award, and State Tournament appearance for Chessy, and drop down to D5 to roll with a young and athletic group of Ironton athletes that know how to win the big one (at least in football).

According to another thread Speed is rumored to be taking a job in WV. I can’t see Davis moving his boy again, especially for his senior year. Better shot to make it back with Meigs. Randy Anderson won’t leave BC. He’s royalty there and doesn’t have to compete with football. Would enjoy a Lafon reunion however …

[smurray]

It would seem to me Lafon would be a prime candidate.

[peake71]

Don't know if Lafon would be a candidate. There was a problem with a transfer when he coached before. Kid couldn't go back to his old school and was ineligible to play at Ironton. Lost his senior year.
I do know Mark and have known him for years not trying to start anything .

[Mission15]

LaFon, I am pretty sure is close to retirement, so not sure he wants to get back into it. I would love to see McKnight or Christenson but not sure how interested either one of them would be.

[Gator B Long]

Ironton likely will look for someone in the mold of Barnes-not a person who may challenge the football program for time/relevance like Zornes did.

[Jumper45]

It would seem to me Lafon would be a prime candidate.

Who would want screemer Lafon back.

[Jumper45]

I dont see any of the mentioned coaches taking that job. Ur gonna fight football every year and most of the time get a late start.

[tonylip]

Hearing Pendletons looking and working on Shoemaker. Just rumor, but that’s the talk. He always was pro football with his son playing.

[OVC]

Hearing Pendletons looking and working on Shoemaker. Just rumor, but that’s the talk. He always was pro football with his son playing.

Is there a teacher or admin job for him? I know someone said he works at Scioto County’s vocational school. Not sure his position

[Hoopster98]

Shoemaker is not coming to Ironton. If he gives it up at Minford which I expect, then he will give it up completely.

[CuckooNest]

Hearing Pendletons looking and working on Shoemaker. Just rumor, but that’s the talk. He always was pro football with his son playing.

Is there a teacher or admin job for him? I know someone said he works at Scioto County’s vocational school. Not sure his position

He’s the principal at the CTC. That job is likely near 6 figures, seems unlikely Ironton have anything that would be close to that pay. I wouldn’t say he’s pro football, his son quit during summer camp before his senior year. I don’t see him going to Ironton, I would agree with another poster that if he hangs it up at Minford he’s done, but anything is possible.

[Mission15]

Hearing Pendletons looking and working on Shoemaker. Just rumor, but that’s the talk. He always was pro football with his son playing.

Is there a teacher or admin job for him? I know someone said he works at Scioto County’s vocational school. Not sure his position

He’s the principal at the CTC. That job is likely near 6 figures, seems unlikely Ironton have anything that would be close to that pay. I wouldn’t say he’s pro football, his son quit during summer camp before his senior year. I don’t see him going to Ironton, I would agree with another poster that if he hangs it up at Minford he’s done, but anything is possible.

Who's to say he needs job at Ironton, with route 823 that drive really isn't what it used to be. Throw him a gas card and sweeten the pot on the stipend, and let's see if the "Shoe" fits in Tiger Town.

[OVC]

Is there a teacher or admin job for him? I know someone said he works at Scioto County’s vocational school. Not sure his position

He’s the principal at the CTC. That job is likely near 6 figures, seems unlikely Ironton have anything that would be close to that pay. I wouldn’t say he’s pro football, his son quit during summer camp before his senior year. I don’t see him going to Ironton, I would agree with another poster that if he hangs it up at Minford he’s done, but anything is possible.

Who's to say he needs job at Ironton, with route 823 that drive really isn't what it used to be. Throw him a gas card and sweeten the pot on the stipend, and let's see if the "Shoe" fits in Tiger Town.

Ironton is hiring a new superintendent. Maybe he is given that and able to coach? Lol

[tonylip]

That’s the rumor. That he will apply for
Superintendent job and if he gets it then he will coach. Makes sense from that standpoint. Don’t see it happening if he doesn’t move up though.

[CuckooNest]

That’s the rumor. That he will apply for
Superintendent job and if he gets it then he will coach. Makes sense from that standpoint. Don’t see it happening if he doesn’t move up though.

Well that changes everything. If he wants to be a superintendent then Ironton is as good of place as any and those jobs don’t come open all that often.

If that’s the career goal he has then basketball may be icing on the cake. He may want the job with or without basketball. Rolfe tried it at Valley and the superintendent job was too demanding to also put the time in basketball requires.

[TigerBob]

Super is a full time gig. Basketball isn’t, but it’s close to a full time gig from November through February, which are critical months to a super.

I would love to see Shoemaker at Ironton as a coach. Wouldn’t want him to do both or even try.

[Jumper45]

The latest rumor I've heard is Phil Rice and his crew of Charlie Kitchen, Paul Fugitt and Buck Fogelsong are considering applying for the job. All retired exept Charlie. Those guys have the time to put in for the long season. They are as knowledgeable about the game of basketball as anyone you will find to take that job. Fundamentals are something that needs to be top priority and that hasnt been the case in some time. That will be restored by this staff with out a doubt. Rebounding is a lost art now adays. Rebounding and defense must be top priority to become successful. I hope these guys follow through with this rumor. Just what Ironton needs is to go back to old school and inject toughness winning back to this program.