Tom Moore Introduced As New Head Coach At Gallia Academy

[GalliaGrad78]

you know i do not have an opinion on this but i have got to say something.however you feel about JO and however you feel about the BO. coach moore is gonna get the idea you hate him. the kids reading this are too.
he did not do anything. before you run this guy out of town, see if he can coach get behind him and the kids or gahs will pay. look at the mess we have here, in meigs, because of stuff like this. i would not wish that on anyone
jotting you should know, can this guy coach?
78, do you want the devils like the marauders?
well like i said, heck no!

I hope you weren't referring to me, as I wish coach Moore the best! He has passion, and will get off his seat and coach.

[fasteach]

yes i was refering to you and every other blue devil fan. the question was," do you want the devils to end up like the mauraders"?
that can happen if 1/2 want moore as coach and 1/2 want oz. then he fails, then the next coach fails and 4 yrs down the road you end up like us a coach you can't get rid of and kids who don't haven't any idea how to play.
believe me you don't want that!

[91blue14]

where is this going

[Charge]

These guys that applied for the coaching job, remind of a couple so called high school buddies I had, the prom queen breaks up with me and they are right there jumping for the chance to go out with her.

[BBallin fool]

4-ever !!!E AND Harrison is not a stranger !!!at all !!!both played under OZ !!!And both has been a head varsity coach !!! plus Miller has been a asst. Coach at RIO!!!

[jottings]

Be sure to read Bryan Walters' "Oz ball--The legend and lagacy of Jim Osborne" in the Sunday Times Sentinel.

Outstanding.

[Charge]

After I read the article, it made me mad at how the three jerks on the school board handled this situation. After reading all the letters from all the respected people all saying Oz was a class act, other words describing him were LOYALTY, INTEGRITY, DEDICATION and COMMITMENT. The article said the school board wanted to go in different direction, I could see why this board would want to go in another direction, because none of them have any of these outstanding traits Oz possessed. After seeing the list of coaches that wrote how much they respected Coach Osborne, it wasn’t hard to figure out why you never had any coaches with head coaching experience, or any kind of coaching resume, apply for the job. It looks like you are heading in a different direction all right.

[John Wooden]

My question to Payton,Cornwell, and Smith, what direction do you want to go? The only direction you could go after firing a guy with the character of a Coach Osborne is down. I would also like to know what kind of basketball knowledge these morons have, they must think they have more then the list of outstanding coaches who wrote tributes to Coach Osborne. Lastly I would like to ask why would anybody who played for or coached with a class coach like Coach Osborne, want to apply for his job after the way he was treated by this school board?

[Spartan]

Coach Moore is qualified to do the job. His son will be a sr. I dont begrudge him at all for applying for and accepting the job.

[Keyser_sozeThrice]

Here's my question. If Coach Moore's son is a senior this upcoming season, would he want to come back for a second season after his son graduates?

[John Wooden]

I guess I was taught to fight for my friends.

[Spartan]

I think we all fight for our friends on many levels. We also fight for our families.

[John Wooden]

Spartan, you are entitled to your opinion, I am not going to try to change it, and no one is going to change mind either. I am all for fighting for family, I guess the only family I knew of that has been wronged in this situation is the family of Oz.

[CLane]

Lastly I would like to ask why would anybody who played for or coached with a class coach like Coach Osborne, want to apply for his job after the way he was treated by this school board?

Although I am completely against the change and the lack of loyalty that lead to it, I don't blame anyone for applying for the job. I'm glad to see someone local get hired. I think a teacher would have been a better choice due to the time constraints and obligations of a full time job, but this world is never perfect. I like Tommy Moore and I think he'll do a fine job. Will he turn the program into an SEOAL powerhouse?....I can't really see that happening.

Here's my question. If Coach Moore's son is a senior this upcoming season, would he want to come back for a second season after his son graduates?

Yes, I would assume he would return. For someone that has been involved with Gallia County basketball for most of his life, I'm sure that coaching his son is not his sole motivation...just an added perk.

Be sure to read Bryan Walters' "Oz ball--The legend and lagacy of Jim Osborne" in the Sunday Times Sentinel.

Outstanding.

Great Article!! I was wondering when something was going to written about this in the Tribune. Thanks Bryan Walters!

exerpt:

“The night that those three people from the (school) board came over, Mr. (Jack) Payton, Mr. (Robert) Cornwell and Mr. (Ryan) Smith, to inform me that I wasn’t going to be rehired, the realization hit me pretty quickly when they said we (GAHS) were going to go in a different direction. Nobody even said thanks, so that kind of hurt right off the bat,” Osborne said. “The lead-in was basically it’s not what you’ve done, but we’re just going to go in another direction. That was a bittersweet moment for me.

Notes: Osborne, since our interview on Tuesday, May 4, has now received a written letter of thanks from the Gallia Academy administration on his outstanding 41-year career. The letter was presented to him by Superintendent Jack Payton on Friday, May 7, at the school.

Stay classy Gallipolis City BOE.....????

[91blue14]

was a great write up

[devil92]

Looks like a few more 7-13 seasons,I would of brought someone in with no ties to the school,The board says they want to go in a different direction,looks like to me they are going in the same direction.

[Jim Ryan]

I have read about the firing of Coach Osborne for about a month now, not being from Gallipolis, I haven’t commented on what has went on. I am now going to comment as a neutral party, who has been reading all the newspaper articles. I have imaged I worked for a school needing a basketball coach and I get the following resume. I won 531 games 21 district appearances, 14 sectional titles, 11 league championships and 2 district championships. I also spent 41 years working at my last place of employment. In high school two sport standout in baseball and basketball, County Player of the Year, member of American Legion Baseball state championship team. Played college basketball and baseball at Wittenberg University, named MVP. I was drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates, member of the Hall of Fame at Geneva College, Wittenberg University, and Ashtabula County Basketball Hall of Fame. I have the following letters of recommendation from Eldon Miller former Ohio State basketball coach, Larry Hunter West Carolina head coach, Rick VanMatre 472 career wins, Norm Persin over 500 wins and a state championship, Fred Gibson 205 basketball wins and 300 baseball wins, Howie Caldwell 365 wins and two state appearances, Earl Thomas former Rio Grande head coach, Larry Jordan 583 wins, and Carl Wolfe over 500 wins and two state appearances. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to hire a guy with a resume like that? Bottom line Coach Osborne got the shaft. I would like to know if Mr. Walters interviewed Payton, Cornwell and Smith and ask them why they wanted to go a different direction? I can’t help to think they had a personal issue and just wanted to get back at coach. I am disappointed in the Gallipolis school system and the people of Gallipolis for letting this happen. I also was disappointed to see the list of applicants who applied for the job all had Gallipolis ties. I always had a lot of respect for Gallipolis, but I don’t after the way this was handled.

[Charge]

He will do a good job and the kids enjoy playing for him. I only hope hope those in power who seem to know nothing about the SEOAL landscape, much less coaching, give him a fair shot.

Why would they give him a fair shot, when they never gave a guy who gave them 41 years a fair shot, or for that matter even a THANK YOU?

[Charge]

Gahs4ever, I didn’t think you were asking a question, I was been sarcastic towards your BOE. I will admit I would have liked it if no one applied for the job and the board would have went crawling back, but I realize the kids shouldn’t have to suffer and miss shootouts because of a school board that made a dumb decision. I think after time everyone will realize how lucky the school was to have 41 years of Oz.

[bdubya]

The names listed in the story are from a quote. These individuals were the ones who notified Oz of the BOE decision, not necessarily the ones who made it. Also, the Superintendent does not have a vote on the BOE panel, but rather follows the instructions of his directors (recommendations, presentations, etc.)

The BOE consists of five elected members, and all five unanimously approved the replacement of Oz — as noted in the original story on this topic.

Coach Moore and the Blue Devils deserve some support next winter. Ultimately, life goes on. Coach Moore has paid his dues and is familiar with both the kids and the league. He should be excited about being a varsity head coach for the first time with a program he is familiar with, especially it being his alma mater.

And, like it or not, that's the way it is.