Portsmouth Trojans 2024-25

[Prime Time]

I have to agree 100% with Bandwagon. We are talking about the Portsmouth Trojans here, right. I would think the most experienced Head Coach that Portsmouth could hire would be a high priority here. Portsmouth's history of great basketball would seem to dictate a proven winning person with varsity experience!

[Jeff Lisath]

Bandwagon: Aaron Smith was put in a difficult situation in that he had to coach the team in June when it was really Jeff Lisath's responsibility since he accepted his rehire in May. Instead, while Lisath was looking for games for Dayton Northridge when he was supposed to be the Trojans HC, summer basketball was dumped on Aaron's lap while Jeff remained silent about his future at PHS.

trojandave, I understand there are some hard feelings about the coaching situation at PHS. Your statement is incorrect. You do not know or understand what went on behind closed doors before I accepted the position in the first place. This season had some contingencies; therefore nothing was accepted as I didn't know how the change in Administration would affect me. I didn't even know I was on the agenda when I was approved. I met with the kids and coaches three times to tell them where I stood. Furthermore, Coach Smith and I mapped out the summer together and it was certainly for his benefit because he wants to be and should be the next head coach. The only thing I remained silent about will throw people under the bus and I refuse to do that. As far as Northridge, I supervise Athletics, my AD was out, so the burden fell on me. Sorry you thought that, but if you want the entire story you can always call me. I love PHS and will always be a part of PHS basketball whether it's behind the scenes or in the forefront.

[biggdowgg]

When we say the best head coach should be hired I would think, hiring someone that is in in for the long haul and sticks around for a few years .


As far as a "player" getting on here accusing a coach of something, how do we know it's a "player" and not another pot stirer ?
If this happened then like I posted before,why did the 'player' or his parents not bring it up before now,why not tell coach Lisath it happened?.


Coach Smith is more the capable of getting a chance to be a head coach,if he does well he will stick around.
We thought we had a ten year coach with Coach Lisath but it just wasn't in the cards for what ever reason,it's time to move on.

No coach will succeed without support from the kids , parents or community.

[BlacksforTrump]

Jeff Lisath let the whole city down. He didn't want the job so he didn't take it flat out. Aaron Smith ran the Jr high program in the ground.Kids left then bc of him. He isn't qualified. He did horrible in the summer. What circumstances was he under? If you can coach then you can coach. Would we even be talking about Aaron Smith if his father didn't coach? Come on guys what are we even talking about here? His dad couldn't get the job done back then, girls coach Hughes sent him packing. Jeff Lisath recommending him is a joke just like him leaving PHS this year hanging. Now fact check that Trojan Dave

[Prime Time]

If the Trojans can or could have gotten a Coach with a track record of success or winning percentage, I say doit! This is the Portsmouth Trojan Basketball with tons of tradition here.

[TruthOpinion]

I’d much rather read Trojan Dave’s opinions flavored with facts supporting his “opinions” than “opinions” that are derogatory with little or no facts.

“Kids left the program?” Who? No other reasons?
“Isn’t qualified” and you, BlacksforTrump, knows and understands what the qualifications are?
“What circumstances?” Yep, you obviously don’t know the circumstances.
“Did horrible in the summer?” From what I understand, the competition was pretty stiff.
“His dad couldn’t get the job done back then.” According to Trojan Dave’s post a while back, he had a pretty good record.
Explain how “girls Coach Hughes” sent him (I assume you mean farher coach Smith) packing?
Jeff Lisath’s recommending him”. Perhaps I missed it, but did Jeff Lisath recommend him?

Yep, opinions are fine, BlacksforTrump, but your opinions often hold no water (and can damage reputations) when they are based on untruths.I

Now fact check that BlacksforTrump!

[TruthOpinion]

I will correct my last post. I just read Jeff Lisath’s response that Aaron Smith “wants to be and should be the next head coach.”

My apologies.

[BlacksforTrump]

1984 Convo when down to Burg Kyle Sexton,Devon Jones,and Devin McLaurin to New Boston final 4 players

[TruthOpinion]

That 84 loss was a tough one, granted.

The players listed left because of Coach Smith? Hmmmm. Other issues perhaps, but since I don’t know the “facts” I’ll not respond.

[trojandave]

Jeff: I have no hard feelings against you, just disappointment that things unraveled over the course of the summer which led to you deciding to stay in Dayton. I spoke up for you publicly at the July school board meeting, but after it was revealed that there was no job in the PCSD for you, I knew that retaining you as coach was a sinking ship. What I wished you would have done was inform the PCSD long before August that you decided to not return as PHS coach. I met with Superintendent McCorkle in his office and he told me the first week of August that he was still waiting on you to make a final decision. Delaying your decision that long put the PCSD in a tough spot, with the school year starting with no basketball coach in place.

For the people like myself who spoke up for you and supported you in your brief time here, they deserved more transparency from you. The lack of transparency led to speculation about some things that according to you were not true. For those speculative statements that I made that were not correct, I apologize.

If you want to clarify what went on that I was not aware of, you can send me a PM.

[trojandave]

BlacksforTrump: The game in 1984 you're referring to is the district championship in which Wheelersburg upset heavily favored Portsmouth. The Trojans had a 9 point lead at the half, but Todd Staker and Craig Brown got hot from the perimeter, with the Pirates prevailing in OT. That PHS team had one of the best starting 5's ever, with Darrin Miller, Kyle Taylor, Danny Reid, Lee Hooks, and Alvin Williams. It was a tough loss considering how good that PHS team was, but Wheelersburg was very good also, good enough that they advanced to the state championship game, losing to Akron St.Vincent St. Mary, who ironically was coached by Joe Suboticki, who 4 years later would be the Trojans' coach.

Tom Smith was the coach of PHS, with Mike Lovenguth, not Mike Hughes, the coach of the Pirates. Tom Smith had an outstanding career as coach of the Trojans, compiling a 108-35 record with 3 district championships in the 6 years he was HC. Smith was coach when PHS did beat Wheelersburg in the sectional 59-54 in 1987. The Trojans lost that year in the regional semifinals to undefeated New Lebanon Dixie 67-59.

Tom Smith had the 2nd highest winning pct. as a coach in PHS history, topped only by Joe Suboticki, who went 94-11 from 1988-1991.

[trojandave]

BlacksforTrump: As far as summer ball this past June, the Trojans played at the Shawnee State shootout and faced 5 Columbus schools and 1 Cincinnati school. The Cincinnati school, Western Hills, is the 21st largest school in the state. PHS lost 3 of the 6 games by a total of 8 points, to Columbus Centennial, Columbus Beechcroft, and Columbus Kipp. The Trojans did beat Northwest and Waverly in scrimmage.

It is quite common for kids to not show up or go on vacation when June comes. So the roster is sometimes a hodgepodge mixture of players where a team could be missing its top players. In Portsmouth's case, one key player severely sprained his ankle and decided not to play the rest of the month to not risk further injury. Even some head coaches don't show up. They leave summer ball to their assistants. So summer ball is not nearly a true indication of how good a team or coach is.

No kids have left the program. We got 4 transfers for ND, 1 from Wheelersburg, and 1 from New Boston.

[trojandave]

BlacksforTrump: Since it's obvious you don't want Aaron Smith to be the coach, who do you want? What are his qualifications? Is he willing to make a long term commitment, or is he just a mercenary, looking to reap the benefits of a potential great class of players, then leave with the program in shambles with no feeder system in place?

[trojandave]

If I was a player on Portsmouth I would leave if they can’t name a coach by the end of THIS week. Why stay at a place that no one makes your future a priority? Send a message and leave Portsmouth City Schools. We Are 1, doesn’t sound like the AD and Board think so.

Cruise: You said in your post "Why stay at a place that "no one" makes your future a priority?" What you said and how I responded is just a matter of semantics, basically saying the same thing. If there is no concern for their future, that could be interpreted as "no one cares" because preparing kids for the future should be a priority as you said. You are correct in that aspect.

Where I disagree with you is that you're implying that no one(and that means everyone) in the PCSD makes a student's future a priority? Absolutely everyone? That can't be true. There are people in the PCSD that do care about a student's future.

[BuckeyeBlood]

Something I’ve been thinking about is the upcoming schedule for the Trojans. I assume these games were put in place under the old AD Albrecht and the old coach Lisath. Now you have a new AD and new coach at some point (I guess?) with a bunch of games they may not want to play. This could’ve been fixed had they already hired a new coach. Not really sure what the hold up is. You have applications and resumes. You should have done your research and hired a coach already.

[BandWagon]

You would think new coach new schedule but with it being this late schools already have their schedules made so good luck finding good teams to play

[trojandave]

The schedule is pretty much done......14 OVC games, non-conference games with Minford, Wheelersburg, Chillicothe @Shawnee State, Peebles, Portsmouth West. Only looking for maybe a couple of games......Ashland, KY was on the schedule, but was dropped for whatever reason.

I believe we're playing in the Ironton Classic, but I'm not sure about that.....maybe that was the cancelled Ashland game.

[TrojanTru]

The schedule is pretty much done......14 OVC games, non-conference games with Minford, Wheelersburg, Chillicothe @Shawnee State, Peebles, Portsmouth West. Only looking for maybe a couple of games......Ashland, KY was on the schedule, but was dropped for whatever reason.

I believe we're playing in the Ironton Classic, but I'm not sure about that.....maybe that was the cancelled Ashland game.

I was told by a staff member that Ashland was removed from the schedule because Aaron Smith was scared to play up. He said they were too tough. Said we aren’t ready for them because they were beating everyone they played this summer by 30 and he begged and pleaded that we replace them and Chillicothe with maybe Northwest, Piketon or Greenup. I’m confident that what I was told is truth.
I know you’re not a fan of ducking competition Trojan Dave and neither am I. I mean who wants a leader that lacks confidence in their abilities? Those kids from Ashland and Chillicothe put their pants on one leg at a time just like our kids, so why run from them?
Coach Lisath left a major mess, and I hope the kids use this as bulletin board material and improve on last season’s accolades.

[cavsbkb]

The schedule is pretty much done......14 OVC games, non-conference games with Minford, Wheelersburg, Chillicothe @Shawnee State, Peebles, Portsmouth West. Only looking for maybe a couple of games......Ashland, KY was on the schedule, but was dropped for whatever reason.

I believe we're playing in the Ironton Classic, but I'm not sure about that.....maybe that was the cancelled Ashland game.

I was told by a staff member that Ashland was removed from the schedule because Aaron Smith was scared to play up. He said they were too tough. Said we aren’t ready for them because they were beating everyone they played this summer by 30 and he begged and pleaded that we replace them and Chillicothe with maybe Northwest, Piketon or Greenup. I’m confident that what I was told is truth.
I know you’re not a fan of ducking competition Trojan Dave and neither am I. I mean who wants a leader that lacks confidence in their abilities? Those kids from Ashland and Chillicothe put their pants on one leg at a time just like our kids, so why run from them?
Coach Lisath left a major mess, and I hope the kids use this as bulletin board material and improve on last season’s accolades.

why would Aaron Smith want to drop Chillicothe? Looking forward to renewing the rivalry between Chillicothe and Portsmouth.

[A Trojan Confluence]

I may not be into the weeds of the details so I'll try to state my opinions on the matter.

Like many others, I was excited for Jeff to come home and lead the Trojans. I think it was less than ideal with the sequence of events with coaching absences or vacancies. I am thankful Aaron was there this summer and it seems he is willing and able to take on the team NOW. Some of the things about Aaron are unfair and seem personal. I respect his dad tremondously. Aaron has coached under Eugene and Jeff. Those are three coaches to learn from if you ask me. People are dreaming if there is someone waiting from outside in the basketball world to come coach. If you think some other great coaches in the region have a clean history and 100% support, you would be mistaken.

I appreciate trojandave so much. For his facts, honesty, candor and stats. I have really learned to value his opinion as well as biggdowg over the years.

I don't care who you are as a coach, you will always have unhappy players. All the greats have had naysayers. All the greats have expressed a frustration about coaches. Nothing new. I have sat in the stands for decades and listened to clinically insane parents and fans complaining about the coaching, reffing or a 17 year old playing a game that likely won't put food on his table after graduation. Some of the people on this forum sounds like what I hear in the stands. I've never been a coach. I've never been a ref, although I had my license. Students and athletes leave for another school for the most ridiculous reasons. I say let them go because they are probably toxic anyway. In today's world, culture trumps talent in many hiring decisions. Attitude trumps talent. You can win more games with talent probably but what does that do for the longterm health of the program?

Portsmouth fans have a bad wrap. I have personally heard this from refs. And yes, I have screamed at refs so I am just as guilty. We may not have control of the selection of the coach or the players, or much of anything as we sit in the stands. But if we fans don't do better on this message board or in the stands, who would want to come here? Who would want us in their gym as an opponent?

My whole point - let's be kind. At the end of the day we are talking about young men between the ages of 16-18. We need a positive attitude and culture at Portsmouth. I think any coach wants what's best for the Trojans. Trojandave does, Jeff does, Aaron does, I do and I am sure the new AD does.