Portsmouth Trojans 2024-25

[BuckeyeBlood]

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.

I know you stated your point, but I’m not really sure I understand the point of your post. You say we Portsmouth fans have to do better on here. What is it on here that has you so bothered? Most people are hidden behind a username that people don’t know. This is a place to post, it’s a message board. People are going to vent frustrations with players, coaches, refs, schools, fans. I’m just not sure what you’re really on about. People don’t like Portsmouth fans so what. I could care less who likes me. I’m on here to chat, complain, analyze whatever. I go to the games as an alumni to support my alama mater and because I enjoy sports. If they don’t like how I or other fans represent themselves so be it.

[trojandave]

A Trojan Confluence: Thanks for the kind words. There's one common denominator that all Trojan fans want......for our teams and players to do the best they can and have the opportunity to win conference and tournament championships. Some are very loyal in supporting the team, win or lose, while others show up when the team(s) are doing well. I am guilty of being a bandwagon baseball fan this past spring, when I went to the regional championship between PHS and Minford, when I had only seen 1 baseball game prior.

Fans will be fans.....they have every right to express their opinion, whether it be at a game or on this and other social media sites. Where some go overboard is when they become rude, vulgar, and disrespectful. I would rather a fan be passionate than indifferent, because indifference means that you don't care. I remember a quote from former University of ND coach Bob Davie who once was asked about the passion of ND fans. He said that passionate fans didn't bother him......because at least they care.

As fans, and I am one like anyone else, we think that we have the answers to any coaching decisions and strategy of a particular game and use of personnel. That's just part of being a fan, and I really think coaches understand that. That's part of being passionate and wanting the Trojans to do well. It is wrong and unfair, though, to always criticize yet never give praise. No coach does everything wrong. But that ticket you buy gives you the right to express your opinion as long as it's in good taste and not demeaning to any player or coach. The players we watch are teenagers and are playing because they love the game. Anybody who has sat next to me knows that I will get on the team as a whole, not singling out a particular player unless it's something positive and encouraging. One comment that I'm known for at the basketball games is "No 3's". That's not disrespectful, just encouraging the kids to play defense on the perimeter.

I read the comments of a lot of people here on SEOPS, and for the most part the overwhelming majority of posters are knowledgeable and respectful. There are some though, that want to stir the pot with garbage and are on here for nothing else but that. The best way to deal with those people is to ignore them......they will eventually go away. I'm thankful that Mattash makes this site available for us to vent whatever we feel is the flavor of the day.

Social media is here to stay, and there will be old and new posters who will express their opinions, frustrations, and expectations. I enjoy posting here on SEOPS, and try to be positive as possible, because the PCSD has been put in a negative light in so many different media outlets. This is one site where we Trojan alums and fans can extoll the positives of our district through our sports teams and players.

Another long post by me, but sometimes I just get on a roll and become a "rambling man" (Allman Brothers).

As always, GO TROJANS!!

[trojandave]

cavsbkb: The game between Chillicothe and Portsmouth is already set in the Buckeye Elite in January. I don't think the new coach is going to back out of the game. I wish the rivalry would be renewed long term, but I'm not confident in that happening.

I'm old enough to remember when CHS and PHS was probably the most bitter and intense rivalry in all of SE Ohio. Quite often the 2 schools met in the district championship with the winner going to the regionals. PHS is 4-0 vs. CHS in district championship games, but the Cavaliers lost 2 of them by 1 and 2 points. In 1961, PHS beat CHS 52-51 in the district championship and then went on to win the Class AA big school state title.

Chillicothe HS has a proud and winning basketball program. A lot of great teams and players. I remember when Ray Chambers made the winning layup at the buzzer giving your Cavs the 2008 D2 state title. I recall the great Mark Bayless in 1974 being the Class AAA POY while leading CHS to the Central Ohio League title. Also Garin Veris led the Cavaliers to an undefeated regular season in 1980. Tom Cuppett was an outstanding coach in the decade of the 70's. A rich history indeed.....and that's just a few things mentioned.

[wipala]

TrojanDave,
I really liked your comment about being respectful but still be very passionate about the team your
are rooting for...I will always remember trying out the for the Trojans after the 1961 team had won the
state.....sadly I did not make the team, but I would have loved to have been a Trojan
The reason I state this is because even though I did not make the team, I still went to every home game and
several of the away games and rooted for my beloved Trojans....the 61-62 team, as Coach Heller said "We are
building Caracter (spl)" This team went 1-17 with our only win being, yes you guessed it++++The Cavs!
Still have a hard time understanding the hiring of a coach....tip off is just a few weeks off
Having said all of this,
Go Trojans

[cavsbkb]

Trojandave: Chillicothe wants to renew the rivalry long term. Hopefully it will happen. I know we play at Shawnee St this year but we are hoping to this game back to our respective home courts

[trojandave]

cavsbkb: I'm hoping like you to make the series long term, but what may prevent that from happening is that the 2 schools are now quite different in enrollment. Chillicothe HS is D3, and we are D5. For me, that shouldn't be a factor in discontinuing the series, but it may be perceived that CHS has a fairly large numbers advantage right now and as a result may dominate the series. I can't speak for the new coach, but I hope he doesn't look at it that way. CHS currently has almost twice the boys' enrollment of PHS.

There's so much rich history between the 2 schools, and it would be a shame if this year's game is a one and done.

[trojandave]

The Trojan Nation lost one of it's champions this past week. Scot Taylor passed a few days ago, and with his passing came the remembrance of his stature in the Portsmouth basketball community. Scot was the starting center on the 1978 Class AA state champions, and he also returned for his senior year in 1978-79 to lead the Trojans to an undefeated regular season, an AP Poll title with an 18-0 mark. Portsmouth would eventually win 29 consecutive games, which is still the longest undefeated streak in PHS history.

Scot was a versatile player who at 6-5 could play effectively in the paint, or step outside and knock down the perimeter jumper. Despite his narrow frame, Scot played fearless as he battled on the boards against taller and more muscular players. In the 1978 state championship game vs. Cleveland Cathedral Latin, the Irish featured two 6-6 players, Colin Irish and Karl Morris. Scot didn't back down from either, and battled them the whole game, doing the things he was always known for, good defense, timely rebounds, and chipping in some points. He had very good ballhandling skills, and one thing that really stood out about Scot was that he was a complete team player. Whatever was asked of him he did and did it within the team concept.

He scored 9 points in the 1978 state semifinal vs. Ottawa-Glandorf, and 8 vs. Cleveland Cathedral Latin in the state championship game. Without his 8 points vs. Latin, the Trojans don't win the state title since it was a 1 point 63-62 PHS victory.

Scot went on to play college basketball at Lander College in South Carolina, before transferring to Miami of Ohio, joining fellow Trojans Jeff Lisath, Craig Tubbs, and Alphonso Watkins. The Taylor family tree has produced a number of Trojan basketball players, including Jason who played on the 1988 D2 state championship team, and Brian, who played in the early 2000's.

RIP Scot.......you may be gone but not forgotten. A Trojan champion whose legacy lives on even to this day.

[trojandave]

School board meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sept.19. I would think the new basketball coach will be named, since it will have been exactly 1 month ago since the application deadline.

[pfloyd]

School board meeting scheduled for Thursday, Sept.19. I would think the new basketball coach will be named, since it will have been exactly 1 month ago since the application deadline.

... any names being bounced around trojandave?

[ItsMyOpinion]

If Coach Collins does not take the job back (and I hope he doesn’t), then I hope the young Smith kid gets the position. The way Coach Collins was treated at the end of his tenure was disappointing and I don’t want him to subject himself to that type of treatment again. To Coach Collins credit he bailed PHS out this past season when the previous coach stopped attending practices and team functions so he has done more than enough to show his loyalty to the PCSD.

It’s hard to believe as of Sept.17th, Portsmouth H.S. does not have a coach in place. I hope the faithful Trojan fans never forget how the previous coach left the program and because of that are able to use that as fuel to get behind the new coach. The new coach will have his work cut out but I wish him the best. Hopefully all the new transfers will help him turn the program around.

[trojandave]

Just found out today that interviews are taking place today, so it's unlikely that the new coach will be named tomorrow at the board meeting. It's been almost 1 month since the application deadline, and the players are still waiting for their new coach. I guess the good in all of this is that the admin/athletics/school board is taking their time and not rushing through the process, so no one can claim that they didn't do a thorough search.

Remember that the final decision is based on who applied, so whoever is not satisfied with the choice, they have to remember that their choice may not have even applied.

It will be an upset if Aaron Smith does not get the job.......and he has officially applied. He deserves the opportunity to be the next HC of the SE District's winningest program of all time.

Pfloyd: The only one I know for sure that's applied is Aaron Smith. There have been some others, but whether they actually did apply is uncertain. Therefore I don't want to put their names out there which might compromise their current job status.

[pfloyd]

Just found out today that interviews are taking place today, so it's unlikely that the new coach will be named tomorrow at the board meeting. It's been almost 1 month since the application deadline, and the players are still waiting for their new coach. I guess the good in all of this is that the admin/athletics/school board is taking their time and not rushing through the process, so no one can claim that they didn't do a thorough search.

Remember that the final decision is based on who applied, so whoever is not satisfied with the choice, they have to remember that their choice may not have even applied.

It will be an upset if Aaron Smith does not get the job.......and he has officially applied. He deserves the opportunity to be the next HC of the SE District's winningest program of all time.

Pfloyd: The only one I know for sure that's applied is Aaron Smith. There have been some others, but whether they actually did apply is uncertain. Therefore I don't want to put their names out there which might compromise their current job status.

... I totally understand trojandave where you're coming from ... from the outside looking in - Aaron Smith has EARNED the opportunity - he's been there for the athletes/ the program in this difficult off season, has handled everything that goes with running the show over the last 1 yr+ ( of course he had assistance from others who care deeply about Trojan hoops & it's success) ... I think he's earned the title of "Coach" and as an outsider - much respect for his handling of the situation ... with that said is there anyone from outside the "trojan nation" that has applied - obviously with the school year ongoing - a hire does not need a position inside the school district - other than the supplemental head coach position ... Any interest from "retired" coaches for this position? ...

... Whoever is hired, I wish them nothing but the best in carrying on the tradition that IS Trojan Basketball - pfloyd ...

[trojandave]

pfloyd: All I know is that there was originally about a dozen or so applicants, a few of which were from outside the district and county. I can't really say for sure who has applied and who hasn't, other than Aaron Smith. It's no secret that he wants the job, has applied, and deserves the opportunity to be the HC. As far as retired head coaches, I don't want to see the hiring committee go in that direction, because those coaches are most likely not in it for the long term. Retired coaches won't build the program the way it supposed to be built.

I've seen it in the SE district....."retired" coaches who swoop in, take advantage of a good class or two of players, do nothing to develop a feeder system, leave the program high and dry with no positive future after those kids graduate, say they left because they wanted to spend more time with their family after a year or two, only to come back and take another job which makes it look like the "family" thing was just a convenient excuse.

No thank you to that.

[pfloyd]

pfloyd: All I know is that there was originally about a dozen or so applicants, a few of which were from outside the district and county. I can't really say for sure who has applied and who hasn't, other than Aaron Smith. It's no secret that he wants the job, has applied, and deserves the opportunity to be the HC. As far as retired head coaches, I don't want to see the hiring committee go in that direction, because those coaches are most likely not in it for the long term. Retired coaches won't build the program the way it supposed to be built.

I've seen it in the SE district....."retired" coaches who swoop in, take advantage of a good class or two of players, do nothing to develop a feeder system, leave the program high and dry with no positive future after those kids graduate, say they left because they wanted to spend more time with their family after a year or two, only to come back and take another job which makes it look like the "family" thing was just a convenient excuse.

No thank you to that.

Understood ... just thinking out loud ...

[Seopnation]

pfloyd: All I know is that there was originally about a dozen or so applicants, a few of which were from outside the district and county. I can't really say for sure who has applied and who hasn't, other than Aaron Smith. It's no secret that he wants the job, has applied, and deserves the opportunity to be the HC. As far as retired head coaches, I don't want to see the hiring committee go in that direction, because those coaches are most likely not in it for the long term. Retired coaches won't build the program the way it supposed to be built.

I've seen it in the SE district....."retired" coaches who swoop in, take advantage of a good class or two of players, do nothing to develop a feeder system, leave the program high and dry with no positive future after those kids graduate, say they left because they wanted to spend more time with their family after a year or two, only to come back and take another job which makes it look like the "family" thing was just a convenient excuse.

No thank you to that.

Hmmm...that sounds really familiar to the coach last year?

[wipala]

IMO. This whole deal with PHS basketball coach is an absolute disaster! Here we are on the 20th of September, school in Ohio has been
in for a month, I live in Arizona so not sure of the date you all started. My point is, whatever happened with the guy that just left,, shame
on the so called school board at Portsmouth...From what I have been reading on this site it was pretty apparent that the guy that was the
coach was not coming back! I understand that interviews have been held and I am sure the bored (spl on purpose) has offered the job....
Having said my two cents worth all I can say is "Go Trojans"

[trojandave]

wipala: I feel the same way you do. It's out of our control, though, so I guess we'll just wait some more while we wait some more. Like I said above, at least the search committee is not rushing through the process to be fair to all the applicants.

Hoping Aaron Smith gets the job, but I'll support whoever the choice is.

[TruthOpinion]

None of us know what the next steps are in naming the next head coach. I imagine all of the candidates have put a lot of thought in to his staff. However, that staff must meet qualifications and certification, as well as being approved by the board. Could be a considerable time getting all of this in place. New coach facing a lot of challenges.

[Cruise]

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.

TrojanDave it’s been 17 days since I posted this. Tell me I’m wrong.

[BuckeyeBlood]

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.

TrojanDave it’s been 17 days since I posted this. Tell me I’m wrong.

You’re wrong