WEST BASKETBALL

[fromtheparkinglot]

I hear that there is a very strong candidate from across the river at Greenup County. Has a very solid resume, has dealt with adversity very admirably, and is a heck of a basketball guy....What's the rumors concerning this applicant, if anyone know anything?

[Winchell]

If you are speaking of Marty Mills, former Fairview and Rock Hill coach, I think he is a very knowledgable basketball guy. Don't know what the problem(s) were, if any, at the other two places. I do know that he is a half-court oriented coach. Runs mostly sets from what I remember. Likes to walk the ball up the court and be deliberate.

[fromtheparkinglot]

NO...it's not Coach Mills....after a couple of phone calls and a few emails, I have found out that the Interim Head Coach at Greenup the last two years (seems to be a long story), Jason Smith, has applied.

[UKNate]

i heard there is another prospective coach from scioto county

[local superstar]

Have they interviewed yet?

[fromtheparkinglot]

No interviews yet....in the Ports. Times a couple of weeks ago it said that they were taking applications until May 2nd.

[Westfan]

I try to be positive. But Phillips is not qualified to be head coach. If he gets that job, which he may since his brother is on the board, that would be a disaster waiting to happen. Just look back at the events of the girls season.

[----]

I hear that Todd Purdas, the women's assistant coach at SSU has applied and could be the front runner. He's young, but brings great experience to the team. I hope the board does make the smart move and give him the job.

[black76]

Amazing, the guy that stepped up last year and generated more excitement in years AND has the most experience should, hands down, get the job. Please don't tell me he is going to go to Green. He is definitely the front runner at West.

[fromtheparkinglot]

I think that West needs to pick the best candidate. That needs to be determined by looking at and interviewing the most qualified applicants. It would be unfortunate for West to simply give it to anyone based on them coaching what 10 games or so at their school. There may be someone better suited to build a "program", not just coach a team.

[black76]

It really isn't about those "10" games, even though administration got a taste of what Kitchen would do with a "program" ...that is what the last 4 pages have been about. Many of us think Kitchen could build a great program at West. Agree with you it should be the best candidate! Kitchen has convinced many in the West community already, regardless.

[fromtheparkinglot]

Black76,

I respect your admiration of Coach Kitchen...it would be very difficult not to respect what he did with last years team in a short amount of time. It seems as though you have already made up your mind??? What if there is a better candidate out there? What if there is a better fit? What if there is a better coach that has applied?

Based on what you said, "they should hire the best" candidate, isn't it biased of you to assume that Coach Kitchen is it? And if you are biased in your opinion, you and the rest of Coach Kitchen's supporters could potentially be willing to cheat the West Portsmouth student athletes out of a better coach order to support who you think should get it based on loyalities to him?

[black76]

"Cheat" the West community? Now that is funny! The point is that West knows what he can do and he did not even get to really implement things the way he wanted, I'm sure, when you step in mid season like that, it is about adapting alot. The kids and parents respect him and no one can help that. He also wants to teach in the West system, a big plus in my mind...there may be candidates that interview well "talk the talk" and find out just what a bear this program will be to get going..Kitchen is aware of it...the one thing I can honestly say for sure is he is about as good as a fit as you can find for West and with 22years varsity and many district and several state apperances, there are not too many candidates out there like that.....
So to answer your question, if another candidate had stepped up and done what he did to help last year, then maybe they would be discussed more on here...there were folks in the West community last year that said he did more in those 10 games to help the kids than they had seen since the 1970's. Some things just speak for themselves. Does that give him an advantage? I would certainly hope so. He deserves the job in my mind.

[indian23]

Sorry General, could not agree with you less...Hurd has absolutely NO experience at varsity, it would be a worse problem than before, and the kids will not show much respect for him, they will run over him. He also has a major problem of allegiance to the school's programs as a whole. Phillips would also get completely run over by this group of kids....ask the girls that have played for him...maybe he DOES know some basketball but Kitchen has so much more experience than both those candidates put together it is crazy. Kitchen can control that team and he fits that position perfectly. What a slap in the face to Kitchen if they don't hand it to him easily above the others...after all, he stepped into a mess and the kids had a positive experience come out of it. Everyone appreciates him for that and he knows that group of boys now better than either of the others as a result. He also wants to teach at West when an opening comes up which is all the more reason to hire him, the kids need coaches who teach, like it used to be. Jumper, why the negativity? Cool off, I can not imagine a scenario where they would skip over all these things and give the job to a candidate that has less experience, is not proven at a varsity level, and is not wanting to teach in the system. Maybe Phillips could be an assistant? Sorry General, you could not make a good argument to me based on your reasoning which is faulty at best...just my humble opinion. Good Luck Coach Kitchen, I sure hope he gets the job.

Black 76, are you retarded! Go ask any coach that has been around for the last 15 years and ask them about Hurd. He's been one of the best athletes in southern ohio. Loves the game, the kids, everything about it. Go ask any kids parent that he has had in ball and ask their opinion on him. He is a wonderful coach and knows a lot about the game. Obviously you dont know him since you think this ball team will run over him. Allegiance to the school, are you KIDDING ME! His 3 kids go to west, his wife is the cheerleading advisor, also he's at every sporting event. Every kid on that high school basketball team knows him and respects him. Maybe you should do a little more research before you post about something you dont know.

[fromtheparkinglot]

Black,

You still didn't answer my question. What if there is a better candidate out there. What if there is a candidate out there could have done just as good of a job as Charlie Kitchen, maybe better?

So you are willing to deny a "POTENTIALLY" better candidate the opportunity simply out of loyalty to Coach Kitchen.

Sounds like you are loyal to ole' Charlie, and not loyal to West Portsmouth.

Let's get the BEST Coach, period. I don't care who it is, what they did last year, or for the last 22 years....The best Coach is what PWHS needs.

[fromtheparkinglot]

jumper...

I am quite impressed that you know Coach Kitchen's resume....impressed, but suspicious.

Let's assume for a moment, and yes I know what assuming can do, but humor me. Every single candidate that the administration at P.W. chooses to interview must be "qualified"....if that is the case, then why not just simply call for an open process where every "qualified" candidate has the opportunity to present it's program for the future of P.W. basketball. Then based on the qualifications, vision, energy, knowledge, organizational skills, and discipline of the best candidate let's give them the opportunity to lead this program.

If Coach Kitchen is as good as you say, why is he not leading a program somewhere else?

Admit it...you and Black76 have been raving about Coach Kitchen, but have not considered that there may be a better candidate. Will you support anyone that is not Charlie Kitchen.

As for me I support what is best for P.W. and choose not to pre-determine to give this job until we find the best candidate.

[fromtheparkinglot]

jumper...

I am quite impressed that you know Coach Kitchen's resume....impressed, but suspicious.

Let's assume for a moment, and yes I know what assuming can do, but humor me. Every single candidate that the administration at P.W. chooses to interview must be "qualified"....if that is the case, then why not just simply call for an open process where every "qualified" candidate has the opportunity to present it's program for the future of P.W. basketball. Then based on the qualifications, vision, energy, knowledge, organizational skills, and discipline of the best candidate let's give them the opportunity to lead this program.

If Coach Kitchen is as good as you say, why is he not leading a program somewhere else?

Admit it...you and Black76 have been raving about Coach Kitchen, but have not considered that there may be a better candidate. Will you support anyone that is not Charlie Kitchen.

As for me I support what is best for P.W. and choose not to pre-determine to give this job until we find the best candidate.