Top 5 Coaches in Southern Ohio

[bvmv4life]

1)Ones with Rings...

2)One's with regional titles or at least 5 district titles...




3)Everyone else...

my thoughts exactly.....Gary Kellough! Especially the last 5 years....stats dont lie....

[JIMMY THE GREEK]

1)Ones with Rings...

2)One's with regional titles or at least 5 district titles...




3)Everyone else...

my thoughts exactly.....Gary Kellough! Especially the last 5 years....stats dont lie....

Rings? Regional Titles? That's plural (meaning more than one) Gary has one of each, nor does he have 5 District Titles. But he belongs on the list.

[conehead]

I still don't get why longevity has so much to do with it. All coaches have to start somewhere, so why not be a good one from the start? Davis coached at Chesapeake for 3 years and took his team somewhere Persin (or any other coaches) never did. I think that shows that he knows what he's doing good enough. The guy just knows how to get the kids to do what he wants, even if it does take a couple temper tantrums :P His system works. Longevity will come when he's been there a long time.

[Out of Bounds]

Conehead...you are right to an extent. Longevity does not make you a great coach. And I do have Davis on my list. I was around when he came to Peebles and absolutely was blown away by his professionalism and the way the kids likes and responded to him. Then to see what he has done at Peake and has the same respect of his kids there as well is impressive in my book. I think he has that "IT" factor. But the longevity and wins is something that goes hand in hand when you look at the names on these lists. It's hard to label someone with 3 years of experience. I think if you look at two young coaches with not much longevity but has everyone's attention, Davis and Stiverson are definitely at the tops of the list.

[expert witness]

(1) Donnie Saunders (southgallia)
(1A) Norm Person (OakHill)

**ONLY TWO GUYS TO HAVE GYMS/COURTS NAMED AFTER THEM! HOWS THAT FOR QUALIFICATIONS.

(2) Everybody else

GO REBELS

[LetsGoPSU]

I love coneheads final line.....longivity will come when he has been there a long time....sounds good to me

[Heavy D]

Is longevity a requirement to being a great coach? If so, what are the other requirements. Should we all just make up our own so that we can justify why our favorites are great?

Not sure what you are talking about? The coaches I listed usually do pretty well in the tournaments and yes to have longevity in this day and age says they are good coaches, plus having 300 to 500 wins don't hurt. Instead of you running your mouth about someone else list, why not make up your own list.

So you are telling me that even if a coach has a losing record, as long as he has coached for a lot of years he is a good coach? WOW! I know a guy who has coached for 25 years and has won a whopping 18% of his games. But he must be good cause he has been at it for so long.

My point is, everyone on here has a reason why "their guy" is a great coach. Some say a winning record over a long period, some say long tourny runs, some say longevity, some say he teaches life long lessons, and my all time favorite, "he takes bad players and gets the best out of them."

[all-time athlete]

If you coach varsity you desreve credit, I help assist for 8'th grade girls and that can be difficult, the pressures of being a mens varsity coach has to be tough.....They all deserve some form of credit, true some are better then others but if you have never tried coaching you can't understand how truly hard it really is.

[Heavy D]

If you coach varsity you desreve credit, I help assist for 8'th grade girls and that can be difficult, the pressures of being a mens varsity coach has to be tough.....They all deserve some form of credit, true some are better then others but if you have never tried coaching you can't understand how truly hard it really is.

I agree, but I think the term "great" is marginalized on here as it is thrown around so much. If all coaches are great, then they are all average are they not? Yes coaching is a lot of hard work, and takes a great deal of time and effort if you do it justice. Therefore, a top 5 list is hard to qualify in my opinion.

[Charge]

Heavy D where is your list? The coaches I listed didn't all have longevity, the coaches I listed that have longevity are good coaches. The way some parents rip coaches for not playing their kids, I can't believe a coach would make it very long with a losing record without they knew there was no talent there. I laugh when I read on here about a team going pretty far in the tournaments and someone saying if the coach would play the right players. Heavy D I have read some of your posts you seem to always write the negative about coaches. Were you one of those players that didn't get to play because of the coach or is there just not any coaches that are good in your eyes? What puts them on your list?

[ty.stephens]

Conehead...you are right to an extent. Longevity does not make you a great coach. And I do have Davis on my list. I was around when he came to Peebles and absolutely was blown away by his professionalism and the way the kids likes and responded to him. Then to see what he has done at Peake and has the same respect of his kids there as well is impressive in my book. I think he has that "IT" factor. But the longevity and wins is something that goes hand in hand when you look at the names on these lists. It's hard to label someone with 3 years of experience. I think if you look at two young coaches with not much longevity but has everyone's attention, Davis and Stiverson are definitely at the tops of the list.


I wouldnt say that he was liked by the players. That is not true. The man may know the game but has the most negative and selfish attitude I have ever seen.

[Heavy D]

Heavy D where is your list? The coaches I listed didn't all have longevity, the coaches I listed that have longevity are good coaches. The way some parents rip coaches for not playing their kids, I can't believe a coach would make it very long with a losing record without they knew there was no talent there. I laugh when I read on here about a team going pretty far in the tournaments and someone saying if the coach would play the right players. Heavy D I have read some of your posts you seem to always write the negative about coaches. Were you one of those players that didn't get to play because of the coach or is there just not any coaches that are good in your eyes? What puts them on your list?

Are you a coach, or just a coaches wife, girl friend, son, daughter...? Or are you, like me, just someone on here with an opinion? I give credit to a coach when I think he deserves it. List? No I don't have a list. This type of list is subjective, and I think it would have to be fluid to have any merit. Which contradicts your claim of longevity being a factor of a good coach.

[Charge]

?

[The Razor]

How has Jim Derrow of Wellston not been mentioned? Look what he did in the 90's. He's not only a class coach, but also a class act. He's been at the same school for nearly 30 years. That's dedication!

[dime-a-dozen]

Top 5 coaches in Southern Ohio NOW, Not retired ones or fired ones! haha. But ones that have got the job done and are still getting the job done! You say Davis is Selfish. I thought the same when he first arrived at Peake. And i have now seen yes, he is selfish to the extint of He wants his player and program to have success so he can have success. Well if a coach wants success does this make hime selfish or a good coach? Longevity. Cool Word Who cares! Davis at Peebles Great records good tournament teams. In Indiana as a Coach, Final 4, But i do believe he was an assistant there. Three years at Chesapeake 2 OVC Championships and a March to Columbus. Needles to say he has been around a while and has produced winning everywhere he has been! So yes he has gotten it done and is still getting it done, thats why he deserves to be in the Top 5!

Also Norm Persin.
I recall his first year back as an Oak they wanted him out! The parents didn't like the way he acted or his mouth! But that is Norm! Every Coach is different. And i believe that got Oak Hill nation the ring they wanted! I lived through the years at Chesapeake. Great Man, Great Coach! Had tons of reginal finals. Has a court named after him. He helps make kids better all over the word. Working Nike Camps, Jordan Camps, Lebron Camps and im sure even more. So if people like that want him on bored to instruct their camps that even says more about this man. That is why i believe he is #1 out of the top 5 best coaches in Southern Ohio!

[JacksonFan12]

This is a great question....and definitely a tough one to answer since there's so many good coaches in the area.

5 - Jim Derrow, Wellston
4 - Howie Caldwell, Eastern Meigs
3 - Jeff Lisath, Piketon
2 - Dave Young, North Adams
1 - Tom Barrick, Wheelersburg

[Yossarian]

I agree that talent has a lot to do with winning. But there are the other factors that play into longevity and a winning program. And those two things go hand in hand. Longevity usually means you help develop a good program all the way down to Jr. High. Winning on all those levels over a long period of time bleeds into the community and into the bitty leagues. Fundamentals and kids playing all year long are key to having the talent year in and year out. The other factor in longevity is what goes on off the court. Maintaining strong relationships with administrations and the ever changing boards. Maintaining relationships with parents of current and future players. It is a huge juggling act and every coach has strong staff to help with all these factors. The Young's, Osbourne's, Barrick's all have coaches that have been with them a long time and each will tell you they can't do it with them and the assistants will say the same. It's a character issue. Some coaches might have great knowledge of the game and great player relationships but can't manage the off court stuff and that hurts their chances of longevity.

My top 5 active coaches in no order:
Beuchler - Eastern Brown
Davis - Cheasepeake
Young - North Adams
Stiverson - Logan Elm
Barrick - Wheelersburg

A few that should be on the list:
Person - Oak Hill
Maddux - Warren
Caldwell - Southern

I love the discipline these coaches bring to they're program and the way the players sell out for them every night.

I feel that Howie Caldwell from Reedsville Eastern would have to be in the running. He year in and year out takes a group of young men and wins games. Even the years when you look at the talent he has to work with and say maybe a .500 win percentage team, he still takes them and is making a run at a sectional or even a district title.

Max, I agree. If I had to win one game I would take Howie Caldwell over most if not all. He gets the most from his players year in and year out.

[SOCFAN1430]

I agree that talent has a lot to do with winning. But there are the other factors that play into longevity and a winning program. And those two things go hand in hand. Longevity usually means you help develop a good program all the way down to Jr. High. Winning on all those levels over a long period of time bleeds into the community and into the bitty leagues. Fundamentals and kids playing all year long are key to having the talent year in and year out. The other factor in longevity is what goes on off the court. Maintaining strong relationships with administrations and the ever changing boards. Maintaining relationships with parents of current and future players. It is a huge juggling act and every coach has strong staff to help with all these factors. The Young's, Osbourne's, Barrick's all have coaches that have been with them a long time and each will tell you they can't do it with them and the assistants will say the same. It's a character issue. Some coaches might have great knowledge of the game and great player relationships but can't manage the off court stuff and that hurts their chances of longevity.

My top 5 active coaches in no order:
Beuchler - Eastern Brown
Davis - Cheasepeake
Young - North Adams
Stiverson - Logan Elm
Barrick - Wheelersburg

A few that should be on the list:
Person - Oak Hill
Maddux - Warren
Caldwell - Southern

I love the discipline these coaches bring to they're program and the way the players sell out for them every night.

I feel that Howie Caldwell from Reedsville Eastern would have to be in the running. He year in and year out takes a group of young men and wins games. Even the years when you look at the talent he has to work with and say maybe a .500 win percentage team, he still takes them and is making a run at a sectional or even a district title.

Max, I agree. If I had to win one game I would take Howie Caldwell over most if not all. He gets the most from his players year in and year out.

Agree great list. Absolutely nothing against Coach Persin, but i think Tom Barrick should have the new gym at Burg named after him if it's not or not going to be. Just like Larry Jordan at Southeastern and Norm Persin at Peake he has done a ton for that program. Name it after him

[Peake]

Cool list.

1. Persin---if he is not on your list you shouldn't even attempt to put a list together. I don't need to put his accomplishments up here there are way too many. National Coach of the Year says all I need to know. Of all the coaches in SEO he has a ring, no one else does. Chilli is not SE Ohio imo.
2. Barrick---How many final fours has he went to? The guy just wins and wins and wins.
3. Young---Excellent coach who has had nothing but disciplined, well coached, hard nosed kids.
4. Davis---Pretty successful so far and has been absolutely loaded most years. A final four will land you on my list.
5. Lafon---The guy is my pick to be the next GREAT coach out of SEO.

[LetsGoPSU]

Just goes to show the talented basketball minds in SE Ohio, there are a number of great coaches and each has his own talents