rajohnson31508

Can we please move on from this TOPIC!? Im sure there are several teams over the years that would love to have a RE-DO and/or RE-PLAY after getting the shaft from the officials at Smiddy Arena (Bradley Central). Get over it and move on!!!

PS....Bradley blew an 11pt lead in the 2nd half that had nothing to do with the officials!!!!!!

What does Cocke County have this year?

How good will they be this year? How have they done in the preseason?

I agree. Playing 10 to 12 kids is not a bad thing. That's one reason they are so hard to beat. If the resources are there use them.

In a 32 minute game there are NOT enough minutes to realistically play 11-12 guys. You are taking away minutes from your top 3-5 players when you do this!!!!!!

BOTTOM LINE>>>>>>>>>Keep your best 5 players on the FLOOR the majority of the time!

Any thoughts on this years boys basketball team? Who have the scrimmaged in the preseason?

What's the outlook for Cocke County this season? How have they done in their preseason scrimmages so far?

I must agree totally with all of your post. I know OR is young this year, but there is NO excuse for them to be below .500. They are extremely boring to watch, and play like they are scared to make mistakes. Not sure why OR hired Wortman anyway? Other than winning a GIRLS state championship (AA) in 1995 with Hickman County, what has he done? Didn't really win at LeVergne or Shelbyville and has jumped around a lot. Not to mention, he is a Middle Tennesse guy. His style of coaching doesn't fit at Oak Ridge! The athletes will not continue to play for a guy like Wortman. Bad hire for OR!

Yes, OR is getting what they deserve!

I've had the opportunity to watch several chattanooga teams play this year, and I would say this could be one of the toughest AA districts/region in the state. Tyner, Brainerd, Red Bank, Howard could all make runs in post season.

Oak Ridge lost again tonight in an embarrassing loss to Hardin Valley who had only won 2 games in the last two season combined (tonight was their 3rd win in two years). I think Oak Ridge's record this season is 5-8...something like that. I'm sure Oak Ridge is down this year, but they shouldn't be losing to Hardin Valley.

Any thoughts on what is going on with the basketball program at Oak Ridge? When is the last time Oak Ridge had a losing season?

As an assistant girls coach at UCHS, as well as a teacher there for the past 5 years, I can assure you that most everyone at Union Co., myself included, loves Coach Jesse. He has done a tremendous job with the boys program at our school. So rest assured you are getting a top-notch, young coach.

The boys will be devestated to say the least, but good luck to Coach Jesse!

 

---rSquared

I know Coach Jesse personally, and he will do a great job at Union County. Great coach and person!

If one school gets the extra practice time, every school should get the practice time. This option eliminates late practices, helps schools who share gyms with other teams, and allows students to have a break from the hustle and bussle of classwork.

I agree totally. My daughter had last period basketball in high school, and it made life on me a lot easier.

Good Insight! What a tool! If OR can get him, hire him! Watched him for years with less talented kids and have a chance to win most of the times. Never will forget the way he handled himself during a summer camp at OR against Maryville and Coach Nelson who thought Lee Humphrey was getting roughed up during the game! Class act!!!

So your saying Oak Ridge should hire this guy because he has coached "less talented kids" and "had a chance to win most of the time" Did you really just post that? I'm sure that would convince the OR community that he is the right guy

There are a ton of coaches that get a lot out of their players not sure that makes them a candidate for this job.

I just wonder how many coaches Oak Ridge could realistically hire that have won a state championship besides Coach Buck. That to me is a huge accomplishment at any level. The man can coach, but I do not think it is official or even a done deal for that matter at this point.

Winning a state championship at Pickett County (Single A) 15 years ago does not make him a lock for the job. I can name several coaches that have state championships on their resume that are not very good coaches. I also think there are other coaches that have applied for the job that have won state championships (dont know that for sure). Ask yourself this, if Buck is such a great coach/hire WHY IS HE STILL AT STONE MEMORIAL? I'm sure he has tried to get other jobs in the past. Someone told me he has been trying to get out of crossville for years, and now all of the sudden he is the leading candidate for the Oak Ridge job. I don't see it

There will always be people upset with the hire. You have obviously not seen this guy coach. He is an excellent coach, and that was shown by usually having less talent in their district over the past couple of years and still competing and beating the top teams in that district.

 

Will he get it done at OR, we will have to wait and see. I feel the biggest adjustment will be learning to handle the personalities in the community of OR. /huh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh:" border="0" alt="huh.gif" />

 

Good Luck to Coach Buck.

I have seen him coach...not impressed!

If Im not mistaken, this is the first year that Stone has won the district, and the district was down considerbly from years past. I wouldn't even consider that a strong district. How did they do in the region...think they lost in the semi-finals? Yes, they had a good year, but lets not jump to conclusions. Simply winning the district is not the standard that Oak Ridge has set!

Look at his body of work over the last 15 years. At Cumberland Co. he struggled to win there year in and year out. At the time, it was a very large school (over 2,000 students?). Their are several coaches in the area that compete and beat some of the top teams in their district. I wouldn't say that qualifies them for one of the better jobs in the state!

A guy that has been in Crossville for 15 years is not prepared to handle the Oak Ridge job. Nothing against the guy, but he would be a terrible hire!

Agree 100%. He will do a fantastic job!

I must disagree TOTALLY. What has he done at Cumberland Co. and Stone Memorial over the last ten years? Plus, coaching at Oak Ridge is just a little different than the environment he is used to at Cumberland and Stone Memorial. I can't see Oak Ridge making that move, especially after the splash they made in getting Blade from Hillsboro. I feel they can do A LOT better.

Could be a surprise hire and a good one!

Give us a hint of who and why you think that

IrishBBall didn't you say in one of your other posts that you coached the Knoxville Thunderbolts Semi pro team? Did Coach Placeres from Gatlinburg Pittman played on that team? What do you think of him for the Oak Ridge job?

I'm sure he's doing a great job at GP, but does not enough experience/success to handle the Oak Ridge job.

I am from OS, but I'm also a really good friend of Todd's. I think there's a lot of reasons why he'd be interested in the job. I'm sure he'll have his day to interview for it.

 

If I were him, I'd be interested in talking about the job with the AD. I think it'd be a tough decision to make though. Sometimes going home can be tough even though I believe he'd do a great job. I think he'll have a good D-2 job soon if he keeps on his current pace. The pay of a good D-2 job and the ORHS job should be pretty close. If that's the case, I'd rather coach college ball ,have more free time, not have to teach classes, or deal with parents. That's just me though. Todd loves everything about Oak Ridge , so who knows. I will say this, if Todd got that job, I believe he'd be there until the day he retires. He's probably the best fit of the names I've heard tossed around.

 

What do you think etcoach? What would you do? If you were coach at Maryville College, would you give it up to return to William Bount to coach and teach (Assuming you actually liked being a head coach and liked the pay increase). Let's assume that no media positions are available and that the income from that doesn't exist.

How can you say a guy is the best fit for a job, and he does not have any head boys coaching experience at the high school or college level. I've said this before and I will say it again....it will be a little different coaching Oak Ridge boys compared to Maryville College (Girls), Roane State (Girls), and Oliver Springs (Girls). Its a totally different animal....regardless of what you say.

Also, how can you say that one would have more free time coaching at the college level? Are you serious? Everyone knows that college coaching (at any level) takes up more time than coaching in high school.

How do we know that Wright left Oak Ridge on good terms anyway. Seems fishy that he would leave oak ridge for an oliver springs assistant position? Just a thought......

He is a young energetic assistant coach that was at LC, and is probably going to CAK with Wells. His name is brought up because he has many connections in the Oak Ridge/OS area. He would be a great hire for any team, but OR is probably wanting to bring in a big name. Stewart would also be a good hire b/c he coaches an AAU team that has 1 current and 2 future basketball studs from ORHS. One of those future studs is leaning to go somewhere else, but would definitely stay if Stewart was hired.

I can assure you Oak Ridge will not hire a guy just because he coaches an AAU team with one or two future Oak Ridge players. Give me a break. Stewart would not be a good hire for Oak Ridge! To be honest, I have never heard of the guy.

I would take Jody Wright over Green every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Not even close! Not to say Green wouldn't be a good choice, but not over Jody Wright.

Come on now...don't put words in my mouth! I never said anything about taking Green over Wright. Jody just won back to back state championships. Jody would be the front runner for most high school jobs in the state regardless of the competition.

The position that Pearl was/is creating would pay much less than the job at OR. AG was going to Boston University with Tony Jones until that job fell through. I agree Aaron would be successful at OR if hired.

 

I would disagree that coaching girls is a different world. Coaching is coaching and a successful h.s. and college coach would have all the attributes needed to be effective as a coach no matter hs or college, boys or girls! You're telling me his college body of work at Roane State and Maryville College isn't as important as a little more h.s. experience. Don't know Wright just speaking of a successful coach in general.

Anyone that has coached girls and boys basketball would tell you there is a huge difference. This is a discussion for another day.

David Scott would be an excellent choice as would Jody Wright. It is obvious that Jody has a better track record at Fulton than David who has been Jill's assistant for the past several years. Both know the game and how to handle the kids. Jody is now in administration at Fulton and would probably have to teach at OR. Might or might not be a cut in pay. Admin vs. teaching, who knows. Aaron Green, imo, would be down the list. If you have ever watched him when he was coaching @ Cleveland, he was a walking time bomb. He can get out of control. Interesting that he would leave Cleveland to be a Grad assiistant @ TN and then start interviewing for HS jobs. I would have thougth that the next step would be a college assistant's job someplace. It may be that he does not wish to leave Knoxpatch area. Just a few thoughts and opinions. Maybe even open up a can of worms.

Yeah I have watched Green coach at Cleveland when he beat Jody Wright (Fulton) and Mark Blevins (Bearden) during the Super 16 at Bearden. Also watched him coach Cleveland in the Boys AAA State Tournament in 2005.

Todd Wright Oak-Ridge player has history with OR. Great Coach won everywhere he has been. Won @ OS Won @ Roane State Won @ Maryville College. And he has applied for the job. He also has Coached Boys AAU in summers and I certainly think if you can Coach Girls you can Coach Boys. I just can t believe you would bring in an outsider when you have Coach Wright right their ready to go. He also has already been an assistant at OR for Boys. Hire A. Green he will be gone first time he gets the chance to be a College Coach. He has been promised a job at UT with Pearl as soon as a paid Assistant moves on.

I totally disagree! Coaching the girls at Oliver Springs, Roane State, and Maryville is TOTALLY different than coaching the male athletes at Oak Ridge. I believe that coaching girls is a different world. Plus, the only head coaching experience he has at the high school level is Oliver Springs Girls.....I wouldn't make the hire!

If Aaron Green is interested in the job you would be crazy not to hire him. From what I understand he has two kids now, and is wanting to get back into high school coaching if the right situation comes available. The college lifestyle is not the right situation for his family. It should tell you something about Green if Pearl is wanting to keep him on his staff. I have been told that Pearl has created a spot on the staff for Green this next year. So to say Green would leave OR as soon as a paid assistant moves on doesn't make sense considering he has a chance to stay on staff now. Green was successful at Cleveland (similar demographics to Oak Ridge), and has two years experience under one of the elite coaches in college basketball. Not to mention, the success he had as a high school and collegiate player. Its a no brainer as far as i'm concerned.

I know that Aaron Green has interest in the job but also Clarence Swearengen is putting his name in the mix. He coached at UT under Jerry Green and under Buzz Peterson. He played at UT under coach Devoe and played professional ball over seas. He is a great guy and an awesome coach. Well there is two more names.

Not sure if Clarence would be a good fit since he does not have any head coaching experience and I think there are some skeletons in his closet as well. Just my opinion!

Aaron Green would seem like a great fit considering he had success at Cleveland High School (similar to Oak Ridge), and has two years under Bruce Pearl as well! He played at Tennessee under Kevin Oneill and Jerry Green. Aaron is an excellent coach and person. Oak Ridge would be lucky to have him.

Who is David Scott and where is he coaching now? I have never heard of the guy........not trying to be mean either

Did Green withdraw his name because Thomas was offered the job first?

I know from someone thats close to Aaron that he withdrew his name when they called to request a 2nd interview. That was early Monday afternoon. Thomas said he turned down the job on Tuesday. Timeline suggests that Thomas was offered the job (if he even was offered) after Green withdrew his name. That would make sense considering it was down to those two guys.