blackhawkdown

Must not have been there long - not much experience. What in the world is Calahan and Clark doing over there? You hire a guy in his 50s to coach the girls? He also had been out of coaching for yrs and won't be teaching at the school! Then, from what you say, they have hired a guy who has not been an assistant coach that long and is not a teacher at Webb as far as I could tell. What is he going to do at Harriman - just coach!? That makes a ton of sense. That is the best we could get? Why post the flippin job until the 23rd? They haven't even waited to see who has applied for the position. They have no concern for the program and have lost their minds. I hope that school board members take close notice of Calahan's coaching hires (what a joke), especially after his previous alleged tackling of a girl student at the school, and get rid of this idiot! I have sat around, watched, and listened to what has been going on at the High school - pathetic. No wonder, Toni McGriff (Superintendent) was booted out of the system - she hired nimrods like Calahan. I know one thing coming from a small town, you don't come in and tick people off or you'll be gone very quick. I'd say Calahan has already dug a grave about 5 1/2 feet deep with both of these hires and other past problems. I am sad to see the community I grew up in and school I graduated from be under the leadership of this man. Harriman has a very proud tradition and should be represented by by a man that makes educated hires.

Who in the crap is Wes Jones? The only Wes Jones I know of is the head football coach at Hardin Valley. If there is another Wes Jones that coaches basketball in the area, then he is not a licensed teacher in the State of TN. So, what you're saying is that Harriman either hired the football coach from Hardin Valley to coach basketball - ha - or they hired another coach that is a non-teacher. Brilliant hire Harriman! Sounds good for the rest of the teams in the district.

Wes Jones

I know from your posts that you have some inside connections as well, but I have some directly tied to the situation too. I know for a fact that Davis was offered the job well before it was posted. I also know that he declined, but is re-thinking the proposition. Obviously I will not divulge how I know, but I promise you that did happen. You might want to check with your inside sources again. As a matter of fact, I've also heard he was still in the running for the job. Once again, I do not know who the other 3 coaches your talking about are (I'll check in to that and find out by tomorrow), but I do know that very qualified graduates from the school have applied for the job as well and it would be a shame if they choose someone that does not have any stake in the community. Especially considering the fact that the school has had 6-7 boys coaches since Pickell retired in 1995. What's that - a new coach every 3 yrs or so? You'd think they would try to find someone to actually stay @ the school. If Calahan hires someone that is a big ????, I can almost guarntee that Calahan won't make it past next year as Principal @ Harriman. That also comes from some pretty good sources.

I won't argue with any of your points. Don't think it will be local unless Coach Bertram gets a chance. Lots of coaches but Coach King has been there nine or ten years. i agree it is a big hire since Harriman has had to hire two basketball coaches.

I would like to know why YOU think it is a pool of 3 good coaches? What qualifies as a good coach in YOUR eyes? Why would they have concluded interviews when Mr. Clark has been gone on vacation for a while now and Calahan has not been around either and then post it on TSSAA until July 23? Makes no sense. However, the hiring of the girls coach made no sense either. They first tried to hire a guy who couldn't pass a background check (Calahan's buddy from Stone) and then hired a guy who coached at Roane State (whoopty doo!) and will not even teach @ the school - huh???? He'll be there real long I'm sure - ha! Especially when I know they had some people apply that had graduated from the school (couple of people), one played on the only State Basketball Championship team in the school's history, and has been an assistant coach for years in AAA in one of the toughest districts in E. TN. When family wants to come back home and they are qualified, you hire them. I also know that Calahan calls all the shots and Clark has very little to do with any of the hiring. You may be right about the fact that they have already interviewed and/or hired someone, but it will be Calahan's decision and nobody elses. I know Calahan and not Clark offered the job to Davis from Wartburg. Calahan did this before they posted the job - this is against the law by the way. Not a knock on the young man, but as far as I know, he was the head coach of the boys and girls middle school basketball teams in Wartburg for maybe 3 years! First, its middle school - really!? Second, its Wartburg - no offense. Third, he's only coached for 3 years. Fourth, he's not had a chance to truly learn from someone who has been an established coach, especially @ a high level because he has been doing his own thing since he was hired. The reason he offered the job to him is because Davis knows the ex-girls coach from Stone - my educated guess. If anybody considers a middle school coach a homerun, then you have lost your mind. Especially, when you have other people that have applied that not only graduated from the school, but have a lot more experience in coaching. We'll see what happens, but Calahan has lost his mind if he doesn't "thouroughly" look at the pool of applicants, interview them "fairly" and think really hard about what is most important for not only the school, but his job. By the way, this post is not necessarily directed at you - blackhawkdown - or anybody else, it's just my take and what I know about the situation.

You are correct on most of your points. In fact all of them probably except for one. Davis from Wartburg was not offered the job. I can assure you that did not happen. You are very knowlegable and no offense taken.

If not from this group, then who?

Not at liberty to say, but will come from a pool of three good coaches.

If you don't mind me asking which is the correct one? Like I said i've just been going on mainly what's been going around so you never know what might leak out. I would hope the one that's true would be Davis from Wartburg!

Interviews have been concluded. Coach will NOT come from this group. (Unless something drastic happens).

BlueDevilPride24- We definitely got a great hire in the girls team Johnny Jones, former college coach!

 

Some names being passed around for the boys job are Denard Bertram, the middle school coach and assistant for the high school. Thomas Davis, the coach for Wartburg Middle. Bryan Powers, the Rockwood middle school coach applied (has like a 45 game winning streak with a consecutive championships) seems to know what he's doing! As hilarious as this sounds it's been rumored that Larry Works has applied! Haven't heard anything on who is the front-runner but I assume we should all hear something very soon as the kids start school in a little over a month! Know one thing though to you all reading this.. Bobby Clark knows how rich of a basketball tradition and whoever gets this job will know how to run this program and keep it at thte top of it's district and it's region.

One name out of the above four is correct.

Heard he decided not to take Harriman after all...

Think Harriman decided he was not a good fit from what I heard.

Joe Layne / Wartburg

Very well done ....

Other than in Region 2 Grace is ineligible for tournament play this year and next. Knox Christian is not playing basketball this year. Rejoins District 3A next year.

Heard through the grapevine that Coach Jones has a problem with remembering who he scheduled for next two years. Put Rockwood and Boyd-Buchanan in a bind by agreeing to play then backing out after signing contracts with two other schools. Obviously needs a planner or a concsious.

The Eagles are off to a great preseason already. It looks like it's going to be a GREAT year!

Saw them play this summer at Chattanooga Team Camp. Very talented squad. Footballers got frustrated and started taking a few cheap shots at their opponents. If they control emotions they have a chance to have a good year in basketball also. If they don't, they will be in foul trouble in big games.

I predict more to come. Story not dead............

Referring to a previous post, Rockwood and Harriman are not dropping Grace in football. Have two year contracts in football. Have to play all teams in region for playoff seeding purposes. Rockwood, Harriman and Greenback are not playing Grace in basketball. Do not have to play all teams in your district for basketball. Especially one that is ineligible for post season. But again Rockwood and Harriman will play Grace in football. Do not think you will see a protest in the form of a forfeit.

LCHS has lost a very good coach but fortunately they have not lost him as a teacher. A very good man who has the respect of many. Disappointed LCHS administration didn't step up for Coach Lee. Coach Millsaps must have forgotten what it is like to be a coach. A very good coach in his day at Loudon, but hopefully not naive enough to think everyone supported him during his tenure. Coach Lee will move on and enjoy life. Best wishes to a "great" man.

Heard through the grapevine that Grace reported another violation to the TSSAA. Any one out there know if this is true?

I would love to coach a Single A team from Knoxville.... There is zero need to try to get kids to play illegally. If you can't beat Rockwood to go to the sub-state then you should be sitting at home.

I agree. Could not beat Harriman this year, so they sat at the house. No illegal kids playing (that anyone knows about) at that time since Williams had been released from the program.

Don't know this to be fact, but heard Grace lost Monday's appeal hearing. Post season bans stay in effect. Fines reduced. Can argue back and forth (20 pages of posts) but Grace is still guilty of violating TSSAA rules.

Jobs should be lost?....who are you to call for someones job?...what do you do for a living? I want to go there the second something happens and call for your dang job!...if you had one dang clue as to what ACTUALLY happened you would feel like the dumby that you really are!...GRACE DID NOT RECRUIT GET OVER IT PEOPLE A PLAYER WAS DEEMED INELIGIBLE WAY AFTER THE FACT FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR. SO WHAT NOW?...THEY ARE STILL GOING TO BEAT YOU THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR AND YEARS AFTER THAT. NO 14-0 THIS YEAR? BUT I GUARANTEE AN UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM PLAY YOU!!!

I don't want to shock you. A school does not receive a two year post season ban and $22,600 fine for an admistrative error. The adminstrative error was used last year(2008-2009) for basketball with the FL transfer. Those can only be used one time. I do not believe you know the entire story would be my guess. I doubt any one does other than Grace adminstration.

If you recall, most of those violations against Temple were for football. They were forced to vacate wins, return plaques, fine, etc. Really did not matter since football was eliminated at Temple due to low numbers, no coaches (Skogen left), etc. Grace and Temple are a little different situation. Grace got Temple's punishment last year. This is second year in a row.

That is the story out there right now. Plus $22,600 fine. Will have trouble in sports other than football with scheduling. Will be no reason to play them since they are ineligible. Football will be different due to two year contracts but other sports, there will be no obligation to play them. Even district 3A schools will be under no obligation to schedule & play Grace.

Surprised anyone would take the job at this point without knowing TSSAA punishment. Grace coaches feel punishment will be vacating wins for using ineligible player. Rumor ( but does come from TSSAA source) is punishment will be the worse ever handed out by TSSAA. So maybe something in between.

New week. Both are 0-0 as well as the remaining six schools. The schedules, records, etc. thrown out at 10 A.M. tomorrow.

Know a coach who has talked to TSSAA recently. Feels like TSSAA is on the right track and will deal with Grace appropriately.