K2ruth

I think it is because the volleyball community in Knoxville has exploded. There is more interest than at any other time in history because of K2. Look what it did for Webb, Farragut and others. You also see parents caring about the sport, and the tragedy that occurred at Bearden. For years Anderson County was the only state power in our area. As this years state playoffs showed, Knoxville has passed Nashville and Chattanooga has disappeared.

Wow. I am a Webb fan,but the reason to play volleyball there is for the coaching, not the competition, in every sport. The TSSAA should combine all privates. Webb should win, or be in the the finals every year. They don't have the size to compete with the other schools. CAK, I strongly disagree. They have ONLY been competitive when they had a 6 foot 6 player in small school, and only one once with her. CAK is improving, but Catholic is better, and better coached. If CAK had Coach Jones or Garland these last four years we would all be saying four peat! I heard it was Kara Gregg? If so, is Coach Jones going to train her?

Do you think Mike would stay and mentor a rookie coach? You also raise an interesting point about teams that lost key players. Of the better teams, Farragut, Bearden, CAK, Catholic, Anderson County and Webb, all but Anderson County and Webb had alot of seniors. Farragut had the super Soph who was their best, Webb had a great frosh, and AC was fresh and soph loaded.

At CAK there is pressure to have the coach stay. They lose alot of talent, and I don't know if he wants to spend the time rebuilding. He does teach, and they may not agree to have him teach if he does not coach which would keep him coaching. This job does not pay well at all, so the teaching component is heavy. I think he will stay. No one wants to run him off so it is purely his call. Mike Jones and a young coach to train make the most sense at Catholic. It would be similar to what they do at AC where the old coach mentors the steady stream of young coaches. That would let Catholic hire a young coach and giver her a safety net of Mike's experience. Catholic should be loaded next year. I still thought they had alot of talent this year, just no size.

I agree and disagree. If Coach Garland had the talent of CAK, Bearden or Farragut over the last four years he would have won multiple state championships. I don't agree about the lack of talent. They had several talented girls.

I think KVA may be in trouble. The interest of running a club next year might not be there. That combined with the close association with CBFO and the people who run it is a perceived problem. If Anderson County opens their club up to other schools, which I suspect will happen after they get thru a club season, it will offer a better alternative to K2 then KVA. KVA wants to be K2 and they don't have the coaching or the facility. They are way to high for what they get. Anderson County has a deep pool of potential coaches. If they ran a non power club, only used coaches with actual experience as opposed to girls that just graduated high school, and got fees between 1500 -1000 dollars, played 7-9 tournaments, there is a market for that, especially for north Knoxville which is growing. All of the AC people, players and coaches, left KVA together. I think the sun is setting on the "agenda." Sad that Bearden had to pay the price.

Hard Angle, me too! I got fired up when I read the post by SR5 this morning. Cooling down!

This job becomes less attractive to the better coaches the more negative comments that get left. A straight out of college never coached before person like Kara might be the best you can do.

Hard Angle, Philly is the most plugged in person on this board with Bearden volleyball and Coach Hames is her first choice. Hames also coached at Catholic and was contacted when Jones left but she thought Webb was a better job, and fit. That is not conjecture. To say that there are better coaches in Knoxville right now is simply not true. Philly, do you want Coach Hames? As far as criticism, that is all some of these posters do. They wouldn't be happy with anyone, if that person didn't make their daughter the star.

Those "Oldies but Goodies" would have a hard time being able to be an asst with one of the areas competitive club teams. The game has changed alot. It is much faster paced. The Hames are THE coaches everyone wants. They were even number 1 on Philly AI's list and she doesn't like anyone! Catholic and Farragut wanted Coach Hames bad the last time those jobs game open but they couldn't offer as sweet of a deal! I promise you that as intense as Anderson County seems to be about volleyball, if they thought they could get her they would open up the checkbook. This is a joke

Philly, I still can't figure out an agenda other than starting his own club. Does it have to do with partnering with CBFO?

I am not a Dave fan but I really liked his daughter as a setter. She moved the ball around, was creative. Solid player. Knoxville has not had a really great setter in a while.

Hard Angle, I promise you that every AD in Knoxville that is serious about finding a quality coach will first, check to see if Coach Hames is interested, and second, will get feedback on who is out there. She is the gold standard of Knoxville coaches. No one else is close. You and several other posters are critical of everyone except her! Farragut, Bearden, Catholic, CAK, Anderson County, Oak Ridge would snap her up if she showed any interest in leaving Webb which she turned into a power. But she won't leave. Also, no disrespect Hard Angle, but you and several other posters rarely comment on anything other than to say no that's not the case. Name one high school coach better than Hames? There aren't any!

BB, there have been some good coaches in Knoxville but none with the success that have followed Coach Hames. I wasn't saying that she would be involved in the hiring process, just responding to Hard Angle who said no one cares what the Hames thought which was kind of a silly statement. Any ideas on coaches yet?

Any word on a new coach? I heard that a certain parent, active in club, was being extremely...involved in the process.

In times best Setters were usually the best player on the team. Now the better athletes are developed as Liberos and hitters. Setting has become an afterthought. In the last 10 years Knoxville has produced only 1 truly standout setter and that was McGinnis this year at Bearden, There have been other good setters, the transfer at Farragut was great, but she was trained elsewhere and not a Knoxville product, but they are usually the fourth or fifth player. Do you think it is because the coaches can't teach the skill, or do the better players gravitate towards other positions? Personally I feel the Libero is responsible. 10 years ago the great athlete that was not tall enough to play on the net set. Now they play defense.

Hard Angle, I think A LOT of people care what the Hames think. First, Coach Hames was with Catholic so she is one of their own. Second, she is considered by almost everyone, including the people on this board, to be the best coach ever in Knoxville. Third, K2, which they run, is responsible for the development of Knoxville volleyball, so yes, people care. Hard Angle, did you have a bad K2 experience? Also, you seem to not think anybody is a good enough coach for Catholic. Who do you want?

I like Kara, but I think she could use another year or two. I don't think she's ever been head coach of a jv or club team. The jump to catholic head is big. BB what do you think of Pittman at CAK. The Hames like her?

Just heard something (obviously killing time tonight) the current CAK asst is a former Anderson County player and coach! She played college ball and was an asst at AC before going to CAK and pushing them over the hurdle to win a state championship. She has coached club, but not currently, played club for the Hames. Why would Bearden and Catholic not want to talk to her? She has a great pedigree,has worked with two strong programs, PhillyAI any thoughts?

Cheney is the reason why you shouldn't play high school ball. No way it's selfish, it was the 100 percent right thing to do. That is why Bearden is such a tragic story. Arguably the two best players to ever play in Knoxville (her and the Libero who is now at Louisville) at the same school and no state championship? How is that not directly linked to coaching. Put those two at Webb, Anderson County or Catholic and they would have gone undefeated. If I were a D1 prospect that has to tell you something.

Any thoughts on the next coach? Why not keep the current asst?

BB why do you think Catholic is so successful?

I assume the agenda wa getting KVA up and running?

Bearden and Catholic have to hire somebody. Who do ou think it will be?

I said almost all. Who is available hat has no club affiliation?