86guy

RE: Osovet I don't think he is the solution to the long-term problem, but if the talent coming up from the feeders continue to look this promising, having a proven coach at Heritage might not be the worst thing. Nothing would keep kids at this school better than winning, and player retention is the name of the game. I'd also feel just as good about any of the assistants who moved to Maryville after coaching under Hammontree or Russell. I don't, however, believe for a second that Bennett would hire Osovet or ANY of the former assitants if one of his less-qualified Blount County Buddies wanted the job.

The guy just doesn't have it. He's also made some considerable off-field mistakes with old staff that reflect really poorly on him, don't want to go into details there. Heritage needs a makeover from the top down in order to ever be competitive. They've not only let talented players leave, they've looked past talented coaches as well for horrible replacements. I remember when Brent Russell left Heritage, Jon Young, now out of coaching and just an administrator in the school system, had taken the Heritage middle school team to consecutive championship games in the SMAC and he didn't even get a look. Instead they went straight to Hammontree, and now they are in the position they have been in.

Good. I've been around the program and taught at the school from the time Tommy Rewis left. Hammontree was no different than any other coach that has been involved with that program in the last 10-15 years. Until Robbie Bennett no longer has the reigns of the athletics at Heritage High School it will never amount to anything. Hopefully Osovet can come in and inject some life into the program, but the long term solution doesn't exist for Heritage with the current head guys.