Harriman

[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.

Coach Jones has been Ricky Norris's assistant at Oak Ridge and Webb. He teaches math at Oak Ridge. My friend who coaches told me that this is a quality hire. That's all I can go by and he is correct the majority of the time.

[LoveGuru]

Wes Jones has coached under a great coach (Norris) at 2 high quality programs. He played ball at Oliver Springs. I do not believe he has experience running a program whether it be middle or high. He has a very dull personality so it will be interesting to see if he can keep kids excited about playing basketball.

 

They should of hired the Assistant Coach at Anderson Co. He has coached under 2 great coaches Wallace (AC) and Wells (LC). He has also ran middle school programs on 2 different occasions. He was also one of the guys that started the Pyro AAU team, so he has that experience in starting up programs that can develop future players. He also has the personality that you would want running your program. Oh well, I guess maybe next time, but unfortunately he won't be around then.

 

Good Luck to Harriman. Don't give your administration to hard of time over this hire. I can definitely see the appeal both Coaching Experience wise and more importantly Teaching Experience wise.

Edited July 10, 2012 by LoveGuru

[StrangerDanger]

What happens when higher quality coaches apply for the job? They went out half cocked and hired somebody because he worked under Norris. Is that not the same Norris who left Harriman to go to Oak Ridge? Can't blame him for that, but Norris has had tons of talent both @ OR and of course Webb. You would have to be pitiful to not win @ both those programs. I know 5yr olds that could win 20 games a yr @ those programs. Also, I know people that played for Norris @ Harriman and they said he was not that good of a coach and they started and played a lot for him. Said they really did not understand what they were supposed to be doing the whole time he was there. Just saying they should not have hired someone that soon without getting all applications in. By the way, good players make good coaches. Unless the coach absolutely sucks. The way you find quality coaches is by actually sitting down in front of someone, looking them in the eye and asking them about their coaching philosophy. You don't just hire someone because they worked @ schools where talent is abundant and a monkey could win there. Who knows, maybe this guy will be awesome. We'll see - he better be for the administrations sake.

[olerockyrebel]

If that's the absolute best we can get.. I really dread when it comes time to get a new football time! I think this was a rushed hire. On the bright side everybody deserves a chance and here's this guys first chance! He's got this year only to work with the best player in the District, Xavier Howard. We'll see how he does.. GO BIG BLUE!!!

[TheGreatWhiteHope]

From what I was told Xavier has transferred to somewhere in Knoxville. South Doyle maybe?

[HHSAlumni]

Wes will be very good for Harriman. He brings character to the program as well as a knowledge of basketball. He is young and with motivation to succeed.

[StrangerDanger]

Ok - Jones may end up being a great hire. Everybody needs a chance, but there were people more qualified and graduates from the school that applied for the job. They have taught and coached longer than Jones and they were from HARRIMAN. Played ball @ Harriman and was very successful. My point is that you should wait to see who all would have applied and then you should probably give your hometown people a real shot as well. Instead, you hired someone from O.S. and someone from Rockwood!? Explain the thinking behind this decision. If you are an alum of Harriman you would think you would want an alum of Harriman running your program, especially if that person is qualified. I hope Jones does great and the program does well because Harriman deserves the best. Usually good talent and a great gym to play in - success written all over it.

[HHSAlumni]

So who were those who are qualified to teach and graduated from Harriman who applied? It is my understanding that those who were from Harriman who applied were not teachers.

 

By the way the porblem I saw with them last year s that they were a one man team. It is hard to get kids to realize that they will make themselves better by involving those around them. There have been several examples over the rears at HHS of exceptional players aking others better which in turn made themselves better. Unfortunatey there have been the cinverse examples as well.

[StrangerDanger]

His name is Donald Balcom. He graduated in 1996 and played on the 95 State Championship basketball team. He was a boys' assistant basketball coach @ William Blount for 6 years and a girls' assistant basketball coach @ Lenoir City this past year. He has been teaching for 8 years. I know he was given a "token“ interview for the girls position and applied for the boys position when it was posted. I also know that prominent and former prominent people spoke on behalf of getting him back home to teach and coach. Those people were not happy with the girls hire and my bet is they won't be happy with the boys hire - just the way it went down and not necessarily the person they chose. I have also heard that Calahan is a micro manager and wants to control everything without taking advice from others. I know all of this from a very reliable source. Once again, small town and nothing can be kept on the down low for long. I have more information, but enough said. By the way, does anybody even know if Jones will be a teacher @ the school our in the system or is he still going to teach @ Oak Ridge? Why would someone leave Oak Ridge as a teacher when they pay a lot better than any system around - not even close. He would be taking a significant pay cut to teach and coach @ Harriman. If he still is going to teach @ Oak Ridge, then Calahan dropped the ball again for sure. You want coaches who teach @ your school.

[bluedevilpride24]

I agree with u StrangerDanger..I have also heard other alumni that wanted the job..Coach Denard (Middle School and Assistant Boys), Coach Gallagher (Assistant Boys) many years, Coach Shillings (Head Boys andand Girls -Sweetwater), and Coach Balcolm (Assiatnt Girls -and Lenior City). I think are school board member Drake Langley -up for re-election -should take better care of his school. HHS needs a HHS alumni running the showu or someone who at least lives in Harriman. Alson heard from a inside source that a big cover up is taking place at the school. Calahan needs to go. Other alumin that don't coach have also been turned away from ther alma mater. Terry Clark (Baseball Coach) and Lori Lawson are two who recently applied.

[chill]

Balcom applied at William Blount for boys job after being a long time assistant and did not get the job. I believe he also applied for one of the jobs at LC and did not get it. He might be a Harriman grad, but that alone does not make him qualified. Wes Jones is an interesting hire. He's a great guy who has coached under Norris. Hope he has success...

[StrangerDanger]

Listen Chill, don't personally know Balcom or Jones - both may be great guys, but one of my points was that he has more experience - true. He also is a grad of Harriman and you should take care of your own. It irritates me that an O.S. grad with less experience was given the job. Balcom was not even given an interview for the position, nor the WB position and LC hired a former head coach for the girls position. I know someone who knows the family well because they still live in Harriman. Any of the other people that BlueDevilPride mentioned should have been allowed at least an interview as well. I know that coaching at WB in district 4AAA is by far the toughest basketball district in E. TN - you can't argue that. I also know that the former coach at WB (Baumann) is very well respected in the coaching community and was successful for the talent level at the school. He probably learned quite a bit coaching there - just saying. By the way, why does coaching under Norris make someone "highly qualified" to coach? Where has Norris coached where he did not have talent? Wait for it...........................oh yeah, nowhere. Great talent makes great coaches and I would argue that Norris is not a great coach - he's had great talent. Wow, he won at Oak Ridge and Webb where they both have talent and unlimited resources. Yet, he still has not brought home a golden ball - interesting. Once again, a monkey could coach and win at either one of those schools. Not a knock on Norris, just stating the truth and any good coach will tell you the same. Explain your reasoning....... I wish Harriman the best no matter the hire. It just does not make any sense at all. I completely agree with BlueDevilPride that school board members should boot that clown of a principal. My sources on that one say it won't be long.