Van Buren

[Pr8hd]

....  and throw in Chris Hill , sounds like he's trying to get out of Wynne

Don't see this happening when he pretty much dissed VB and left them once before for Ashdown. IMHO I doubt Hill would want to come back there and my guess is VB would not want him back for that reason even though I think he is a good coach.

I did see where the VB returning QB, Barlow, did well at a Rivals camp recently...finished Top 4 FWIW.

[Grizzlyfan]

The only remaining hope I see for Cone is that VB expects to have a new superintendent in a couple of weeks.  Maybe they want the new super to have input on the coach if that coach will also be the activities director.  Who knows.

[Tigerdad2]

Any names on who will be the new Sup?

[Baitshop]

Mike McSpadden..??

[Tigerdad2]

Alma AD assistant sup?

[Baitshop]

Yep...

[AT]

Mike McSpadden..??

Speculation or did you hear this?

[Baitshop]

Not speculation....heard from 2 different folks that are usually "in the know" about things in Alma  that said that he might have an interest...

We'll see...

[One plus one]

So what is going on with the HC job?
Is Cone taking it? Is he waiting for new Supe?
Or are they going to start looking for a new coach?
Not a lot being said, is VB being quit or just have no idea what they want to do?

[Tigerdad2]

Latest word I've heard is the school board meets tonight and in all probability the HC job will officially open tomorrow.  Looking like the board and Cone could not come to terms with him having both positions.  Seeing how the Activities Director position was created to keep a HC from having 2 positions this seems like the right move.  I do know there have been many inquire about the HC job so I guess the job hunt officially begins.  Another blunder this board has made.  Late in the year to begin the process.  Maybe they will do the right thing tonight and make the current Super official as well. This HC hire needs to be an iron clad agreement on both sides that the new HC will agree to give it at least a 6-8 year commitment with the board pledging to back him that long as well.  I don't have much faith in that happening with the board and the fickle fans of VB though.  I never have understood how someone outside the education field thinks they can do a better job than educators themselves but I suppose that is another argument for another day.  So unless my source is totally off it looks like VB will officially be looking outside the district for their next HC.

That'll never happen.

I agree 100%.  I didn't say that would happen only that it needs to happen.  Somehow someone needs to understand that the revolving coaching door is going to continue to keep VB irrelevant.  This continues to be the VB way it is sad to say.

If they look outside the box , they will find this coach. A guy who will want to stay and build

[One plus one]

I'm afraid I know the answer to this.
Are they going to bring some people in during spring break or wait till after the break?
Is it just Cone making the hire, or will Loyd and say Tipton be involved ?

[Tigerdad2]

They have known since February that Coatney is leaving, so I doubt they are going to interview during spring break. If they were in a hurry they would have already hired a guy.. That makes me think Cone is still the guy

[Tigerdad2]

I'm afraid I know the answer to this.
Are they going to bring some people in during spring break or wait till after the break?
Is it just Cone making the hire, or will Loyd and say Tipton be involved ?

What's the answer ?

[One plus one]

Afraid after Spring Break to bring people in which will make it later.

[Grizzlyfan]

McSpadden from Alma is not one of the Super finalists.  And apparently Cone is official out as a coach candidate.

[hornet89]

Football Interviews start this week.

[iliveformarch]

Is Charleston's coach a candidate?

[WPWells]

You're desperate for Kendrick to leave Charleston because you know we'll be good as long as he's here and that just rips at you. No he's not a candidate

[Beaver Fever]

Yall will be good no matter who the coach is.  You have won a title with  the last 3coaches. 

[Truthfully]

You're desperate for Kendrick to leave Charleston because you know we'll be good as long as he's here and that just rips at you. No he's not a candidate

Other coaches are well suited for where they are and a little added money and going up in class does not settle well when you drop down to winning 4- 6 games a year..  Examples:  Rush Harding - Clarendon (1950s and 60s), Frank McClelland of Barton, Don Floyd - Stuttgart (started out at Charleston in the mid 1950s), Holly Grove's coach during the 50s thru 80s and many more..  Did well, set records, became well known as winners and stayed at 'home', never regretting it.. Something 'inside' tells some great coaches to stay where they are, where fans and players love them...  Kendrick is a good fit at Charleston.  Truthfully !! 

[Tripod1]

You're desperate for Kendrick to leave Charleston because you know we'll be good as long as he's here and that just rips at you. No he's not a candidate

Other coaches are well suited for where they are and a little added money and going up in class does not settle well when you drop down to winning 4- 6 games a year..  Examples:  Rush Harding - Clarendon (1950s and 60s), Frank McClelland of Barton, Don Floyd - Stuttgart (started out at Charleston in the mid 1950s), Holly Grove's coach during the 50s thru 80s and many more..  Did well, set records, became well known as winners and stayed at 'home', never regretting it.. Something 'inside' tells some great coaches to stay where they are, where fans and players love them...  Kendrick is a good fit at Charleston.  Truthfully !!

Points well taken.  The Holly Grove Coach was Sonny Gordon.  That's how old I am!!  VB is going to be a tough sale for anyone other than an up an comer.  Kendrick is a VB guy so maybe he would feel the pull to come home. That's about the only reason I see for him to leave such a good situation.  Well, probably there would be 20,000-25,000 other reasons.  As I have stated earlier, this hire is so important for VB.  Whatever it takes and whoever it takes the revolving door must stop for success to be achieved in Pointer land. 

[Truthfully]

Tripod1
  THANKS for reminding me of the HG coach's name, Sonny Gordon. He and Harding had many, many Thanksgiving games and the whole area showed up for THE game of the "season". Such memories. Truthfully.

[4real]

Any word out of Van Buren yet?

[hornet89]

Interviews are over - new coach will come from Oklahoma I think

[Okieback]

I think I said on the first or second page that there was at least one possibly two guys that could do a great job and they should go after just southwest of Fort Smith.

[4real]

One guy that would do a great job is on the Southside of Ft Smith

[jrbballguy]

They have made a hire, waiting for board meeting for approval before announcing I believe.

[jking7]

They have made a hire, waiting for board meeting for approval before announcing I believe.

Do you know when the next board meeting is?

[Okieback]

Next tuesday

[4real]

The hire has been made.  Anybody know who got it?

[Maclin on your girl]

Coach from Poteau.

[Grizzlyfan]

Coach from Poteau.

And the cycle can continue.

[jrbballguy]

He is a Northside Alum... so keep talking Griz

[Okieback]

Over 200 career wins, has averaged going like 11-2 the last 12 years as a coach, 4 or 5 trips to the semis, with 3 different teams , levels ranging from class A through 5a. And I think 3 or 4 trips to finals with at least 2 different teams maybe 3.

Yes , 85 northside grad.
Great coach, I'm sorry to see him leave Poteau.  Van buren fans you have gotten someone special. Wouldn't be surprised to see you guys go 6-4 maybe 7-4 this fall.

[Grizzlyfan]

He is a Northside Alum... so keep talking Griz

I know very well that he is a Northside alum.  And by all accounts a very good coach.  But he is not what Van Buren needs.

[Maclin on your girl]

He's exactly what VB needs.

[Okieback]

Yep
Tough , believes defense wins championships , and a family atmosphere

[jking7]

Here is a article about the hire from Times Record.   http://m.swtimes.com/sports/football-werner-take-van-buren-helm

[sprtsfan]

He is a Northside Alum... so keep talking Griz

I know very well that he is a Northside alum.  And by all accounts a very good coach.  But he is not what Van Buren needs.

So...what exactly does VB need??

[V B Porker]

Someone wanted to know if new coach likes to play golf and that VB would hire a coach that they beat last year. I wish him luck as this program has a long way to go.

[Okieback]

Werner is 2-1 against vb
And no, he doesn't like to play golf.

[jking7]

Werner is 2-1 against vb
And no, he doesn't like to play golf.

1. That's true he is 2-1 against VB so that attack on him is lame.
   2. It was Coatney that cared about his golf game.

[V B Porker]

Do you guys think that I am attacking the guy?

[Grizzlyfan]

He is a Northside Alum... so keep talking Griz

I know very well that he is a Northside alum.  And by all accounts a very good coach.  But he is not what Van Buren needs.

So...what exactly does VB need??

No coach is going to walk into the Van Buren situation and create a winner.  The morale, the mindset, and the available athletes are all at the bottom of 7A.  Probably even most of 6A.  Werner is no different than the previous 4.  When he sees this first hand and gets his head handed to him for a few years he'll get out for self-preservation.

Van Buren had their chance with Drew Cone.  A hometown guy who isn't necessarily trying to build a coaching resume.  He could commit to the program long term without regard to the short term results. I still say VB needs a ground up re-construction modeled after Greenwood.

[jrbballguy]

Would somebody get Drew's dad off of here please? 

you never answered the question.  I fail to see how hiring someone that 1- is a proven winner. 2- has a reputation for rebuilding programs. and 3- knows Van Buren's record for the past SEVERAL years... and STILL wants the job

If your primary basis of hiring someone is because they are a hometown guy, you are automatically shortening your list and handcuffing yourself.  You obviously love Coach Cone, and I'm not at all saying he isn't a good coach.  But I don't know of very many 7A schools, if any, that will promote a coach from the jr high program straight to a head position for a major sport.  It just doesn't happen that way. 

[Coach DePriest, Sheridan]

I actually had the opportunity to meet Coach Werner about 10 years ago when his son played travel baseball with a relative of mine.  I thought well of him after our one interaction.  I texted my dad today and asked if he was the guy that I had met and he confirmed.  He then called this evening to tell me how impressed he was at the type of man he was and his humbleness as a head football coach.  The guy can obviously coach football based on his resume, and I think jumping ship and "saving his resume" won't be a concern as he has already built his up enough where that wouldn't be something he would have to worry about.

I am floored by that argument, by the way.  The way I see it, there are two scenarios:
1. Guy not working out.
2. Guy doing a good job.

In case #1, don't you want him to leave?

In case #2, it was a good hire, and he has gotten you out of a mess or probably left you in a good situation for the next guy. 

I know it is more complicated than that, but I'd hate to have a lifetime coach that couldn't ever get you over the hump but was dug in for the long haul.

[Baitshop]

I think that it is a great hire...the guy's won a several places...according to the article, he's taken moribund programs and turned them around....he's flexible/smart enough to not be tied to one system....he wants to live/end up in the area....

The biggest question in my mind is can someone reel in the circus that is the Van Buren administration and school board? For a program that has been as bad for as long as Van Buren has been, at some point to you need to hire a guy that has this guys qualifications, experience, and record and give him whatever he needs to succeed and keep the small town politics out of it....

JOMHO

[PrivateLesson]

He is a Northside Alum... so keep talking Griz

I know very well that he is a Northside alum.  And by all accounts a very good coach.  But he is not what Van Buren needs.

So...what exactly does VB need??

earlier you were convinced it was Coatney..

[spacesorlaces]

I think that it is a great hire...the guy's won a several places...according to the article, he's taken moribund programs and turned them around....he's flexible/smart enough to not be tied to one system....he wants to live/end up in the area....

The biggest question in my mind is can someone reel in the circus that is the Van Buren administration and school board? For a program that has been as bad for as long as Van Buren has been, at some point to you need to hire a guy that has this guys qualifications, experience, and record and give him whatever he needs to succeed and keep the small town politics out of it....

JOMHO

+1 for yse of the word moribund

[PrivateLesson]

I think that it is a great hire...the guy's won a several places...according to the article, he's taken moribund programs and turned them around....he's flexible/smart enough to not be tied to one system....he wants to live/end up in the area....

The biggest question in my mind is can someone reel in the circus that is the Van Buren administration and school board? For a program that has been as bad for as long as Van Buren has been, at some point to you need to hire a guy that has this guys qualifications, experience, and record and give him whatever he needs to succeed and keep the small town politics out of it....

JOMHO

+1 for yse of the word moribund

He seems to be a crafty educated fellow....you think he's going to ask what's yse?