RetiredSouthernCoach

Has there been a hire at Columbus North yet? Been a month or so since Coach Haston informed he was moving on. Did they go internal route and it just hasnt been updated on Harrel?

There was talk at BNL that there would be a meeting this summer to basically redo the entire HHC football schedule with the teams. They said they were looking at a rotating week 3-9 HHC schedule that still allowed for some of the rivalry games HHC non conference that were in place. It would make more sense for Bloomington south to just take the Madison or Jennings County weeks on everyones schedules, if JC is going to stay out of conference long term, which is mixed feedback on.

Columbus North now open. Coach Logan Haston taking a college assistant job. Statement released today.

Rushville posted on their school page. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18MPV3j6hq/

Bloomington folks say they should know this week whether they get in the HHC. Spring HHC meeting this week sometime. Not sure the timeline if they were admitted.

So does Paoli have another in house option then? If I am reading correctly, they lost their would be coach. Awfully late to start the search over

The talk around the basketball games this winter was that Bloomington South and Columbus North both wanted in. Bloomington south seemed to have the support to join. Columbus north was supposedly being blocked by their cross town school from joining. I say let them both in, would give them 8 football playing schools, so would fill up the schedules with 7 & 2. Let's schools fill their slots with Jennings County leaving the football side of the conference. Most these schools already play in the other sports like basketball and spring sports.

Madison hired Patric Morrison, who coached at Madison for numerous years in the past. Believe he was head coach until around 2017, now returning

I think Jennings County has won enough in some sports to make it appear that way, but I do not think thats the true scenario as a whole. You look across the board at all athletics, and there have been some generational-type talents come through that kept them competitive at times. Obviously their football has struggled most years within the conference. Girls basketball has had two P4 Division one players come through, but the likelihood that there's others like them coming through any time soon is minimal, yet they have only won 6 conference titles since 1970 (according to recent post by the school). Boys basketball had a great group come through 5 or 6 years back, but have quickly went back to being unable to compete with the top of the conference. Sports like VB, Softball, Baseball have had some of their best teams come through and were unable to compete with the top of the conference. Individual sports like Track, Golf, XC, Wrestling, Tennis, ect - they have some individuals that can compete, but not competitive as a team most years. I'd also argue that the amount of "better athletes" that they have lost to transfer in multiple sports the last few years will continue and make their level lower. So i guess the question is really what "been better" implies, and if their school is content with being a consistent bottom 1/3 of the conference finisher every year in most sports. if the conference expansion happens and other schools end up in, that will only hurt the JC sports more. Just my observation from looking in on the area sports the last decade.

Came across a few facebook group postings about Bloomington South joining the Hoosier Hills conference again. Know this has been before on here, but from the sounds of things, this is all but a done deal after multiple school AD's supported it. Also claims on the posts that Columbus North has an interest in joining also. WIll be interesting to see when this all actually happens. Bloomington south has multiple open weeks on their football schedule for 2026

Looks like some HHC movement in classes heading into next year. Enrollment numbers show East back to 4A. Floyd, NA, Seymour comfortably in 5A. Jeff still 6A, but could see some new sectional opponents. Former HHC Madison back to 4A. WIll be interesting to see how all the sectional alignments end up in spring.

https://tribtown.com/2025/12/10/moore-steps-away-from-seymour-football-sidelines-after-six-seasons-as-head-coach/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

There was an article in the Columbus Newspaper that discussed the ADM numbers for the schools. I believe this has made some start the conversations of schools potentially going up or down a class. I am unsure if this data results in those changes, but here is the chart they had in the paper.

The East job should be an attractive job to those around the state. I am unsure if there will be enough there to pull a Head Coach from a really good program, but a Head Coach at a program thats looking for an upgrade or a coordinator at a top tier school would make sense. I also wonder if there is already a plan in place for a coach with it being a retirement, with the AD being close with the coaches, i doubt this week was the first he knew of the retirement. Is there anyone on staff that may just be the next man up?

GCA played at Beech Grove Middle School in years past (Grass)

With the news of Conference Indiana falling apart, Terre Haute schools announced departure for 2026, Hoosier Hills should just let Bloomington South in. Let Bloomington South replace Jennings County Football scheduling for the HHC teams. Let Jennings do what they are trying to do outside of the HHC. Other sports can do what they want, but Bloomington South fits in most sports and isnt terrible Geographically

Have heard teaching hiring is at a halt due to budget changes in Bedford. Both Head Football and Head Boys Basketball left recently, not PE, so guessing not ideal teaching roles available currently for prospective coaches.

There was a post in a facebook group for Indiana High School Football stating that both Bloomington South & Bloomington North, along with Southport, are in process of joining the Mid State Conference. This would leave Columbus North and the Terre Haute schools out of a conference equation. IF this were the case, would the Hoosier Hills make sense for Columbus North? Columbus North & Jeff in same football sectional. Enrollment trajectories show East, Floyd, Seymour & New Albany trending upward towards top of 5A & potentially 6A, matching North's enrollment of being a smaller 6A. Thoughts?

In regards to the coach leaving Eastern Pekin, there's talk that they may not continue their football long term, so maybe this had something to do with it? I have there is already conversation in the conference with another school to take Pekin's place in the conference.

I think its more likely that the EIAC grows, adding teams, that more align with East Central's wants, rather than them leaving.

Hearing Columbus East to the Mid State Conference to replace Greenwood is picking up some serious steam. This coming from a coach currently in the mid state conference.

I believe the posted job is Triton, not Triton Central.

EIC news, hearing Greensburg moved on?

Really think this was the right move for both Shelbyville & Greenwood. Both schools are not going to grow due to the areas around them growing so rapidly. This conference with Shelbyville, Greenwood, Triton Central, Indian Creek, Triwest, Monrovia, Beech Grove, & Speedway will be competitive in almost every sport. I think this is just the beginning with conference re-alignments. The Hoosier Heritage is going to continue to see movement. Could see conference Indiana breaking up as well, with Columbus NOrth going to the Mid-State in replacement of Greenwood and the Bloomington schools to the Hoosier Hills. When you look at the current conference teams in the bigger conferences in central and southern indiana, there are atleast a team or two in each conference that no longer fits from an enrollment perspective. Growth in some areas isnt going to slow down, which will produce more conference change. Schools that dont see the changes and refuse to make their own conference/schedule changes will continue to be the doormat.

What impact do you see the Hoosier Hills having? If expansion, the Bloomington Schools make sense, but dont think Bedford and JC would be up for that. From what you mentioned there, the Conference Indiana is likely to be next to break up. Could see Cbus North going to mid state in greenwoods spot, with southport going into an indy conference.