PAC 2025

[bigcityp]

Looks like the PAC will have  new coach in the big school division.  

[Lucy Draper]

29 minutes ago, bigcityp said:

Looks like the PAC will have  new coach in the big school division.  

Princeton get their guy?

[bigcityp]

1 hour ago, Lucy Draper said:

Princeton get their guy?

Nope, another Warrick County position will be open.  

[TigerFan20]

https://x.com/kylesokeland/status/1899159824136323403?s=46&t=0mbJ_TT4MQ8KZKv29ZqhSg

[AW0352]

Wonder what happened there. 

[oldtimeqb]

23 minutes ago, AW0352 said:

Wonder what happened there. 

Just a guess by me.  But Coach Ward has a daughter graduating this May.  I think she is going to play volleyball in college.  

In his statement, he mentioned thanking his daughters for sharing his time with football players.  Nothing more than that IMO. 

https://x.com/BoonvilleSports/status/1899162549439897753

 

[Titan32]

27 minutes ago, AW0352 said:

Wonder what happened there. 

Just a guess here as well, but I think he is just done with coaching for now.  Coach Ward is a really good guy.

[PLACfan]

I don't think its coincidence that we are getting resignations after the IHSAA released their new "transfer" rule.  Unfortunately some coaches think that rule was put in place for them and not student athletes.  Grown adults will take advantage of this and abuse it and I think we will continue to see coaches that never saw themselves as "recruiters" stepping away.  Hopefully this is completely on Coach Ward's own terms. Best of luck Coach Ward (and Coach Daming).

[tango]

17 hours ago, Titan32 said:

Just a guess here as well, but I think he is just done with coaching for now.  Coach Ward is a really good guy.

Agreed. I suspect it is nothing more than wanting to spend more time with his family. Coach Ward is a really good guy. Boonville has turf in large part to his efforts over the past several years, including some very clever social media posts. 

11 hours ago, PLACfan said:

I don't think its coincidence that we are getting resignations after the IHSAA released their new "transfer" rule.  Unfortunately some coaches think that rule was put in place for them and not student athletes.  Grown adults will take advantage of this and abuse it and I think we will continue to see coaches that never saw themselves as "recruiters" stepping away.  Hopefully this is completely on Coach Ward's own terms. Best of luck Coach Ward (and Coach Daming).

I don't think this has anything to do with the new rule as Boonville has never been a school that fell prey to transfers. I think he just wants the freedom to see his daughter play in college. 

[Titan32]

14 hours ago, PLACfan said:

I don't think its coincidence that we are getting resignations after the IHSAA released their new "transfer" rule.  Unfortunately some coaches think that rule was put in place for them and not student athletes.  Grown adults will take advantage of this and abuse it and I think we will continue to see coaches that never saw themselves as "recruiters" stepping away.  Hopefully this is completely on Coach Ward's own terms. Best of luck Coach Ward (and Coach Daming).

I don't think there will be a mass exodus of coaches because of the new rule.  Most transfers went through and many that were contested should have gone through and didn't because of @ZZ hole administrators.  There will be some abuse here but mostly in urban area basketball.  I also don't think this new rule will create a zombie apocalypse.

[PLACfan]

1 hour ago, Titan32 said:

I don't think there will be a mass exodus of coaches because of the new rule.  Most transfers went through and many that were contested should have gone through and didn't because of @ZZ hole administrators.  There will be some abuse here but mostly in urban area basketball.  I also don't think this new rule will create a zombie apocalypse.

You may very well be right.  I'm only going off of the few social media posts I saw immediately following the announcement where these coaches were actively recruiting. 

[tango]

46 minutes ago, PLACfan said:

You may very well be right.  I'm only going off of the few social media posts I saw immediately following the announcement where these coaches were actively recruiting. 

I'd be interested in seeing that. In what social media posts were coaches recruiting?  

[oldtimeqb]

1 hour ago, PLACfan said:

You may very well be right.  I'm only going off of the few social media posts I saw immediately following the announcement where these coaches were actively recruiting. 

I've seen plenty claims of "other coaches actively recruiting" immediately, but did not see any actual ones myself.  I'm not naive enough to think it hasn't happened in DM's, but that has been going on for years.  I just haven't seen any public displays. 

[Football Fanatic]

22 hours ago, oldtimeqb said:

I've seen plenty claims of "other coaches actively recruiting" immediately, but did not see any actual ones myself.  I'm not naive enough to think it hasn't happened in DM's, but that has been going on for years.  I just haven't seen any public displays. 

Sure, private messaging/behind the scenes conversations have happened for years. But I don't think coaches are "actively recruiting" as much as people claim. However, I do think that there are many appendages that extend out from a coach or school that does the "recruiting" legally, or the ground work, if you will. Nowadays with social media how it is, and city schools being in close proximity, I'd bet the players and parents do a lot of the talking and persuading. But it all comes down to the kids/parents and what they think is best for them. But I do understand it has to be a tough feeling for a coach knowing that kids don't want to play at your school and are moving elsewhere. However, I do not think that is the main reason Coach Ward is getting out. I think there are probably a handful of reasons but would guess the main reason is to support his daughter.

[Titan32]

I still think current Juniors need an answer on if they want to take advantage of the new rule....is there a way to make it work?  Like, for example, transferring before the last day of their Junior season and then waiting for the new rule to take effect in the Summer...or would that be a clear violation of the new rule?

[HHPatriots]

https://www.witzamfm.com/highlights/42-and-counting-state-champion-heritage-hills-goldsberry-and-ruxer-adding-major-college-offers?fbclid=IwY2xjawJH1M9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbSHsogrv1ITTZ0XXr8d8lLuVcrfLI2WG6eE2pCpMEJcid5dXlrz3rm7BQ_aem_BQWdMy0pDe12Bd4sAv2lZQ

 

[Miner_Pride]

I wish Linton would/could join a compatable conference.. I mean nothing seems perfect.. lotta drive time being the pAC for Linton... Perry seems logical but they've been loyal Patoka Lake forever...

 

[Titan32]

 

[Titan32]

 

This is the seventh football coaching hire in Southwestern Indiana this offseason joining Derek Hart (Jasper), Joey Paridaen (Tecumseh), Cody Hess (Mater Dei), Zac Nero (North), Brandon Neighbors (South Spencer) and Derek Archer (Princeton).

[Titan32]

https://www.14news.com/video/2025/04/10/new-south-spencer-coach-4925/

 

[Titan32]

15 hours ago, Titan32 said:

 

https://www.14news.com/2025/04/15/derek-archer-named-princeton-football-head-coach/

[Titan32]

15 hours ago, Titan32 said:

 

This is the seventh football coaching hire in Southwestern Indiana this offseason joining Derek Hart (Jasper), Joey Paridaen (Tecumseh), Cody Hess (Mater Dei), Zac Nero (North), Brandon Neighbors (South Spencer) and Derek Archer (Princeton).

https://www.14news.com/video/2025/04/14/pioneers-hire-jon-batts-football-coach/

[oldtimeqb]

16 hours ago, Titan32 said:

 

This is the seventh football coaching hire in Southwestern Indiana this offseason joining Derek Hart (Jasper), Joey Paridaen (Tecumseh), Cody Hess (Mater Dei), Zac Nero (North), Brandon Neighbors (South Spencer) and Derek Archer (Princeton).

Thanks for posting all these.  

Hart and Paridaen were both external (although Head Coaches elsewhere).

The other five are long-time assistants who were internal candidates earning promotions.  I wonder if that is the norm or just the case in SW Indiana this year?     

[Titan32]

1 hour ago, oldtimeqb said:

Thanks for posting all these.  

Hart and Paridaen were both external (although Head Coaches elsewhere).

The other five are long-time assistants who were internal candidates earning promotions.  I wonder if that is the norm or just the case in SW Indiana this year?     

I think it is more of a reflection on where things sit in Public Schools right now in Indiana.  With an average stipend to Head football coaches of something south of $8,000, it's much more complex to have the "other" job for that coach readily available and provide enough additional dollars to attract an outside candidate.  However, the word on the street is that Princeton did make some other offers to established coaches in the area that were rumored to be "the best offers for HS Football HC in the state South of Indy".  If those rumors are true, kudos to Princeton for trying as hard as possible.  

[Titan32]

This season HH should has earned the right to be the favorite this coming season on the Large side of the conference.  That said, they will only have to play GS once this season, which will completely change the dynamic of this year's contest.  GS returns a LOT (7-8 offense - 8 defense) and has the benefit of a tremendous incoming Junior class...ask anyone who got a piece of our JV squad last season, I could highlight a few of those players (a couple of varsity impacting rising sophomores on that list as well), but let's make them earn it first.  GS takes a couple of steps forward.  Will HH? .  I also suspect that after all the Calpreps data is in, GS will be ranked #1 in 3A.  I trust our friends in Blue and White will be watching us closely this season.

Way too early rankings.

Large

1.  HH

2. GS

3. WASH

4. BV

5. MV

6. PTN

Small (sometimes known as little sisters of the poor) <---This is for my thumb/keyboard warrior friend in Posey County (Dude is SOFT!!!)

1. SR

2. Posey

3. SS

4. FP

5. TC

6. Tec

7.  PC