CoachWhitenack Posted February 4 Posted February 4 Dear Parents and Players, I am writing this to inform you of the difficult decision I have made to move on from New Prairie Cougar Football. This was a very difficult decision to make considering the relationships and friendships I have built over the years. I want to thank everyone for the support and strong passion that they displayed for New Prairie Football in my time here. It has been a privilege to have been the Head Coach of the New Prairie Cougars. GET BETTER!!! - Coach Casey McKim Quote
Shoot_The_Hands Posted February 4 Posted February 4 5 hours ago, CoachWhitenack said: Dear Parents and Players, I am writing this to inform you of the difficult decision I have made to move on from New Prairie Cougar Football. This was a very difficult decision to make considering the relationships and friendships I have built over the years. I want to thank everyone for the support and strong passion that they displayed for New Prairie Football in my time here. It has been a privilege to have been the Head Coach of the New Prairie Cougars. GET BETTER!!! - Coach Casey McKim Looks like per multiple sources that he is heading to Lowell. Quote
foxbat Posted February 4 Posted February 4 1 hour ago, Shoot_The_Hands said: Looks like per multiple sources that he is heading to Lowell. Here's the official one: 1 Quote
npcougar15 Posted February 5 Posted February 5 Maybe I'm bias, but I'd imagine this is a VERY attractive job. Winning culture, community support and a school that has elevated its athletics programs the last 15+ years and going in a great direction. Coupled with the industry boom in the district NP is set up for long-term success. Really a program that is built to win right away. No clue if there are any assistants wanting the gig but there are a couple that I'd imagine are front-runners. Will be interesting to see who is hired. 1 1 Quote
Coach Nowlin Posted February 5 Posted February 5 11 hours ago, npcougar15 said: Maybe I'm bias, but I'd imagine this is a VERY attractive job. Winning culture, community support and a school that has elevated its athletics programs the last 15+ years and going in a great direction. Coupled with the industry boom in the district NP is set up for long-term success. Really a program that is built to win right away. No clue if there are any assistants wanting the gig but there are a couple that I'd imagine are front-runners. Will be interesting to see who is hired. Couldn't agree more will be a sought after position Quote
Football Guru 25 Posted February 5 Posted February 5 Im sure some Northern Indiana Coaches will put in.... which will intern create another opening in our area..... will be interesting who puts in for it!! Quote
Wedgebuster Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Is there something we are missing here? Coach Curtis, Coach Radtke, and Coach McKim all leave NP after having what most would consider HUGE Success. What gives? Is the pay an issue? Admin problems? Parent Problems? Could be a different reason for all of them, but it makes you wonder what the common thread could be? 1 Quote
Shoot_The_Hands Posted February 13 Posted February 13 6 minutes ago, Wedgebuster said: Is there something we are missing here? Coach Curtis, Coach Radtke, and Coach McKim all leave NP after having what most would consider HUGE Success. What gives? Is the pay an issue? Admin problems? Parent Problems? Could be a different reason for all of them, but it makes you wonder what the common thread could be? Not to mention their Associate Head Coach, practically a New Prairie lifer, has left for LaPorte Quote
CoachMack219 Posted February 13 Posted February 13 40 minutes ago, Shoot_The_Hands said: Not to mention their Associate Head Coach, practically a New Prairie lifer, has left for LaPorte THIS was the most interesting/ intriguing piece of the puzzle in regards to Casey's resignation, in my mind. Reading between the lines makes me believe it COULD be pay, admin, AND/ OR parents. I lean towards admin AND/ OR parents given the associate head coach's loyalty to the program for I believe each of the 3 names presented (I know the last two are for sures). I don't think the ole ball coach headed to LaPorte for the cash. The sudden departure makes me think parents and/ or admin. Quote
Shoot_The_Hands Posted February 13 Posted February 13 5 minutes ago, Sparty said: Who was the associate HC who left for LP? https://www.lpheralddispatch.com/sports/gumm-also-leaving-new-prairie-on-the-heels-of-mckims-resignation-25-year-assistant-announces/article_52e94cd7-c2f1-55f6-af4a-d6e84621e8a0.html Quote
Sparty Posted February 13 Posted February 13 33 minutes ago, Shoot_The_Hands said: https://www.lpheralddispatch.com/sports/gumm-also-leaving-new-prairie-on-the-heels-of-mckims-resignation-25-year-assistant-announces/article_52e94cd7-c2f1-55f6-af4a-d6e84621e8a0.html Thank you. Who is the NP principal? Super? Quote
gonzoron Posted February 13 Posted February 13 3 hours ago, Sparty said: Who was the associate HC who left for LP? McKim was a Social Studies teacher. Seems like the teachers don't stay long either. Quote
npcougar15 Posted February 15 Posted February 15 On 2/13/2025 at 1:36 PM, CoachMack219 said: The sudden departure makes me think parents and/ or admin. It wasn't sudden. it's been in the works for a while. the assistant was gone before McKim, it was just announced after. Quote
Wedgebuster Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Coach Gumm has been one heck of an assistant coach for the Cougars and a key reason for all of the success! What is going on that is driving these coaches to look elsewhere? Or is it just a coincidence that these two coaches leave around the same time? Quote
Sparty Posted February 17 Posted February 17 Maybe look at the administration and how they “support”. If they are fake “supporters”, kudos to all NP has accomplished without the leadership of said “leaders”. Quote
Goose Liver Posted February 17 Posted February 17 On 2/13/2025 at 12:36 PM, CoachMack219 said: THIS was the most interesting/ intriguing piece of the puzzle in regards to Casey's resignation, in my mind. Reading between the lines makes me believe it COULD be pay, admin, AND/ OR parents. I lean towards admin AND/ OR parents given the associate head coach's loyalty to the program for I believe each of the 3 names presented (I know the last two are for sures). I don't think the ole ball coach headed to LaPorte for the cash. The sudden departure makes me think parents and/ or admin. Coach, I think you are on to something... just imagine JV parents on steroids... the loud and proud! Quote
gonzoron Posted February 17 Posted February 17 7 hours ago, Sparty said: If they are fake “supporters” Is that anything like a non-paying Booster? https://gridirondigest.net/clients/donations/ 3 Quote
alvinmack56esu Posted February 19 Posted February 19 On 2/17/2025 at 7:38 AM, Wedgebuster said: Coach Gumm has been one heck of an assistant coach for the Cougars and a key reason for all of the success! What is going on that is driving these coaches to look elsewhere? Or is it just a coincidence that these two coaches leave around the same time? As someone who has watched this team beat up on many of teams in the NIC the last few years, I didn't see the head coach in a lot of the timeout huddles. Not sure I have ever seen that before in HS. Is that normal procedure these days? Also, I don't remember seeing Gumm actively apart of operations this season compared to the past few. I saw NP live in action vs Marian and some SB opponents midway through the season and don't think he was calling plays. Just from my observations of a really good team in the area, thought that was a little unusual to see on the sidelines,. 1 Quote
WaffleWolf Posted February 19 Posted February 19 2 minutes ago, alvinmack56esu said: As someone who has watched this team beat up on many of teams in the NIC the last few years, I didn't see the head coach in a lot of the timeout huddles. Not sure I have ever seen that before in HS. Is that normal procedure these days? Also, I don't remember seeing Gumm actively apart of operations this season compared to the past few. I saw NP live in action vs Marian and some SB opponents midway through the season and don't think he was calling plays. Just from my observations of a really good team in the area, thought that was a little unusual to see on the sidelines,. Might it be addition through subtraction on the Prairie? My big question is what took so long to post the job. Were they looking internally or was there another candidate they were trying to sway another person before posting to the public? Quote
npcougar15 Posted February 19 Posted February 19 10 hours ago, alvinmack56esu said: As someone who has watched this team beat up on many of teams in the NIC the last few years, I didn't see the head coach in a lot of the timeout huddles. Not sure I have ever seen that before in HS. Is that normal procedure these days? Also, I don't remember seeing Gumm actively apart of operations this season compared to the past few. I saw NP live in action vs Marian and some SB opponents midway through the season and don't think he was calling plays. Just from my observations of a really good team in the area, thought that was a little unusual to see on the sidelines,. you're on the right path, now read between the lines. Quote
Sparty Posted February 19 Posted February 19 7 hours ago, npcougar15 said: you're on the right path, now read between the lines. So they didn’t get along? Quote
WaffleWolf Posted February 19 Posted February 19 1 hour ago, Sparty said: So they didn’t get along? Quote
Coach Nowlin Posted February 20 Posted February 20 Why does it matter? Coach McKim at Lowell Coach Gumm for decades has been solid footing for the Cougars, he is off for another new adventure for him as well the vibe of some wanting to hopefully hear about juicy stories of HIGH SCHOOL football staff and if they "got along" is wild to me big yikes 2 Quote
Rocket Posted February 21 Posted February 21 The assistants at NP have been the big difference makers for awhile. While Mckimm may have received the accolades for NPs success it’s been the constant dedication of the the longtime assistants there. The strength coach has done wonders for the program and not just for football. Gumm made it public knowledge he was stepping away as offensive coordinator mid season last year for health reasons. I have not the cougars will continue to be successful regardless of who the new coach is because of the outstanding staff he’d inherit 4 Quote
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