Top Coaching Hires? Our Top Picks
As we go through and rank the coaching hires this offseason, things to remember are we are not taking into account who they are replacing. It doesn’t do a service to the previous coach to compare and contrast new and…
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Continue ReadingAs we go through and rank the coaching hires this offseason, things to remember are we are not taking into account who they are replacing. It doesn’t do a service to the previous coach to compare and contrast new and old. This is based solely on the coach, their experience, and the team moving forward.
#1. Franklin Central hires Criss Beyers
Not sure you can make a case for any other school here. A recent State Champion in the toughest conference and in 4A. He won 76 games in the last three years at Warren Central. He has a very distinct style of play and when he gets his guys in place, his teams seem to go. FC has quite a bit of talent, however, it is all pretty young. May take a year or so but expectation as soon as they made the hire were pretty high.
#2. Noblesville hires John Peckinpaugh
While experience matters, experience at the college level might be the biggest X-factor for me. John has been at a number of places including IPFW and Wheeling Jesuit in recent years. He knows what he is doing and for a program like Noblesville who needs a breath of fresh air and more energy, this is a great fit. Don’t be shocked with the talent on his roster if he has a surprising first year.
#3 North Harrison hires Lou Lefevre
Coming from Southern Indiana before his recent move to Tipton, Lou knows this area well and he is getting NH at a great time when their talent pool is really strong. He’s another guy with a very distinct style and he is going to be really good, really quickly. The guy can coach and put up wins. However, this might be the biggest team he’s ever had and how he uses that size will be of great interest.
#4 Indianapolis Tech hires Mosi Barnes
Tech isn’t the easiest program to get to being successful. IPS schools having so many moving parts and you need someone who knows how the system works, can coach, and can really keep kids attention. They want to play for him and he goes to bat for his guys. He’s just what Tech needs and while this won’t likely be an overnight transformation, he’s going to be able to develop this program better than most.
#5 Tipton hires Cliff Hawkins
Rumors were running around about the lack of teaching options so getting anyone they wanted might have been difficult, but what they do have is a coach with experience and winning on his resume. He has multiple Sectional titles and a State run in 2003 with DeKalb. Tipton fans love underdog mentality and grinding out with their toughness, maybe more so than anyone else, and they might have that in Hawkins.
#6 Bedford North Lawrence hires Jeff Hein
For Bedford, it has been a while since they have been relevant on a large scale. They haven’t won a Sectional since 2000-01 so the expectations can’t be super high. However, Jeff provides them with a good background and some success. Since 2007, he has won 4 Sectionals, 2 Regionals, and gotten to the State Finals once. He’s had 11 seasons over .500 in his last 13. His experience and success could add a little more upside. He’s done well so far.
#7 Merrillville hires Bo Patton
While there are quite a few things that are risky about a first time head coach, if it works, it can be huge. Take Chris Hawkins and Crispus Attucks for example who pulled in a 3A State Championship. Patton could be that type of hire for Merrillville. No saying they are going to win or even be in the conversation for a State title, but his style and attitude could translate well. He’s got the ear of the players, knows the school and the area, and this is a program that always has talent. Get everyone to buy in for a part of the state that doesn’t have a ton of top teams this year, they could do very well.
#8 Loogootee hires Ryan Haywood
For Loogootee, they have been trying to build the program back into what it has been in the past and has had some ups and down over recent years. Now, they will try another direction with former Princeton (IN) head man Ryan Haywood. He’s had some decent success, comes from the area, and has won with talent, which Loogootee typically has. There will be high expectations early on so success needs to come quickly here.
#9 Logansport hires Drew Schauss
Logansport moves in a new head coach with college coaching experience and a lot of local ties. Drew steps in to a job with some talent still left in the tank but a community that supports its team well and typically will develop talent at the youth levels. His experience at the college level will but great in the day-to-day operations and understanding level of play needed to win.
#10 Clinton Prairie hires Chad Peckinpaugh
Lineage can go a long way and Clinton Prairie is known for making solid hires. Chad, the son of longtime and former McCutcheon head coach Rick Peckinpaugh, should have a pretty good idea of how to win games. He’s from the area and knows this program well, giving him a pretty good shot at success. Not only that, but Clinton Prairie is known for always being a program that can compete and take a shot in the tournament. They have very rarely had down years. They look to keep that going with a new regime.