Thursday, June 26, 2014

Prep football: Manatee's two outside coaching candidates

A pair of outside candidates have landed interviews to fill Manatee's head coaching position - Jason Milgrom and Kevin Wallace.
Milgrom is the co-offensive coordinator at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, where he has coached for 13 years, and graduated from the school in 1993. He was also on the the Raiders' first state championship team in 1992 and played offensive guard.
He has some familiarity with the Hurricanes: Aquinas and Manatee met in the state semifinals in 2005, '06, '09, 2010 and '12.
Wallace has been the head coach at Bowling Green High in Kentucky since 1996 and has lead the team to three consecutive Class 5A state championships. The Purples haven't lost a game since 2010 and were state runners-up in 2005, '06 and '07. Wallace's record at Bowling Green is 190-35.
Wallace also served as the head coach at Warren East High in Bowling Green from 1984-93, and was the school's athletic director for three years, as well.
Manatee assistants Chris Conboy, Chad Choate, Jim Phelan and Chuck Sandberg are also being interviewed, and athletic director Jason Montgomery said there are eight other candidates he is reviewing.
Joe Kinnan, Manatee's head coach who won 290 games and five state titles in two stints (1981-2000, 2005-2013), announced last week he was taking a medical leave of absence for the 2014-15 school year.
It is unclear if he will return after this season.

15 comments:

  1. I think it would be a bad move to bring in a coach from somewhere else. Before you know it, they wipe out the rest of the assistant coaches and bring in there own. Bring in a coach from the inner circle where they know the tradition and are familiar with what coach Kinnan had going on. Its hard to replace a legend.

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  2. I was on the selection committee that chose Howie DeCristofaro (sp). We all know what a mistake that was...... He changed the offense, the uniforms, and alienated proven existing assistant coaches. He was a bull in a china closet. Hiring a coach from outside is a huge mistake! Head coaches tend to have huge egos. They enter a program, and immediately want to dismantle and reorganize. They generally are not smart enough to ride a success for awhile before they put their own mark on the program.

    Phelan, Conboy, and Sandberg all have many years with the program, and the transition would be seamless. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past!

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  3. The sad part is phelan and his ability is a major reason we have had recent success. The defense has made the last severall years.number one ranking in polls was not for offense it was the defense and line play on both sides of the ball. Why is joe not a part of the process.

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  4. "They enter a program, and immediately want to dismantle and reorganize. They generally are not smart enough to ride a success for awhile before they put their own mark on the program." This sounds like Mills. We don't need to make the same mistake with this one like we did with Howie, What a mess he was....

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  5. If they don't choose Jim Phelan to replace Joe they are making a big mistake

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  6. If Phelan is not the choice Palmetto will be the team of the future. Manatee will be all about the past.....

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  7. Funny that the new MHS AD is from KY and so is a person now with a name in the hat. This should be very fun to watch.....

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  8. Isn't Coach Kinnan's medical leave for one year only? Why would any out of state/out of county coach want to give up their present job for a job that has no security to it after one year? Seriously, a guy would move from Kentucky with a 190-35 record for a job that may be for only one year? The AD should ask these out of state coaches 'Why?'

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    1. Kinnan isn't coming back. He's toast. Do you really think Mills is going to allow Kinnan back, seriously? A new coach from outside will be selected. The good old boy network is being broken up on all levels in Manatee County. Time to move forward. Mills has already told the principal and AD to move forward with the search. It's only a formality. Time for Kinnan to go fishing.

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    2. Mills does no dictate who is hired at the school level.... Look forward to an out standing Friday Night Lights!!

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  9. I understand being loyal to the staff. However, shouldn't we really be looking for the best person for the job? If Phelan is the best for the job, then by all means he should have it. But, if someone who has not only the resume, but also the desire to be here and he is the most qualified. Then why wouldn't you want him as the coach. This sounds more like the good ole boy network. Look at what Taggart said. He's got some real wisdom for all of us.

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  10. It should come down to Phelan or St.Thomas coach. FSU has done very well after Jimbo took over for Bobby. Why because he was respected and had the trust of current players as well as tradition already installed in his mind,

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  11. Could someone define most qualified. Just an FYI the network is who attends the game and Booster Club. They would not want to pick a coach that is not worth their money.

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  12. Is Choate the son of that knucklehead who was the old principal everyone called "turkey neck" and laughed at? All the kids and teachers hated that guy. People said he got the job as principal because he was a scab and crossed over the picket line during the great teacher walkout back in 68. The idiot even got run over by a tram at Disney cuz he was too dumb to stay behind the line where people wait.

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    1. Your comment is totally uncalled for! Mr Choate was an outstanding administrator and individual who is missed by all who served under him. You are a complete ahole!!

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