[Mitch Comstein]

Howard does coach AAU. Unless he quit this year. I never said he was a coach at Pick Central. He has tried to and is still associated with them. He sits behind the bench wearing a Pick Central shirt that says "Coach" on it. He tries getting into High School and Jr. High games free by telling the workers that he is coach. He was interviewed by the Dispatch earlier this season and passed himself off as one of their coaches. The AD was smart enough to tell Francis that if he wanted him to be on the staff, at practice, or on the bench during games that he needed to go through the same process as every other coach. He would have to fill out paperwork and do OTHER THINGS at the central office. For one reason or another that never happened and he only sits behind the bench now.

Francis is a good guy and I agree that the kids like to play for him. We will see how much of a GREAT coach he is in the next few years as HIS kids develop.

[ringer]

Weakley is better off the court with his players than on the court. The guy is a difference maker for his players.

[bbaau]

Hate on him all you want , seems like all the schools inner city or suburb have one thing in common in re guards to you posters . Can I day a black coach. Man jerry Francis would coach circle around most coaches in any school . Hell how many central Ohio coaches cansay they coached at the college level played at college . He operates a college like program at a high school level that's why he will always always be good . But always please don't bring up city coaches its embarrassing how we get out coached.

[Captain Tony]

Originally Posted by Mitch Comstein

Howard does coach AAU. Unless he quit this year. I never said he was a coach at Pick Central. He has tried to and is still associated with them. He sits behind the bench wearing a Pick Central shirt that says "Coach" on it. He tries getting into High School and Jr. High games free by telling the workers that he is coach. He was interviewed by the Dispatch earlier this season and passed himself off as one of their coaches. The AD was smart enough to tell Francis that if he wanted him to be on the staff, at practice, or on the bench during games that he needed to go through the same process as every other coach. He would have to fill out paperwork and do OTHER THINGS at the central office. For one reason or another that never happened and he only sits behind the bench now.

Francis is a good guy and I agree that the kids like to play for him. We will see how much of a GREAT coach he is in the next few years as HIS kids develop.

I saw George at a PC game this year and he told he was a basketball consultant. I'm not sure what that entails.

[YankeesWin]

Folks, let's no canonize Jerry Francis just yet. This year's team was very talented and athletic. They were a hard match-up for quite a few teams. But with all the talent, several things had to fall perfectly into place for them to win the State DI Title. Northland losing and a weak representative from the Northeast Region come to mind. I do know that the kids love playing for him. The "Coach Howard" thing is a little shady. Jerry has a Ring but let's see what he does over the next 3 seasons before we put him in the HOF.

[offpar11]

Being a city grad i am partial to city coaches and their spot on a list like this. i know very few coaches past or present from the city league, but the few i know had stories that were frightening in terms of keeping kids eligible or keeping them off the streets. they work very hard just like the fellas in the occ. i think taylor will have success and i definitely think the bates brothers deserve credit for their accomplishments too. i read an article in the paper about balance, will africentric move up to d-3 if that goes thru?

[benschenko]

Love the conversations here and how bias creeps in to any argument. Unbiased opinion Pick Central was not the best team I saw play this year based on talent. Someone coached them to a championship. Whether it was Francis or his assistants, head coaches get the love. Now I think people are saying that the AAU coach (Howard) is the reason why the talent is there, not the reason why they played well.

This is high school basketball now. Good players will move around to better districts, city league players will assemble at one school and so on and so on.

[lefty_5]

Paul Hershberger, Former: Triad, St. Mary's, Graham, Miami East, Fairlawn, Mechanicsburg Head Coach.

[offpar11]

I definitely try to give the coaches in the city some love. but there are definitely great coaches in the suburban and private sectors. good debate topic i guess

[RedAuerbach]

When looking at the top coaches, it seems that many of you are simply looking at state titles. This can be misleading, as you might have a team that is so talented that they put less emphasis on the coaching. You must look at how a coach has done with numerous teams and how they have adapted to changes in the game.
I would put Tom Petty at Bloom Carroll over any other coach. He has won 9 district titles without ever having a player who went on to major college basketball. He also has over 500 wins with over a .750 winning percentage. He has also never had his ethics questioned or relied on "transfers".
Jerry Francis should not be in the top 10 for a couple of simple reasons - he has only been a head high school coach for 2 seasons and has had only 1 winning season. He simply hasn't earned that type of consideration.
I was amazed that people were posting opinions while not knowing who Bob Miller, Ed Calo and Kent Riggs are. When posting a top 10 list, we should educate ourselves on the topic first.

[ehayes]

Originally Posted by bigtimecharlie

Francis? "alot of talent?" Started 3 sophomores, had an unproven point guard and Levert developed from a sub MAC player to MICHIGAN because of Francis. Next...Quack does a nice job, maybe the best as far as tireless recruiter and running a program that fits his players. Calo...another good one...year after year. Others? Corbett at Grandview...few match the longevity and success at a very "non basketball" community. You mentioned Petty, Miller and Liptrap. Petty...wins regular season games like a champ because he's ok and plays in the MSL. Other than that, early exits in the tournament and no state titles. Miller...Nice guy, been there forever...no titles. Liptrap...Simply stayed in one place forever. No championships and has had players. Scouts hard but not a good game coach because of being egative. Kids quit and move out yearly. WHo's up? BTC

Wow BTC obviously has a major problem with Liptrap, I am glad a thread about who is the best coaches in Central Ohio has turned into a personal attack. But I have a few questions about your analysis
1. How is longevity a bad thing, you still have to win or you will be fired right? and with not being guaranteed more then 21 games a year to win as many as he has you got to have some ability. He has won 2 districts including defeating Eastmoor in early 90's (Samaki Walker, Antonio Watson)
2. Not a good game coach? I ask you to poll the central ohio coaches or even just the OCC Ohio and ask them who has their team most prepared game in and game out, you they think is a good x an o coach.
3. Too Negative- again I would ask you to poll his former players, go ask Chad Gill, Rush Floyd, Adam Sommers, Dustin Ulitcan, Aaron Laflin, Tyler Kelly etc any and see what they say about him. Just attend a game and see how many former players come back.
4. Im interested in who these kids are that quit and move out yearly?

There have been many valled points on top coaches and many different methods to pick them, (wins, state, district) and to each their own.
But I would have to say if you win as many games as Liptrap, Petty, Miller etc have you must have and idea what you are doing

[alwayslearning]

Longevity is a good thing especially when you are winning, but being there that long, does bring up problems. The percentages said if you have been there for 20 years, you should have 1 state appearance and in DI, I know that is hard. I like Liptrap, he is a good coach and he did beat a good Eastmoor team in 91 which Scott Davis played on that team(pick-town) and coaches in the city league. Bob Miller, sorry, I don't know if he even won a OCC title let alone a district. Petty gets props, doing a hec of a job in DIII. The question now is would he do all that in DI or DII? And to RedAuerbach, I am alwayslearning so are you to old to put out a top 10 of your own. I did this to see what people think. This is good blogging! Im just asking why people don't give the city no credit. They have it rough! Like I said, give those coaches all the good facilities, they will be winning districts, regionals ans states. And I bet the burbs will be crying bloddy murder!
When they do end up getting the facilities that they need, best believe the burbs and catholic schools will be in tears and going to the OHSAA to change more rules, wait, you people are doing it now, so once again this is great conversation. I will come up with something in the weeks to come and we can talk more! I am signing off

[strokn7]

It's hard to compare coaches from the city with coaches from the "suburbs". Sure, the city has its disadvantages like subpar facilities and tough home lives. But the advantages are pretty glaring as well. The biggest one is the premier athleticism. Find me a team in the "suburbs" that walks in a gym and looks like Northland, or Walnut Ridge, or even Africentric! The city teams have elite speed and athleticism that can't be taught. That being said, I think the city league style of play takes alot of the coaching out of the game. The game becomes press the other teams d**** off, score easy buckets in transition, and get all over the O boards.

The second advantage is that city schools are not fighting with baseball, and alot of the time football, for athletes. Many of the athletes in the "suberbs" play 2 and 3 sports. So not only do they juggle AAU, but they have spring baseball, summer baseball, summer football weightlifting, and fall football. I'm not saying city players don't play football, but I'm sure a VERY low percentage play baseball. Players in the city love to play basketball, and 1 sport athletes have tons of dedicated time.

I think the fundamentals, toughness, and X's and O's are what is taught in some of the successful "suberb" programs. It's just two very contrasting styles.

I will say this... Take Scott and Robinson from Northland and put them in the Bloom Carroll or Pickerington North program for a year, I guarantee they would be more mentally ready to play for Dayton. I guarantee those practices would be much similar to the ones you would see at the college level. Not only are you tested physically, but the mental grind is extremely tough.

I think there are some really good coaches in the city, please don't get the idea that I don't. I just think its very different circumstances with advantages and disadvantages in each situation.

[Jerving]

Did Thomas Worthington win their OCC league when they had JJ Sullinger, Andersons, Tommy Young, and was there a Davis kid on their team (post player). Name escapes me.

That team was very good.

[underdog]

It is really kind of funny to me to have a "top central Ohio coaches" thread and have people in there who have only coached a couple years.

Calo, Miller, Petty, Liptrap: 4 coaches at public schools who have won consistently for a long time and stayed with it when the talent was a little subpar. I'm sure there are a few more, a FEW more, that can be put in their category.

[RedAuerbach]

Alwayslearning - you keep me bringing up how well City League coaches would do in the suburbs. If it is so much easier in the suburbs, explain why Satch Sullinger struggled so much in his few years at Reynoldsburg. He was at Beechcroft, went to the greener pasters of Reynoldsburg and was let go after a few years. Why didn't he win district and state titles with the Raiders like you claim so many City League coaches would do? As far as Petty - he is at one of the smallest schools in his league. A D3 school with 2 D1's and 3 D's in the same division. I think that he has shown he can compete against bigger schools. My suggestion is actually see Petty coach a game before questionning him.
Underdog - I agree with you completely. I would add Kent Riggs at Canal Winchester to your list. 400 wins, 6 district titles (in D2,D3 and D4 at the same school) and a final 4 appearance (lost to Lebron in a close game) in 25 years at the same school.

[bbaau]

Wrong on the boys side the city league coaches the last 6 years have got out coached on a regular . Northland with the talent they had should of won at least two state titles. Let's see 2 Mr basketball on team about 6 other d-1 players and only one state did not make regional twice please come on top 10 under performers. Marion Franklin also ridge too. There only 2 decent coaches, beechcroft and staff at brookhaven not the coach but staff. You always learning are not objective in re guards to the city . And trust me I am a city person but i am also going to tell the truth. Afro coach nope plays in city great schedule good talent but still has not won state. Don't give me that he makes it because he should make it how about winning it.

[alwayslearning]

The last 4 guys before me make good points. I never questioned Bloom-Carrolls coach. He is a good one! Worthington's coach I do question, yes they did win the district also that year with city kids from Columbus on that team with J.J. Sullinger. Worthington also ran into Brookhaven that year and Coach Millers season was indeed over! BTW Red, reynoldsburg had nothing when Sullinger coached that team, not even facilities but he indeed learned from that and later with some talent, won a state. bbaau, city guy or not, you have a lot of hate in you. Beechcroft and Brookhaven, the only coaching staff, please! Geno Caslin from Mifflin and his staff is pretty good. You can Dog Bates from Afro if you want too, but he will get a state soon and yes he will get one before Bloom-Carroll(no disrepect to longevity of a coach). Strokn7, you made some real good points and I agree with them totally, but keep it real, you wanted to say if those guys where more discipline, Scott and Robinson, they would be ready for college. Im alwayslearning so send me more because Im alwayslearning through you guys and also I am making my point too! One more thing, underdog, yes you are right about calling suburb schools, public schools because they definitely take city kids from Columbus and win with them so-called. Quit acting like suburb programs are so clean, keep it real! They do dirt too! I'm signing off

[sterball2]

always,

Bates should win a state title as he can draw from the entire city, but yet he competes in the smallest division. Many of the schools/coaches that you guys promote benefit from the transient nature of high school athletics. Transfers and move-ins have an impact on wins and losses. Also, stretching or breaking rules through illegal recruiting and running year-round practices plays a role as well.

I will take Bob Miller and Pete Liptrap any day of the week because they win and they do it the right way. I don't think Reynoldsburg has ever won a state title in basketball...could be wrong, but if they did I don't remember it.

[misterT1970]

sterball2,
Well said.