Published: July 01, 2009 09:22 am      

Search for new coach at Knox Central could be nearing an end

By Les Dixon / Sports Editor

It looks as if the ball is rolling in the search for a new boys basketball coach for Knox Central High School.

According to Knox County Superintendent Walter Hulett, a new coach could be named during the next couple of weeks.

“I believe we have a pretty good cross-selection of candidates,” he said. “(Knox Central Principal) Tim Roark is supposed to pick up the applications by the end of the day and I would like to think in a week or so someone will be in place.”

Hulett said whoever gets the job will take over a team that is talented.

“I think they have some good upperclassmen and they’ve had some talented middle school players move up, too,” he said. “I also don’t think we lost any ground over the summer because we had the Knox Central assistants running the camp.

“We realize we need to get on this pretty quick because I’m sure Mr. Roark will have to look at the staff situation to see what needs to be filled,” Hulett said.

The Panthers’ head coach job came open at the end of May when former coach Brandon Elam was informed he would not be coming back for his ninth season.

Elam posted a 117-106 career record at Knox Central and was 94-56 against 13th Region opposition and 14-9 in post-season play, which included four district championships.

He was a standout guard for Knox Central in the mid-90s, took over as the Panther head coach in 2001-02 and his team went 10-17.

Things got better in 2002-03, as he guided the Panthers to a 20-9 record along with a 50th District title and an appearance in the 13th Region semi-finals. Knox Central reached the 13th Region title game the following year, but dropped a heartbreaking 49-48 decision to Rockcastle County.

Elam’s Panthers failed to reach the region tournament during the next two seasons after posting consecutive losing marks (7-18 and 6-20), but Knox Central rebounded with a 14-14 record in 2006-07.

The Panthers finished the following season with a 24-8 record.

This past season Knox Central was picked as one of the regional favorites when the Panthers won the 51st District title, but a first round loss (74-71) to North Laurel in the opening round of the 13th Region Tournament put a disappointing ending to a 16-9 season.