State’s 43 new coaches bring fresh perspective and energy to Kentucky high school football

For the 43 new head coaches across the landscape of Kentucky high school football, the 2023 season means opportunities abound. For fans and members of these communities, the slates are blank and the future is full of possibilities, hopefully leading their programs to new levels of success.

But, for Somerset, this new chapter in its football history — now led by head coach Clay Clevenger — isn’t simply about looking forward; it’s about remembering the legacy of Robbie Lucas, who brought the Briar Jumpers so much.

Under 14 seasons of Lucas’ leadership, the Briar Jumpers amassed a 114-62 record, and won eight region titles and a 2019 Class 2A state championship. And now, Clevenger will look to lead the program into a new era.

Following Lucas’ death at age 51 last year, Somerset will look to move forward while remembering the years he devoted to the community. Clevenger said the team continues to remember and honor his legacy within.

“Coach Lucas and I actually coached against each other a number of times and he was a good friend of mine,” Clevenger said. “... He was obviously a really good football coach, but even a better man. ... He was a leader amongst high school coaches. He’d been a long-tenured head coach and very well-respected head coach throughout the state. So I think those things, you know, are obviously a part of his legacy.”

Clevenger, who most recently coached Danville, his alma mater, from 2013 to 2021 and brought the program a 2017 Class 2A state title, arrives at Somerset following a season off that “recharged his batteries a little bit.”

“I’m excited about that,” Clevenger said. “Obviously, I’m a couple years older, maybe a little wiser, I don’t know. I don’t know if my approach has changed a whole lot from two years ago; it’s probably changed some from the time I was a head coach at 30. You know what I mean? And so, coming into a program, you just show up every day and you work hard and you try to instill those values into your players in hopes that they learn some of those things that the game of football teaches that mirror life. And I think that’s what it’s about.”

Clevenger said he wanted to stay in a certain area of the state, and he also wanted to be in a program that wanted to win at the highest level.

“Somerset would have been a good match for those things,” Clevenger said.

Since Clevenger’s arrival, he and his family have received a warm welcome from the community.

“It’s been awesome,” Clevenger said. “I think it’s bittersweet, obviously, the circumstances surrounding the job being open, nobody wanted. Nobody. But with that said, you know, life moves on and things have to move forward. And so, from that standpoint, I feel like folks at Somerset, the community and everything has really embraced it and treated me and my family awesome.”

Class 2A Somerset, now in a new district, is ready to demonstrate a continued commitment to success. His ideal culture? Built on hard work and understanding.

“I think kids that come in and show up and understand that there’s gonna be an expectation to work hard,” Clevenger said. “And they embraced that, you know, and to do things the right way. I don’t want to have a program that’s cutting corners and doing things to try to get by. I’d like to build a program and be a part of a program that values hard work and values the processes of getting better on a daily basis. Because I think those are values that carry over outside of football for young men.”

Over in Class 5A sits another new coach primed to helm a team after a year off. David Buchanan, who has served as a head coach for more than 30 years at Paris, Mason County and Mercer County, secured the Anderson County coaching job after applying online.

“I got a kick out of it,” Buchanan said. “I’m 58 years old. And one of the questions on the application was ‘list your activities from high school.’ And I’m like, ‘This is 40 years ago,’ but hey, I filled it out.”

Buchanan, who expressed appreciation for Anderson County Principal Chris Glass, Athletic Director Jesse Currens and Anderson County Schools Superintendent Sheila Mitchell, said the most important thing was making sure he and the administration were on the same page.

“We’ve really begun to take some steps,” Buchanan said. “In regard to facilities, staffing, equipment that needed to happen for Anderson County to have a good strong foundation for football going forward. The bulk of that credit has got to go to my bosses. ... To their credit, my bosses have followed through, and they’ve done what they said they would do. So I’m very, very thankful and appreciative for that.”

Buchanan said Anderson County football has received facility upgrades including a new, safer playing surface, all of which will give the program “a chance to build something, not just win because we happen to have a good class of players come through.” The program has also introduced throwback helmets meant to celebrate Bearcats both past and present.

“The kids wanted a change,” Buchanan said. “They love the red helmets. And I know too, this is just how life works. A lot of times, as people get older they’ll feel forgotten. Sometimes they are forgotten. And we wanted to make a gesture to our alumni that said, ‘We value you, we value the past of Anderson County football and we want you to be part of our program.’ So the helmet, part of it is aesthetics. Part of it is appealing to our kids. Part of it is sort of a throwback look, but it’s also a gesture toward our alumni to say, ‘We value you. This is your program, and we want you to be a part of what we’re going to do.’”

What else is new is Buchanan’s perspective which, following a year away from head coaching (though he did serve last season as an offensive and defensive analyst for St. Xavier High School), carries a sense of renewed excitement and gratitude.

“I think the year off really got my attention and made me appreciate even more so much I’d taken for granted,” Buchanan said. “For example, usually the first practice when school starts is a rough practice. But man, I had a blast yesterday, and I really did appreciate it. You know, and I’ve been going to the first practice on the first day of school — I think I counted up yesterday — for 44 years. And to get to experience that again, because this time last year I really didn’t think I was ever going to coach again. I wanted to, but I didn’t think it was ever going to work out. And I’m just incredibly thankful for this opportunity. ... I just really appreciate things so much more having a whole year that I didn’t have those things.”

Kentucky’s new head coaches for 2023

Here’s a list of all 43 new head football coaches across the state:

Adair County: Steve Stonebraker; Anderson County: David Buchanan; Beechwood: Jay Volker; Bellevue: Chad Montgomery; Berea: Jon Thomas; Bethlehem: Keith Graham; Bourbon County: Bret Baierlein; Bracken County: Steven Tarter; Butler: Jacob Reynolds; Caldwell County: Aaron McClung;

Casey County: Levi Rogers; Caverna: Trevent Hayes; Christian County: Zachary Self; Danville: Frank Parks; Doss: Paul Mandeville; Eastern: Ken Whalen; Elizabethtown: Alfredo Silva; Fort Knox: Mike Reed; Frankfort: Stephen Davis; Grant County: Josh Cole;

Graves County: Lance Gregory; Greenup County: Travis Jones; Lexington Catholic: Nick Baisch; Ludlow: Woody McMillen; Lynn Camp: Darrell Hendrix; Madison Central: William Blair; McCreary Central: Sam Marple; Moore: Mekale McKay; Murray: Melvin Cunningham; Nicholas County: Simon Clouse;

North Bullitt: Alex Carbello; North Oldham: Brock Roberts; Oldham County: Sean Little; Scott: Steve Hensley; Somerset: Clay Clevenger; South Oldham: Cain Sams; Taylor County: Scott Parkey; Warren East: Tanner Hall; W.E.B. DuBois Academy: George Durant; Webster County: Edward Milum; Western Hills: Simon Vanderpool; Western: Michael Crowe; Whitley County: Matt Rhymer.

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