Coach Logan, South Hopkins Middle @HopkinsCentral @_CoachManning @evans02_mike @minguabeefjerky @PrepSpin @MaxPreps @HCBOECoach

From school resource officer to middle school football head coach, Lydon Logan has the South Hopkins program trending in the right direction

Logan has his Wildcats on the right track

When Manning parlayed a run to the title game in the KYMSFA into a high school head coaching job at Hopkins Central, finding a replacement was something everyone around the program knew would be tough. South Hopkins turned to a former North-Hopkins star who was in one of the last places anyone would think to look, ordinarily; in its own hallways. Logan has suffered through some lean times his first handful of seasons, but they are getting better every year.

HB Lyon, Scouting Division, KPGFootball

South Hopkins was once the scourge of the West in the KYMSFA football world. The Wildcats were feared. The Wildcats were loaded. The Wildcats were athletic. The Wildcats were just flat-out good.

How good were they under present Central HFC, Chris Manning? Good enough to get him a gig coaching the Storm. Good enough to advance all the way to the title game. Good enough to put a scare into the remainder of its division that the Wildcats were about to bring home a championship trophy to Morton’s Gap.

So when Manning jumped to the high school level, the Wildcats were tasked with getting another middle school coach to take the reins and fill some awfully big shoes. South Hopkins turned to an unlikely place. The Wildcats tabbed the school’s resource officer for the job.

When interviewed about taking over the program, Logan told the Messenger (local newspaper), “I am excited for this new adventure.” You wonder if he really appreciated the adventure it would turn out to be?

Coach Logan has always been hard working, a motivator, and humble

Tyrone Gregory, HFC, Browning Springs Middle

It isn’t like Logan was a newbie to the coaching ranks. He had worked for one of the deans of the KYMSFA, middle school ranks in Coach Tyrone Gregory at Browning Springs Middle. Logan had been Coach Gregory’s assistant from 2018-2020, and coached WR’s ’19-’20.

“Coach Logan has always been hard working, a motivator, and humble,” Coach Gregory told KPGFootball. “Logan was a huge part of our success when he was on our staff.”

The kids used to call Coach Logan, Officer Logan. Logan tells any and everyone he encounters that he much prefers being called, “Coach.”

“Now during lunch, the kids come to the table and talk football. I love it,” Coach Logan shared with us.

I want [my players] to see a person who wants to help them, who wants them to succeed, who has problems just like they do

Lydon Logan, HFC, South Hopkins Middle

We asked Coach Logan, why he prefers the present title to the former. “I don’t want students to see me and feel like I am just some authority figure they should dread. I want them to see a person who wants to help them, who wants them to succeed, who has problems just like they do.”

Logan tells us he feels right at home at South Hopkins. “I treat these kids like my own.”

The seeds Logan has planted, within the program, are beginning to sprout and bear fruit. We talked to Coach Manning about his MS head football coach.

“Logan has 60-kids out for football this spring. Sixty-kids, that is just amazing,” Manning beams.

I believe South Hopkins is back

Chris Manning, HFC, Hopkins County Central

“I believe South Hopkins is back,” Manning continued. “Coach Logan has done a great job, particularly this spring; on and off the field with these kids. I am excited about getting to watch and support them this coming year.”

That’s not all about which Manning is excited. We are sure he is ready for some more of the Wildcat talent pipeline pouring into the Storm program and filling its coffers with some outstanding athletes the likes of which Manning used to send up in his day.

We are all excited about that!

This is Fletcher W. Long, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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About Fletcher Long 1446 Articles
Two-time winner of Kentucky Press Association awards for excellence in writing and reporting news stories while Managing Editor of the Jackson (KY) Times-Voice

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